Dear Tweeters,

Doug Schurman had it summed up pretty definitively in his post about the Fir Island Game Range birds today (14 September 2014). It is worth adding that there was a good movement of passerines there. A small flock of Steller's Jays appeared to be migrants--something I have noted there at that location only once or twice before.

I also saw a Red-breasted Nuthatch, right about the same time that the jays showed up, and did not think much beyond, "Oh, I can't remember the last time I saw a nuthatch here." When I got home, I noticed that I'd never seen one there before!

Out at the end of the old dike trail, near the final bench, there was a small flock of Pine Siskins as well. I also saw one Bank Swallow in a big flock of Barn Swallows.

I spent over four hours there at the Game Range today, having arrived minutes after the Little Blue Heron. I walked every inch of the place, and scoped all the distant trees, but no luck on the heron. Even so, I was able to ID over fifty species there.

A group of birders from Minnesota was there when I arrived; their leader, Kim Eckerdt (sp?), said he saw a Solitary Sandpiper, but no none else was able to get on the bird.

Later in the day, at Samish Island Public Beach, I saw what will probably be my last Willow Flycatcher of the year, plus a Western Grebe.

All in all, it was a much better day for Washington birding than for Washington's pro football and baseball teams!

Yours truly,

Gary