Hi, Tweets.

I've enjoyed the messages attempting to identify Ruth Sullivan's mystery
stint, and have found them instructive, as I am still trying to learn
shorebirds myself. So it is with some humility that I submit the following
observations from the north Olympic Peninsula.

Last weekend I *finally* made the acquaintance of Ediz Hook (Port Angeles),
and am still blushing that I haven't done so before. Among the Western
Sandpipers, Sanderlings, Black Turnstones, Whimbrels, Black-bellied Plovers
and Red-necked Phalaropes were a group of at least 7 golden plovers, which
my gut tells me were American but my brain can't be fully convinced. When
they flew they uttered what sounded to me like "tee-ur," which doesn't
quite match any references I have at hand. (Feedback, please!) And there
was one absolutely gorgeous juvenile Red Knot, which was gratifyingly easy
to identify, thanks to the bible that is Dennis's book.

Here in town, today, I went back to Kah Tai Lagoon (a week after my last
visit) in hope of more shorebirds. Dowitchers, snipe, and common stint
species were missing, but resident Killdeer and passing/wintering Greater
Yellowlegs and one Lesser were still there. There were still close to a
hundred Red-necked Phalaropes however, as well as 6 species of puddle duck
and 3 of divers, all in eclipse plumage.

The highlight of the visit occurred when a juvenile Cooper's Hawk flew
over, flushing ducks and phalaropes. There were 3 Purple Martins flying
overhead beforehand, and when the hawk appeared they alone took after it
(Barn Swallows were also present). They repeatedly dived at it, uttering a
raspy note at the closest/lowest point of their stoops, and were
unrelenting in their pursuit. The accipiter took to soaring, in what seemed
like a thermal, and eventually disappeared. But a half an hour later it was
back, still dogged by the martins. Purple Martins are apparently a new
occurrence in Port Townsend, and I'm looking forward to better
acquaintance.

One last note: A visit to Oak Bay County Park today also yielded a lone
Elegant Tern (the one with the most yellow bill?) still in residence, along
with around 40 Common Terns. No pelicans in the neighborhood yet...

-- Janet Hardin
Port Townsend, WA
wings at olympus.net