<html><head></head><body><div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Dear Tweeters,</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">This evening, the 29th of July, ten California Gulls flew over my house, heading west. The location is near Lyman in Skagit County. There were six adults and four juveniles. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">This species does this every summer. In springtime, March and April, I've seen them flying eastwards at least 5 times. In May, June, July, August, and September, every sighting has involved westbound birds. The great preponderance of sightings have come in July. It is easier to find them in summer as they head west, than in spring, as they fly east. It has always been one of the highlights of my summers to see these birds flying up and down the valley! </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Also of note the last few days have been flocks of Rough-winged Swallows. Yesterday I saw a flock in Hamilton. Today, there were at least ten at Cockreham Island. Later three flew over my house, possibly from the Cockreham Island flock. My guess is that most of the Rough-wings around here have finished breeding, and they are starting to migrate.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Yours truly,</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Gary Bletsch</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div></div></body></html>