Subject: [Tweeters] Skagit Wh-thrtd Sparrow
Date: Mar 5 18:50:40 2010
From: Gary Bletsch - garybletsch at yahoo.com


Dear Tweeters,

I recall an advertisement for some birding optics; the ads carried a catchline along the lines of, "for those who are never not a birder."

Today, I was driving around, looking for our lost dog, which has vanished into thin air. I fear that this nine-pound, puppy-mill-rescue terrier has been stolen, been hit by a car, been killed by a predator, or perhaps just blundered off and gotten herself very lost.

However, during the search, I did see two new species for my Skagit County year list.

At the Cockreham Island boat launch was a pair of RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS. One was spiffy, the other frowsy. I wondered if the frowsy one were an immature, and whether it might be paired with the spiffy one, or perhaps might just be one of the spiffy one's recent progeny. The spiffy one was drumming, the frowsy one calling.

Incidentally, some agency or other has installed a rather nice-looking sign at the boat launch. Apparently, we are supposed to call the place "North Lyman Ferry" now. Maybe the signage will deter the litterbugs, garbage dumpers, and automobile abandoners who frequent the spot. I doubt it.

In the brush near the northeast corner of the island, the only bird that popped up when I tried pishing was a beautiful white-striped WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. This was hard by a diamond-shaped yellow traffic sign indicating 25 mph speed limit and curves ahead.

Also noteworthy was an adult Northern Shrike at the northwest corner of the island.

Yours truly,

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

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