Dear Tweeters,
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Today (19 May 2013) was a good day for upriver birding in Skagit County.
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Highlights include these birds:
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Gadwall, two?in the slough at?Martin Road, a bit of a surprise here.
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Spotted Sandpiper, one at Corkindale.
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Western Kingbird, three at Corkindale.
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SAY'S PHOEBE, one at Van Horn Ponds. This bird?needs a Day-Timer. I'd never seen one in Skagit County in May before, let alone in the third week of the month.
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Chipping Sparrow, one singing in the Martin Road clearcut.
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The only Swainson's Thrush of the day was one I heard singing at Van Horn Ponds. It seems like they are overdue, but then, I saw very few ripe salmonberries today.
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Bullock's Orioles were singing at Hamilton and Martin Road. Cassin's Vireos were performing likewise at County Line Ponds.
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I may have heard a Dusky Flycatcher at Corkindale, but wasn't sure. It seemed?there was?a faint "dew-hic" coming from the woods along the creek on the north side, but there was also a Hammond's here to confound me.
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Bank Swallows were present at both Van Horn and Corkindale. They were easier to find than Rough-wings.
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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!"