Hey Tweets,

Just got back from a dream trip around the state! My wife gave me 8 days (Sat to Sat), and I basically gave the state a hug, hitting the north part of the state on the way out, and the south on the way back. All part of a scheme to see 39 birds in 39 counties this year, and it moved me a long way towards that goal!

Since I'm blogging it, and that's taking forever, and I don't think I ran into anything that needs chasing, I'll probably give the highlights a day at a time and a week late.

So... last Saturday, left before 5AM, and made some stops in Snohomish County before getting up to the spots in Skagit where they've been finding so many amazing migrants (Rockport, Corkindale), I missed the Least Flycatcher which could still be in Corkindale, but on the way I hit Martin Road in Rockport. Great spot! I had Spotted Sandpiper on the river, Lazuli Buntings along the road, and an Eastern Kingbird. Got excited about what I thought might be a Dusky Flycatcher in Corkindale, but the picture isn't showing an eye ring, now that I'm looking at it at home.

The Newhalem Aggregate Ponds are ringing with flycatchers, vireos and warblers, and I heard my first American Redstarts there! Figured there were more of them farther east, so I didn't work too hard to see them...

The Hardy Burn was a nice stop, with Hermit Thrushes singing, as well as Cassin's Finch, and Sooty Grouse.

In Okanogan County, the highlights were Bobolinks at Aeneas Valley Road - second life bird of the day - and 50 or so Common Nighthawks circling Lyman Lake where I camped, some of them even buzzing by me in the campground. At night, I woke up to three Flammulated Owls holding a conversation.

Finished with 50 species in Okanogan (which I had not birded before!) before leaving for Stevens and Pend Oreille the next day.

To be continued! :)

Tim Brennan
Renton

www.39counties.blogspot.com