Tweeters:

Was pleased to hear from a eastside birder who responded to my Tweeters note on birders
with bikes for the CBC, so I'm trying it again. I just did a trial run for the CBC of the inner
Snohomish River Delta with members of the North Sound Kayaking Association, and it was
terrific. We went down Spencer Slough to remote Otter Island, east of Spencer Island;
we also got the edge of Ebey Island and Union Slough. A lot of this country is very well-suited
to kayaking and is backwater, really calm.

Highlights of 38 species seen/heard over the 4.5 hour run included:

Harlan's RT Hawk 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Virginia Rail 3 (heard)
dowitcher, sp 10 (flyover)
N. Shrike 1
Am. Pipit 1 (missed on our last two CBCs)
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1

So: looking for two experienced birders to lead the two teams (we may actually have a third).
The kayakers are very well equipped and expert; they do require you to sign a small waiver
before leaving. We covered 8.8 miles and I have to say, it was really great comraderie and
exercise. No charge, but helping them stow the gear away at day's end is needed.

The Big Day is December 14th, Saturday: the Everett-Marysville CBC. Rarities
(raptors, less-common herons, passerines) seem to be a definite possibility along the route.

Please advise via this email if interested--looking for folks with good ears as usual, lots
of Marsh Wrens along the route that need to be counted too.

Scott Atkinson
Lake Stevens
mail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com