Today I birded in Snohomish and Skagit Counties.

I departed I5 at the Sylvana exit and soon came upon a MERLIN on a wire. http://www.pbase.com/marvbreece/image/138751775 This was on 7th just off of Pioneer Hwy.

The next bird of note was a 1st year male RUSTY BLACKBIRD http://www.pbase.com/marvbreece/image/138751776 The bird was with a mixed flock along Wylie Road on Fir Island in Skagit County. Then another MERLIN on Fir Island Road perched atop a noted snag near the turn to Jensen Access. At Jensen were many BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS. Also a few DUNLIN, WESTERN SANDPIPERS and an adult PEREGRINE FALCON.

Along Dodge Valley Road were many AMERICAN PIPITS and the usual AMERICAN KESTREL.

I stopped at Channel Drive, but low tide was not low enough to expose mud for shorebirds. Decided to head to Skagit Game Range in order to arrive long before a very high tide.

At the Game Range I did not find the Northern Waterthrush, but a singing FOX SPARROW kept me entertained. http://www.pbase.com/marvbreece/image/138751777 I was very surprised to see a SORA in the open, feeding alongside a group of dowitchers.

Also at the Game Range:

Vaux's Swift - 6 or 8
Cooper's Hawk - 1 juv
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 juv
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Bald Eagle
Long-billed Dowitcher - 200 +
Dunlin - a few
Lesser Yellowlegs - 12
Greater Yellowlegs - 20
Black-bellied Plover - 5
Killdeer - a few
Pectoral Sandpiper - 1
Wilson's Snipe - 1
Western Sandpiper - a few

At Hayton Preserve was a flock of SNOW GEESE numbering in the hundreds. Among them was an adult blue morph. http://www.pbase.com/marvbreece/image/138751778 Also a large group of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and a few MINIMA CACKING GEESE.

Marv Breece
Seattle, WA
marvbreece at q.com