Tweeters:

Yesterday was grebe day at March Point at dawn and
thereafter, with the highlights being one winter-plum,
molting CLARK'S GREBE near the end of the sandspit that
heads northwest from March Pt. and close to the
Anacortes waterfront south. I spotted the bird through
the scope, and it was associated with HORNED GREBES
(the most common species through the area) and three
WESTERN GREBES. There are about 10 county records
for CLARK'S at last count. Then there were two EARED
GREBES looking due north from the public access further
east (the one that is east of tanker dock and looks north
to Hat I.). Although rarer than in some w.WA counties,
we now must be around 25 or more entries for this
species in Skagit Co; this was my first encounter with
more than a single bird present. COMMON LOONS
seemed more numerous than usual here, with 75
counted at or near the point.

Other highlights: there was one COM. YELLOWTHROAT
hanging in there at the entrance to the Skagit WMA, getting
late. About 25 BONAPARTE'S GULLS were seen off Jensen
near dusk.

Then on Saturday Oct 15, I saw two earlyish OLDSQUAW
(Long-tailed Ducks) off West Point in Seattle, flying south.
Northward a N. (YELLOW-SHAFTED) FLICKER flew across
Marine View Drive in N. Everett adjacent to Rotary Park.
In the open water near the logbooms near the boat launch
there on Marine View drive, a pair of EUR. WIGEON
provided still another FOS winter returner for the weekend.

Scott Atkinson
Lake Stevens
mail to: scottratkinsoN at hotmail.com