This morning I saw a couple of Eared Grebes still partially in breeding
plumage in Tramp Harbor on Vashon Island. This was at the exercise bikes at
Portage, the most reliable location. It's the earliest fall sighting for
Vashon. Quite a few groups of 5-10 Red-necked and Horned Grebes also
appeared to be mostly loafing rather than feeding there this morning. There
have been no Common Loon sightings yet which is really unusual. One group
of three non-breeders spent the summer off the NE tip of the Island but no
other reports have yet to come in.



At Fisher Pond, a Solitary Sandpiper moved slowly in the mud along one of
the small water patches still left. There are also a lot of Killdeer here
and often some peeps and sometimes dowitchers but except for the Killdeer,
many of the shorebirds prove hard to find in the mud. Just saw the single
Solitary and the Killdeer today.



Ed



Ed Swan

Nature writer and guide

Check out the new seccond edition "The Birds of Vashon Island" at


www.theswancompany.com <http://www.theswancompany.com>

edswan at centurytel.net <mailto:edswan at centurytel.net>

206.463.7976