Tweeters: Decided to try central Skagit County yesterdayfollowing the coastal run Sunday. This area seemsto get most attention in May-June, but I figured that I might encounter a few passerine migrants,and this was so. I had 64 species for the centralsection. The hotspot was the Bryson Rd. access off 530, just north of Darrington and in extreme s. central Skagit Co. Ran into a large flock of migrant sparrows in the field walking north from the blocked-off access to the river. The highlight was a perfect CLAY-COLORED SPARROW that was on the edge of mixed flock thathad about 35 SAVANNAH, 15 WHITE-CROWNED, 8 LINCOLN'S and several SONG SPARROWS. The bird perched low in a cherry tree that borders a wooden bridge now being overtaken by Rubus (blackberries). The bird sat perched from as close as 30 ft before flying off, but of course I did not have my camera! Also here among many other migrants was a DUSKY FLYCATCHER. With Ryan Merrill's Ovenbird and my W. Kingbird last spring, I think it's clear that this access is proving to be the "hot spot" locally. There was a pileof Black Bear scat along the road in. At the boat launch parking area by the Sauk River bridge just north, a CASSIN'S VIREO accompanied one of several WILLOW FLYCATCHERS seenduring the day. At Corkindale Creek, there was a melee of berry-eating birds, W. TANAGERS (15) and CEDAR WAXWINGS (45) being especially visible. The creek was dry, but in the upper area, a few pools remain and birds (especially sparrows) were coming down in numbers to bathe. Notable migrants included one each of CHIPPING and VESPER SPARROW here. Two LAZULI BUNTINGS were hanging on here also, the last evidence of the breedingcolony here. Barnaby Slough was pretty quiet at mid-day, although6 WOOD DUCKS were evident. Among the plants,Rotala ramosior was new for me in the area.Two MacGILLIVRAY'S and several other warblerswere here, along with a latish PAC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, the 4th Empid species for the day. Warblers--there were about 50 total of 7 species, butall regulars. Scott AtkinsonLake Stevensmail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com