We made a hike out Leadbetter Point on Saturday 8/20/96 and enjoyed the
shorebirds that were there.

As we started our hike, we met a woman with binoculars who had gone out to
find Snowy Plover. She told us "Ain't nothin' out there".

We saw Sanderling, Black-bellied Plovers, 1 Whimbrel, Western Sandpipers,
Short-billed Dowitchers, Ruddy Turnstones, Semipalmated Plovers, and Snowy
Plovers (at least 3 adults and 1 juv). On our walk back, we were delighted
to see a lone Cassin's Auklet in the surf. Its upperparts were dark gray
except for the white rump. There was no white on the face or neck. It had
white crescents above and below the pales eyes.

Pretty good for "nothin' out there".


Bill and Nancy LaFramboise
Richland, WA
wlafra at oneworld.owt.com