Dear Tweeters,
Today, the eleventh of October, weather was much nicer in Skagit than yesterday. The birding was almost as good today as on the miserable rainy day that was yesterday.
At Green Point were close to 200 Common Murres, plus a Pacific Loon. There were several loons out there that were probably also Pacifics, but they were too far out.
The Great Egret was on the dredge-spoil island of March Point again today. Near it, a pair of Bald Eagles flew out over the wigeon-pintail flock, and managed to reduce it by one. Surviving the attack, along with several thousand kin, was a drake Eurasian X American Wigeon hybrid.
At Skagit Airport Ponds was a White-throated Sparrow; I'd not seen one there before.
At my place near Cockreham Island, I ticked a new yard bird when two Long-billed Dowitchers flew in and landed by a field-puddle.
At Samish Island Public Beach was a Red-throated Loon, my first of the season. In the foliage by the parking area was an amazing flock of foraging passerines, mostly Ruby-crowned Kinglets.
Dennis Jones called me today to report a banded Red-tail at the corner of Cook Road and Old Ninety-Nine. Dennis said it had Z3 on its orange patagial tags, and appeared to have two orange color-bands on one of its legs. Dennis is hoping to learn more about this bird, so please feel free to inform Tweeterdom on this.
Yours truly,
Gary Bletsch