[Tweeters] Skagit County, Clear Lake, Purple Martins

[stan Kostka lynn Schmidt via Tweeters]

Hi Tweets,  

Following up on various eBird reports over recent years , Lynn and I have been spending some time searching for inland Purple Martins in Skagit County the past few summers.  Yesterday we were extremely  jazzed to find a pair of martins, an adult male,  and what appeared to be a subadult female,  repeatedly entering a cavity in an old piling near the C Street boat launch at Clear Lake.    Although we never confirmed food carrying or fecal sac removal,  they both entered and exited the cavity four times during our one hour visit,  so it was readily apparent they are attending a nest there.  Looking forward to confirming with follow up visit(s).  

Once confirmed,  and until I am informed otherwise,  it is my understanding this is the very first breeding record of Purple Martins away from the marine shoreline in Skagit County,  about 12 miles inland from the nearest known breeding location near Bay View.  

It was a very good day.  

Stan Kostka 
Lynn and Stan at earthlink dot net
Arlington