Bill and Nancy LaFramboise:
>For a first time visitor, its a little tough finding the good birding spots
>at Ocean Shores. We recommend getting Robert Morse's book "A Birder's Guide
>to Ocean Shores".

Where can one get this? SAS?

>The
>jetty extends inland to the east to an area refered to as the "game range"
>and the sewage treatment plant. We are told that this is a good area for
>snow buntings and will be looking for them when we go.

This is where I saw my first Lapland longspur, a small group, actually,
sitting on the top of a chain-link fence which if I remember correctly
borders the sewage plant. It was grassy, that much I remember. I'd
led a PAS trip to Bowerman (it was spring) and we went down to Ocean
Shores to bird as well, one participant said "what's that" and ever-confident
Don casually picked them up in his binos and said "Huh...". Knew it
was a longspur but had to look it up to tell which flavor, how embarrassing
when in Fearless Leader Mode. We were all psyched.

>Bill's spit is located on the bay side of the penninsula. For us, it has
>been a good location to see large shore birds (Marbled Godwit, Whimbrel,
>and, Long-billed Curlew). Although we have not been there this late in the
>year. Tide is a factor here too.

Do you happen to know the relationship between tides at Ocean Shores
and at Tokeland?

>A Bar-tailed Godwit has been there for over a month along with a
>large number of Marbled Godwits, Whimbrel, and Willets.

When was this last seen? I didn't see it last tuesday but then again
I hit the tides wrong and the godwit were off feeding. Others missed
it days earlier, though. I'm curious because I'd like to get more
photographs if it's still around. I'm certain if any tweet sees
it we'll hear about it (hint).


- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>