Tweets

Just got back from a super three days birding in Ocean Shores, as well as
going on the Friday Westport pelagic (which was excellent - I'm sure Bill
Twite will report all the birds we saw). Highlights were 3 Buff-breasted
Sandpipers, 2 Ruff, 2 Stilt Sandpipers, 5 Pectorals, 1 Baird's Sandpiper,
100's of Red-necked Phalaropes (~500 on Damon Point pond!), 22 Pacific
Golden Plovers, 25 Marbled Godwits etc. The first BBS was only seen by
myself on the Thursday evening by Damon Point Pond; the second and third
birds were found by myself, Stuart Mackay and Elizabeth (?) yesterday,
also on the pond. Today they had moved to the flat area to the north of
the road, and east of the pond. Fantastic birds. The PGP were on the
beach to south of the pond, before they flew off in the direction of the
game range. The Ruff were also on the pond, although we could see only
one today. We saw presumably the other bird leaving (?) flying south this
morning over the sewage farm on the other side of the game range.
One behavioural thing we noticed which I have never seen before: the RN
Phals were fly-catching termites, flying up to 30 feet in the air before
returning to the water surface. With 500 birds on the pond they were
quite a site.

Chris McInerny