Dear Tweeters,
Today I visited thirteen birding sites in the Upper Skagit Valley, where I live, with an extension to the Sauk Valley. It was a pretty good day. I saw a Ruffed Grouse and a couple of Western Meadowlarks--not rarities, but not the easiest birds to find upriver.
At most of these sites, I was able to find just a bare handful of species, mostly in low numbers (except for hordes of American Robins). That was fine with me. 
There were zero other pedestrians at twelve of these thirteen sites. At one site, I did see a lady walking a dog back to her car; she approached to within 100 meters of me at perigee, and then left, just as I headed out.
At the local, family-owned gas station where I fuel up, I have been using sterile technique. I am sure this mom-and-pop business appreciates my continuing custom.
The only external object that I touched outdoors today with my hands was a Douglas fir branch, while I was walking off-trail.
Since childhood, I always dreamed of living in the country. I was finally able to realize that dream at the age of 44. Now I'm in my sixties, so if I come down with COVID-19, I have a good chance of dying. Nonetheless, I am certain that driving on SR-20 and SR-530 was by far the most dangerous thing I did today, in terms of both my safety and that of others.
Respectfully yours,
Gary Bletsch

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