Subject: [Tweeters] King Co birds Sunday [12/22] YBLO, PAWA, SBGU
Date: Dec 22 18:51:13 2013
From: Matt Bartels - mattxyz at earthlink.net


Hi Tweeters -
A pretty good day today, despite the drizzle --

Before getting back to King County, I started the day with luck in Clallam -- the RUSTY BLACKBIRD was right out on the wires at Schmuck x Washington Harbor soon after I arrived. Great scope views both on the wire and later on the ground.

Next up, I swung by Gardiner, where John Gatchet had the EMPEROR GOOSE teed up and in the scope.

It was not yet 10:00am, so I opted to continue the day by heading back to King Co. On Vashon Island, an hour of searching at Tramp Harbor eventually turned up the YELLOW-BILLED LOON-- yaaay. Yesterday, I'd stood around for 5 hours trying in vain for the loon, so today's reversal was double-sweet.

I headed over to the mouth of the Cedar River in Renton for gulls to end the day. Luck was again with me, as Ryan Merrill & Charlie Wright soon showed up. Charlie found a PALM WARBLER working the conifers along the drive in to the park. Ryan turned up a hybrid Common x Barrow's Goldeneye. And then, among the gulls, Charlie pulled out an adult SLATY-BACKED GULL.

Despite the limited hours of daylight, it was quite the fun day.

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA