When I walked out to the Edmonds public pier this morning, Dennis
Duffy was at the south end watching a SAY'S PHOEBE flycatching quite
actively on the southern part of the marina's south breakwater. We
were later joined by Ted Peterson and Ann Marie Wood to watch the bird
(Code 5 bird for Snohomish County). It was there for at least an hour
before a couple of gulls flushed it, causing it to fly off into the
marina and from there to who knows where. Other sightings of interest
this morning were a TURKEY VULTURE flying south along the waterfront,
a long skein of approximately 100 geese flying quite high and crossing
the Sound in a northwesterly direction. There were two GREATER SCAUP
among the approximately 75 BRANT seen from the pier. Among the several
PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, one was still in basic plumage. The RED-NECKED
GREBES are continuing and the HORNED GREBE that is in alternate
plumage was still in the marina.

The marsh was pretty quiet this morning even though a lot of mud was
exposed. Dennis saw several peeps there yesterday afternoon, about a
week early than usually first seen. He also saw a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT
in the marsh several days ago, another early sighting for this site.
There were MALLARDS, GADWALLS, GREEN-WINGED TEALS, GADWALLS, NORTHERN
SHOVELERS, and BUFFLEHEADS, all in small numbers. There was also one
COOT. Two CALIFORNIA QUAIL were on the south side of the marsh today.
An adult RED-TAILED HAWK flew low over the marsh, escorted by a couple
of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS.

Carol Riddell
Edmonds