Dear Tweeters,

The White Pelicans reported by Dick Abbott at the Fir Island Game Range today (19 May 2012) did elude me, but a single WHITE-FACED IBIS there was very a very acceptable substitute! The ibis flew over me at the west end of the new dike at about half-past noon, heading toward Hayton Preserve. As I was phoning Dick to tell him, six WHIMBREL flew over. On the Bald Eagle nest, an adult eagle stood watch over two scrawny-looking downy young. I also heard a W W Pewee and a Willow Flycatcher here.

Dick and I tried to relocate the ibis at several Fir Island locations, but could not.

The two of us also checked out West Kamb Road. There seemed to be no shorebirds at all there, until a Red-tail and an immature Peregrine came along, getting a flock of Calidris sandpipers moving, including at least three Pectoral Sandpipers.

At Channel Drive were two BLUE-WINGED TEAL, among many other dabbling ducks, but no shorebirds other than Killdeer.

On my way to March Point, I saw a flock of 21 Whimbrel flying right over the Farmhouse Inn, heading southeast. I'd missed this species earlier this spring, and here they were, in two different unexpected places!

March Point had lots of Surf Scoters and Greater Scaup, plus my first baby Killdeer of the year.

Later in the day, I saw a flock of 15 Pectorals at the newly- signed "Samish Flats Farm" (where the Wood Sandpiper was last year), plus a female Yellow-headed Blackbird.

Another spot on the Samish Flats produced 16 more Pectorals. On Minkler Flats east of Sedro-Woolley, a small roadside puddle had yet four more Pectorals. I don't ever remember seeing so many Pectoral Sandpipers in spring around here.

Yours truly,

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 Winterimmer 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!"