Mr Fennell,
I am trying to collect a database on North Olympic Sightings. I would be
interested in the date of your July sightings of 5 MARBLED GODWITS at what we
locals call the 3 Crabs 'horse pond'. Also in a separate post you mention
STILT SANDPIPERS at the Blyn logyard. How many did you see and was this on
the 17th?
George Gerdt's saw three STILT SANDPIPERS at the 'horse pond' and an ELEGANT
TERN at the Blyn log yard which I discovered as I am recording the SAS RBA to
be transcribed. I discovered both of your findings on Sunday night and rushed
over Monday, August 18, and saw the STILT SANDPIPERS. I took Jack Fletcher
who lives in the area to see the STILT SANDPIPERS and Bob Boekelheide saw
them. He also saw them fly away and they have not been seen since. The
ELEGANT TERN was at the log raft visible from the logyard (with a high
powered scope under good conditions as it is far away in mid bay). On the
19th it was seen by Gene Kridler and myself actually at the logyard. Bob
Boekelheide also saw it at the logyard on the 18th. It is with up to 180
COMMON TERNS. While I am on the subject of ELEGANT TERNS, Gene and I had one
at Oak Bay County Park (south of Port Townsend) on the 19th and Paul Conklin
had 3 there today (the 20th).
Incidentally, the 'horse pond' is almost dry. It was formed by backup
from the small local creek caused by beaver activity. The beavers have been
trapped, I am told, to improve salmon access to the stream. Perhaps the rain
from Ignacio will fill it a bit. It certainly has been our best shorebird
spot since access to the Graveyard Spit part of Dungeness Spit was closed so
as to not bother the one nesting pair of Black Oystercatchers (at least that
was the ostensible reason).
As to your question about DIPPERS at the Railroad Bridge. They have been
seen at the Railroad Bridge this summer. I have seen them widely in the
county but seldom in the same place. The best time to try to see them is
during the winter when there are more of them (forced down from inaccessible
high country) or the nesting season when their propensity for nesting under
bridges is useful. The road up the Elwha in Olympic National Park where the
bridge crosses the river (look north from or near the bridge) has been my
most dependable site. The second best is along the dike on the Dungeness
River accessed at the 'Old Fishin Hole' opposite the south end of the Olympic
Game Farm (OGF). [Owned by the OGF but fisherman and birders are allowed.
There is a parking space almost opposite a small hand lettered sign at the
spot.
Red Crossbills are sometimes seemingly almost everywhere and sometimes
very scarce which depends on how good the cone crop is and their mood. This
year they are scarce.
I don't know who came up with the information for the sheet you mention
but I also think they did a good job.
If you see something good in the 3 Crabs area, Jack and Pat Fletcher
would like to know. They live at 730 3 Crabs Road, phone 683-1958. They know
the area well and are glad to share their knowledge. Bob Boekelheide and I
are also willing to answer questions and would like to know about good
sightings. We would especially like to know about them in a timely fashion so
we can alert our grapevine and get some of us out to share. His number is
681-4867 and mine is 928-3053.
This is a general invitation for birders to communicate with the few
local active birders.
Bob Norton
Joyce, WA