There were very few people watching the Wood Sandpiper this morning. I
had expected a circus and parade. Views through scopes were relatively
good with opportunities to watch it flying and the feeding in
proximity to Yellowlegs. About 7:15 a.m. a nice man started up a
mowing tractor and drove near us, stopped and explained that he would
be cutting the field and then pumping would start to flood the field
closer to the Bayview-Edison Road. The estimate is that by Wednesday
or Thursday there will be shorebird habitat much closer to the
shoulder of the road. If the bird sticks around, midweek views might
bring it within camera range.

It was a 9 shorebird morning for me in Skagit County and the
opportunity to share some birding time with Gary Bletsch after seeing
the Wood Sandpiper was quite pleasant.

Carol Riddell
Edmonds