For those who might be going to the coast soon, Bill Tweit and I, with a
bird class, visited Ocean Shores Saturday and Sunday, 30 April-1 May;
saw/heard 102 species (18 species of shorebirds) in two days from Montesano
to the coast. Beautiful weather conditions and great bird diversity,
although no really large concentrations (except 5-10,000 shorebirds seen at
a distance at Bowerman Basin as tide was going out Sunday morning).

Mostly at *low tide,* shorebirds were on the ocean beach (many Semi.
Plovers & Sanderlings, drive out one of the roads toward the beach south of
town), the Point Brown jetty (Wandering Tattlers, Black Turnstones), and
the game range (Oyhut Wildlife Area--numerous species although very small
## of each). At higher tide (but nowhere near high), there were lots of
birds along the east side of the Ocean Shores peninsula (large flocks of
Whimbrels & Marbled Godwits by the point north of the marina) and at the
base of Damon Point (about 10 species, including Ruddy Turnstones and a Red
Knot on Sunday). An ARCTIC TERN, either sick or exhausted, landed there
Sunday afternoon. Best shorebirds on game range were 4 PACIFIC
GOLDEN-PLOVERS, including 2 full-plumaged males, on Saturday, feeding and
roosting with a few Black-bellies in equally gorgeous plumage.

Other birds of interest: Black Oystercatcher and Parasitic Jaeger flew by
tip of Point Brown jetty Sunday; large flock of Common Terns fishing off
harbor mouth Sunday; all 3 species of loons migrating north in good numbers
(Commons tend to fly way up in the air, often going right over jetty,
Pacifics often come by in groups), and Brandt's and Pelagic cormorants
migrating south; all 3 scoters at jetty, including large ## of Surfs
heading north (one flock included a female Oldsquaw Saturday); few flocks
of Canada and Gr. White-fronted geese and Brants migrating N both days; a
White-fronted Goose and numerous other waterfowl, some gulls, terns and
shorebirds, on the big pond with pilings at its west end on the south side
of the road going out Damon Point on Sunday; Blue-winged Teals both days on
Ocean Shores sewage ponds, and large numbers of ducks on Hoquiam sewage
ponds, including Canvasback Sunday, both scaups, and Cinnamon Teals, also
imm. Bonaparte's Gulls; a surprising Purple Martin with other swallows at
Hoquiam pond Sunday.

The golf course at Ocean Shores was almost birdless at the lower tides,
just a few Whimbrels, Marbled Godwits and Short-billed Dowitchers. Things
may be very different if you hit a high tide. Best o'luck.

Oh yes, lots of marine mammals off the Point Brown jetty: we had good looks
at harbor seals, California sea lions, gray whales, and harbor porpoises.
Watch the whale-watching boats to find the whales!

Dennis Paulson