from the land of latte and geoducks!

Dates: August 12-24
While this was not exclusively a birding trip, I did see a lot of
nice things, expecially some birds in breeding plumage I'd only seen
previously in the winter (Red-thr. Loon, Dunlin, Red-necked Grebe).

NISQUALLY NWR:
A morning here yielded some Eastern treats: RED-EYED VIREO
and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE; plus a PEREGRINE diving into a flock of
peeps (as it came up empty, I realized it was a juvenile, clearly
suffering from indecision as the prey scattered).

SOUTH PUGET SOUND:
was scattered with PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, RED-NECKED GREBES,
COMMON MURRES, and two surprizes: 4 HARLEQUIN DUCKS and a GREEN
HERON.

GRAY'S HARBOR, OCEAN SHORES, TOKELAND:
I had hoped for 5 lifers here, but settled for only the
WANDERING TATTLER (which I've actually seen before in the South
Pacific and Hawaii)-- it took a cold rainy windy walk out on the
jetty to see these guys, but I eventually got a good look, even at
that long nasal groove.-- also SURFBIRDS and RUDDY TURNSTONES out here,
and migrating flocks of TEAL wheeling around the point. I got my
first good looks at BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, but was generally disappointed
by the lack of shorebirds-- no golden plovers, no rarities, etc.
Two breeding plumage DUNLIN were nice.

EXCELLENT OSPREY SPOT:
If you're ever driving up I-5 and want to photo Ospreys
on a nice big nest up close, go to the riverside park in Roseburg, OR.
just west of the freeway.

that's all,
Steve Hampton Davis, CA