Subject: Re: Migration Questions
Date: Jun 9 08:29:46 1995
From: Scott Richardson - richasar at dfw.wa.gov


Grant and Tweeters,
I encountered similar emptiness (of soul?) yesterday while walking
beaches south of Grayland and southeast of Westport. Every prior visit
(through 18 May) resulted in the sighting of sanderling, dunlin, and an
occasional western sandpiper. Their absence now is expected, although a
straggler wouldn't be too surprising. Returning migrants can be expected
in about a month, I believe. Dennis may provide additional details.

Scott Richardson
Olympia
richasar at dfw.wa.gov

On Fri, 9 Jun 1995, grant hendrickson wrote:
> After walking from 20-24 miles of ocean beach between Ocean Park and the
> boundary to the Leadbetter Wildlife Refuge the last four days, I've seen,
> for the first time, the full impact of the shorebird migration. On Monday
> evening, on a six mile walk, we saw only one Sanderling. On similar walks
> the next three days we did not see one shorebird. None! We had always
> *assumed* that there was a resident population of Sanderlings with
> regular visitaitons by the other regular species.
>
> Is this complete lack of birds are typical phenomenon for this time of year?
> How long would such a condition be expected to last?