Dear Oystercatcher fans

A premier spot on the coast to see oystercatchers is the lake Ozette
loop trail, starting at the Lake Ozette Ranger Station parking lot.
Take the north boardwalk trail in (3.5 miles).

Where the trail hits the beach, I've seen as many as 30 oystercatchers
on a single rock, just 20 yds offshore at high tide. At low tide
they are are on rocks farther offshore, readily visible but not in
extreme closeup.

After seeing your 'catchers, either return directly, or better,
walk three miles south along the coast to Sand Point, returning on
the south boardwalk (three miles again). 9.5 miles altogether.

So this is not the easiest way to see an oystercatcher. It is
instead a very strenuous way to see quite a few oystercatchers,
and is best suited for people with an oystercatcher fetish.

Best bet for noncamping fans is to drive to the Ozette lake ranger
station, sleep in the car, then do a long day trip, returning to
Seattle that evening. So it can be done in 24 hrs. But because
it is so strenuous, I don't see too many birders.

This is a OK loop for raptors (peregrines and eagles) and mammals
(seals, otters, and whales). The species count is definitely low
compared to (e.g.) Wenas Creek, however. Another reason for low
birder density.

Bring your surfboard too! Any surfing birders on tweeters?

Cowabunga... JAS