Hi Tweets,

I went up to Stanwood yesterday to look for the Ruff on Eide Road, and
there was virtually nothing on the ponds in the afternoon (lots of
raptor activity, as well as a large flock of distant gulls,
flycatching?). Hoping that my luck would change today, I went back
first thing this morning and arrived at 9am. I immediately found the
Ruff (Reeve) wandering around very actively, as I hear Ruffs are prone
to do. The size, buffy front, distinctive wing pattern, and
dark/thick bill made the ID very easy. The bird was still present
when I left at 11am, after some fine celebratory blackberry picking.
And several others showed up and got to observe it.

This was I believe my 6th or 7th North American Ruff attempt (I've had
a bit of a 'ruff' time with this bird in the past.....:P), and that
made this morning all the sweeter!!

Also on the pond were 5 Greater Yellowlegs, 7 Long-billed Dowitchers,
about 10 Green-winged Teal, and 1 Northern Pintail. Male and female
Harriers made appearances, as well as an immature Red-tailed Hawk. I
heard 2 Great Blue Herons croaking overhead, and on the trip
yesterday, at about 330PM, I flushed an American Bittern from the edge
of the ponds. I was also fortunate to get some great looks at singing
Marsh Wrens along the path.

-Nathaniel Peters
ncpeters at uw.edu