Dear Tweeters,
?
Today, 4 May 2013, there were a lot of newly arriving birds in Skagit County, and some birds I was able to detect for the first time this year, despite the hot weather. Some winter-ish birds were also still hanging on.
?
Here are some highlights.
?
Lesser Scaup, four on Minkler Flats.
?
Ring-necked Duck, a few here and there, but far fewer than last weekend.
?
Common Goldeneye, one on Minkler Flats.
?
Sora, one on Minkler Flats.
?
Sooty Grouse, several heard hooting along Illabot Creek Road.
?
Long-billed Dowitcher, several on Samish Flats.
?
Pacific-slope Flycatcher, several heard singing along Illabot Creek Road and at Barnaby Slough.
?
Hammond's Flycatcher, a few heard singing at Barnaby Slough.
?
Warbling Vireo, several at Corkindale, Barnaby Slough, etc.
?
Cassin's Vireo, one at Corkindale.
?
MacGillivray's Warbler, several singing along Illabot Creek Road.
?
Western Tanager, one at Corkindale, one at Barnaby Slough.
?
Black-headed Grosbeak, one heard singing in Hamilton.
?
I saw two singing male Bullock's Orioles today, one each in Hamilton and Lyman. They seem early to me.
?
After seeing so many birds upriver, I decided to go for another century day, after having seen 103 on Sunday. It was much slower downriver today than it was on Sunday, and there was far more noise from motorheads, more people in the parks, and generally more of a challenging birding experience today, so I quit after finding species number 103 at around 1700.
?
I tried to relocate last weekend's Baird's Sandpipers at Estes Road, but missed them once again. I imagine they are far, far to the north by now.
?
Yours truly,
?
Gary Bletsch
?
?
?
?

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!"