Dear Tweeters,

Today (3 March 2012) I birded the "Lake District," as a friend of mine used to call the Nookachamps Basin east of Mount Vernon. Mud Lake, Clear Lake, Beaver Lake, and Big Lake all had their share of waterfowl.

On Beaver Lake were 12 CANVASBACKS, the third-largest flock of this species I've seen in Skagit County. I also saw my first Sharpie of the year here.

On Big Lake were three more Canvasbacks. Unfortunately, the huge duck flock that I have seen in the past here, at the less-developed south end of the lake, was not present. Of interest here also, though, was a flock of 12 Greater Scaup, sticking together and not mingling with the Lessers.

Clear Lake and Beaver Lake each had a pair of WOOD DUCKS


Gary Bletsch?Near Lyman, Washington (Skagit County), USA?garybletsch at yahoo.com?"Nun," sagte ich, "wenn ich ein Taugenichts bin, so ist's gut, so will ich in die Welt gehen, und mein Glueck machen." Und eigentlich war mir das recht lieb, denn es war mir kurz vorher selber eingefallen, auf Reisen zu gehen, da ich die Goldammer, welche im Herbst und Winter immer betruebt an unserm Fenster sang: "Bauer, miet' mich, Bauer, miet' mich!" nun in der schoenen Fruehlingszeit wieder ganz stolz und lustig vom Baume rufen hoerte: "Bauer, behalt' deinen Dienst!"