Tweets,

On Friday, I had an extraordinary encounter with a Fork-tailed
Storm-Petrel. I was driving northbound on the beach just north of
Grayland beach in s. Grays Harbor county looking for shorebirds (mostly
Dunlin, Sanderling, and Semipalmated Plover). It was near low tide and
I was perhaps *60* feet up from the surf when this gray flash caught my
eye on my *right* side. It veered past the car and my initial reaction
was basic-plumaged Black-bellied Plover but its flight behavior was all
wrong. Doing a double-take, I realized from its shape, wingbeat, and
flap-glide-bank manner of flight it was a storm-petrel(!) and it was
going *south*. I immediately turned the car around and took chase. When I caught up with it, I confirmed it was a Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel.
I followed it nearly 2 miles as it flew about 2-3 feet above the sand!
It maintained a speed of between 21 and 24 mph and at one point nearly
alighted on the sand! About 30 seconds into the chase, I grabbed my
camera (steering the car with my knee) and began shooting pictures out
my window at this little guy! It didn't seem to mind my presence.
Fortunately the beach was empty of people and cars so the only thing I
had to worry about hitting was the occasional stump or loose sand. I
finally ran out of film and had to stop. The bird never veered from its
course. I lost sight of it down the beach shortly after stopping. Is this unprecedented behavior for a FTSP or does this species do this
on occasion while looking for invertebrate goodies in the sand? I have
been birding the Northwest for only a year, so forgive my ignorance if
this is not unusual. Is the location near a breeding colony? I meant
to consult references but have not had the chance yet. This was
certainly my best look at this species and the first storm-petrel I've
really seen over land (except for the occasional one or two over a
jetty or sandspit during last fall's spectacular flight). If the photos
come out, is there interest in posting the best ones on the web? If
this is indeed unusual, I plan to submit my field notes and photos to
appropriate parties. Carl Haynie Issaquah, WA chaynie at gte.net
P.S. - There was one Rock Sandpiper on the Westport Jetty along with
many Black Turnstones and Surfbirds.