Subject: Re: Ocean Shores weekend
Date: May 2 14:40:16 1994
From: Charles E. Vaughan - cev at rocket.com


I had a short trip on 4/30 to Bowerman Basin. It was my first time there
and due to a series of crazy schedule constraints I only had a couple of
hours. Recommedations for other novices:

1. If you have a friend with a Cessna or Piper, fly out and walk from the
runway to the basin.

2. It is wet, but don't worry, just plan to have wet socks and don't waste
time trying to avoid the mud.

3. Take a spotting scope, 10x binoculars were of limited use.

4. Get a tide table and really plan on being there for a high tide, it
makes a big difference.

5. Some vistas near the beginning of the trail (still in the airport) are
closer to the large groups of birds than the regular view at the end of the
trail, try out some of those breaks in the brush.

6. Find your own quiet vista and just listen to the sound that several
thousan shorebirds make.

I was fortunate (moreso than the victim) to observe a PEREGRINE take a
shorebird on the wing. There were CASPIAN TERNS around, numerous gulls,
MARSH WRENS, CANVAS BACK, GREATER SCAUP, SHOVELERS, DUNLIN, SEMI-P. PLOVERS,
BARN SWALLOWS, and many other species. Without a spotting scope it is very
hard to identify more than a few of those distant shorebirds and it is
*frustrating* to know that you are looking at some kind of golden plover
that would definitely be a life bird but to not have a prayer of determining
which one. One final tip, if at all possible plan to spend a whole day.

Charles Vaughan
cev at rocket.com