Today I birded in Skagit County with Mark Ahlness and Janeanne Houston.

We began the day in the morning at Skagit Wildlife on Fir Island. The BLACK PHOEBE was easy to find where it has been seen the last few days. We saw many peeps, both dowitchers, both yellowlegs, and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER. Could not find the SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER that Gary Bletsch and I had yesterday.

>From there we went to Jensen Access, which was pretty quiet. On to Channel Drive. There we found a few peeps and 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS. And to our surprise, a RED PHALAROPE. Digiscoping was difficult in the blowing rain, but I managed to get a few shots. http://www.pbase.com/marvbreece/image/128195968
http://www.pbase.com/marvbreece/image/128195963
http://www.pbase.com/marvbreece/image/128195966
Then a peregrine flew in and flushed the area of shorebirds. Most seemed to return in a few minutes, but the phalarope did not. We did not see it again.

We then returned to Skagit Wildlife (the game range) where the cooperative NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH called and appeared.

It was a good day.



Marv Breece
Seattle, WA
mbreece at earthlink.net