Tweeters:


Early this morn headed up to Rockport-Marblemount area in search
of east-slope migrants, and while spring seems well behind schedule, it was a great morning to be out. At Corkindale, a BREWER'S SPARROW was among other migrants at the north end of the little road along the creek. This is right where a bird (ot two?) had been last spring. Seemsvery early for a vagrant, but I recall the report from Newhalem recently.For Skagit County, this is just the 3rd (4th?) of which I'm aware. A migrant LINCOLN'S SPARROW was in full song right along the edge of the parking area for the Marblemount Boat Launch. An OSPREY on nest was visible looking south from Hwy 20 at Corkindale. BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS were in various spots along the route, and
though like Osprey they were my first, you cannot say they were in any way early.

At the Bryson Rd. access off 530, right along the Sauk River, a W. KINGBIRD was early, and (very late for a FOS) there was one BARN SWALLOW among other swallow species here. Then returning homethis eve, we had a GREEN-BACKED HERON fly right over Getchell Hill Rd (84th Street NE) close to our home. When we approached Granite Falls High School for a bit of hitting practice a few minutes later, we were amazed to encounter a BOBCAT right across the street from the main entrance--my wife even managed a photo! Seemed very odd in broaddaylight, with seemingly no cover...Years ago we had a SOOTY GROUSE perform a nearly identical stunt, also in April, as it paraded very nearly right through downtown Granite Falls! Spring fever?!

Other highlights from Tiny's Land (our place in n. Lake Stevens) included a White-crowned Sparrow today (we've never had one right in the front yard, too forested), and on April 15 a Golden-crowned Sparrow was along Getchell Hill Rd at the mailbox, two N. Pintail also flew over (both species are rare locally).

Don't know about the rest of you, but I felt we were long due for sucha day as this was. Seemed as though it had been a very, very long time since we'd seen 65 F. and sunny here (though word has it we had somegood days April 9-10, missed those).
Scott Atkinson
Lake Stevens
mail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com