Tweeters:

Don't give up on spring migration even if it has slowed to a trickle--today was an super day for rarities. I had 70 bird species overall between Lake McMurray and Marblemount today. Even if I could not get them all photographed, the best rarity--an apparent ALDER FLYCATCHER--was photographed. I have three shots that are in fact all the same but I've zoomed two of them. My flickr site is: https://www.flickr.com/photos/14115261 at N05/ (low-grade shots 1122, 1123, and 1083), but apart from that, the bird called repeatedly, giving the "kep" call. I was unable to collect an audio but the call was similar to Hammond's, but flatter and slightly lower-pitched. Anyway, the bird was at the north end of Corkindale, in the grove of sapling birches and alders, at the east end. I was looking for it there when it briefly landed at the edge of an adjacent hedgerow of blackberries, in the wide open, before it was chased off by one of the several WILLOW FLYCATCHERS in the area. I captured three shots of this species also, which make for a nice comparison. I say "apparent" ALDER because this species, as is known, has only relatively recently been added to the state list, and other than the narrative above and below, please check the flickr site discussion and photos. Today's bird was not far from Skagit County's first, a bird seen by many birders from June 20-into early July a number of years back, at the Marblemount Boat Launch. I found that bird and it was ultimately audiotaped for verification and, unlike today's bird, was singing in addition to calls. I mention on flickr why I identified this bird as an ALDER other than the vocalization. The case against HAMMOND'S, other than the vocalization, was this bird's longer tail, more substantial bill, and the eye ring was less pronounced than with Hammond's, without any "teardrop" effect. One supposes a migrant HAMMOND'S could turn up anywhere, but I've never seen one in classic "Traill's" habitat like today. Other nice finds today included a SOLITARY SANDPIPER at a small receding marshy area off the east edge of Hwy 9 just south of Clear Lake; you can't enter the property, but right along Hwy 9 can look down on the place. Earlier this year more water was here, but today's SOLITARY was perched on a fencepost (!). Seemed late as well. This one is also at https://www.flickr.com/photos/14115261 at N05/. Again, don't expect great photos but at least you can see this is no SPOTTED, although there was at least one of those present as well. This bird also called three times. The first of a number of RED-EYED VIREOS was here as well. Similarly surprising and late was a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER that darted across Hwy 20, at close range to the vehicle, close to the turnoff for the Lyman-Hamilton Rd. heading east on Hwy 20. It landed in a maple just long enough for me to make a rapid turnaround and study, but then it flew onward. Along Martin Rd., 8 TURKEY VULTURES were focused on a single Doug-Fir tree roost amidst the clearcut area on the south side of the road near Hwy 530, and a singing CHIPPING SPARROW was near the familiar spot at the 90-degree turn. Things got really exciting at the north side of Corkindale. A pair of EASTERN KINGBIRDS were perched along the barbed-wire fence in the pasture before they headed into the deciduous growth along the creek; a single WESTERN KINGBIRD flew by as well, and a second was likely but not certain. Then, while watching several LAZULI BUNTINGS at the north end, a perfect CLAY-COLORED SPARROW put in an appearance right in a Blue Elderberry with one bunting pair. I had a very low-grade photo (you could see the bright whitish supercilium and a Spizella-like build only in shade and foliage) but somehow it was deleted among the many I just took from the camera. There was also a PINE SISKIN in this area. I was again unable to detect the usually-reliable Bank Swallows here. Finally, if all this wasn't enough, I started the day at the regenerating clearcut just west of the Centennial Trail parking spot, just south of the Lake McMurray boat launch. Thanks Steve--I had a female WESTERN BLUEBIRD here, which was also photographed and on the aforementioned flickr site. Scott AtkinsonLake Stevensmail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com