Gary,

Can you give more specific locations for the Ross's Geese and the Greater
White-Fronts? "Skagit Wildlife Area" and "Samish Flats" are both quite large
areas to search. I realize the Ross's were not seen by you, but if you can
find out where they were seen, and whether or not they were with other
geese, it would be much appreciated.

I've made quite a few panic trips to Skagit County over the last few years
to try to add species to my county list (which I started more than 40 years
ago), but I am still looking for Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Marbled Godwit
(as well as Ross's Goose). I did find the Black Phoebe on September 3, but
had to drop into the Skagit Wildlife Area on 3 occasions that day before I
finally found it about 6 PM. Sounds like you did pretty well on Sunday, even
if you missed the Ross's Geese.

Thanks for your frequent updates on Skagit County birds.

Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus at telus.net



-----Original Message-----
From: tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Gary
Bletsch
Sent: September-19-10 8:28 PM
To: tweeters tweeters
Subject: [Tweeters] Skagit Ross Goose, M Godwit

Dear Tweeters,

Take tomorrow off and go birding in Skagit!

Yesterday, Dick Abbott saw two geese he identified as Ross's Geese at the
Game Range on Fir Island. He sent me two cell-phone fotos, taken at very
close range. Anyone who wants me to send them the pictures just needs to
ask--I'd be happy for a second opinion--sorry, Dr. Abbott! Kidding aside, I
don't know ROGO very well, and these birds have a lot of dusky feathering
that I haven't seen on Ross's Geese.

Today, Steve and Gail Aslanian and I, and Mitch Blanton, all had good looks
at the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at the Game Range again. Mitch and I had good
looks at the Black Phoebe, too. We noticed that it looks a LOT blacker than
we remembered it being. Has it moulted, or rolled about in some black Kiwi
polish, or is it a different bird?

At Hayton Preserve were close to fifty Pectoral Sandpipers, plus a House
Wren.

At Jensen Access afterwards, five Marbled Godwits flew right by me. I got to
tick them for Snohomish County as well, because I scoped them all the way
over to the Stanwood area. Yes, delightfully tacky, I know.

At the Samish Flats were eleven Whtie-fronted Geese, all showing nice black
barring below.

At Samish Island Public Beach, I met Bobby Carr and Sarah. We were fortunate
to be there during a mini-fallout of sorts. There were, in no particular
order, a Yellow Warbler, a Black-throated Grey Warbler, a Wilson's Warbler,
a Warbling Vireo, a couple of Orange-crowned Warblers, a Hutton's Vireo,
Evening Grosbeaks, Red Crossbills, and a Fox Sparrow. Out on the bay it was
fairly slow, but I did see at least twenty Common Loons, a Mew Gull, and
about fifty Surf Scoters.

What a day!

Yours truly,


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


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