Dear Tweeters,

Although we were unable to relocate the Fir Island Willet reported yesterday by Scott Atkinson, Bob Kuntz and I saw a Marbled Godwit there today, May 4, 2014. The location is east of Polson Road along Moore Road, Fir Island. I had tried to view the area from Polson Road's north end, but it was too far. A tiny pullout on Moore was the best I could find.

Birds there included 128 Whimbrel, plus a few dozen to several score each of Dunlin and Black-bellied Plover. A handful of Western and Least Sandpipers were also out there. I kept hearing a Killdeer, but never saw it. There were also a few dowitchers, probably Short-billed, but way out there, and not vocalizing enough for me to hear clearly. A Peregrine kept things interesting, too, scaring off the flock from time to time.

I was going to try for a big shorebird day, but my car battery went kaputt out there on Fir Island, and I spent the rest of the day talking with men in blue overalls.

It would be wise to spend some time there if anyone tries tomorrow--the shorebirds kept coming and going. Just when the tow truck was pullout out with me in it, the Whimbrels returned to the site, after having been gone for an hour or more.

Yours truly,

Gary Bletsch