Dear Tweeters,

Sorry for late report, but yesterday afternoon I saw an odd-looking Anas duck at Channel Drive (near LaConner, Skagit County).

There were no other waterbirds or shorebirds here--very slow birding.

As I scanned the big pond east of the sluicegate where birders usually park, I saw a duck go flapping across the pond's surface, then dodge into the reeds. A few minutes later, it briefly emerged, then skittered away around a corner and out of sight.

If I had been back east, I would simply have written "American Black Duck" in my notes and moved on.

Yours truly,


Gary Bletsch ? Near Lyman, Washington (Skagit County), USA ? garybletsch at yahoo.com ? ?