Dear Tweeters,
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Today, 15 August 2013, the drizzly weather brought out some good birds. It was much better birding today than during the hot and sunny weather on August 12.
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Early in the morning at my place near Cockreham Island, I observed this year's?first good push of southbound?neotropical migrants.. There were three Black-throated Grey Warblers, a singing Wilson's Warbler, a Yellow Warbler, and a Common Yellowthroat. Two Western Tanagers came through. Two Willow Flycatchers and a bunch of Black-headed Grosbeaks paid visits, too. A Sharp-shinned Hawk visited the feeders later in the day, but left empty-taloned.
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Another?highlight was an ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD in Lyman. Other than a bird up in Concrete in 1996, this?was the only time I've found one upriver.
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At Jensen Access, the birding took some patience.?A large growth of common tansy made it hard to see over the dike, at least?for anyone under six-five or so. However, patience was rewarded. Two WHIMBREL came in and called, landing at marsh's edge?at high tide. Two other species were notable for their numbers. At least 1100 Ring-billed Gulls flew by, heading toward the Game Range, where they put down in shallow water. Even more surprising was a raft of at least 41 Horned Grebes. A juvenile Peregrine Falcon kept things interesting.
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Yours truly,
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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!"