I'm sure Damon Point, or Catala Spit for us oldtimers, at Ocean Shores is a
favorite place for many of us in the birdwatching community. But its
future is now in for some major changes.

I do not know if this is good or bad, but the road out Damon Point will be
paved in the near future. Yes, that makes it easier for us to get out the
spit, but that's true for everyone. More traffic is the only certain
result.

As for birds along that stretch, yesterday (8/15) I saw very few
shorebirds. One Semipalmated Plover, three Sanderling (2 juveniles), and a
few small flocks of Western Sandpipers were along the end of the point. In
the waters many Brown Pelicans and Heermann's Gulls are around. A Black
Scoter and two Pacific Loons were unusual for the middle of August.

At Bill's Spit there were many Whimbrel and dowitchers and A Bar-tailed
Godwit. Two White Pelicans are cruising the bayshore regularly according
to locals.

No rocky shorebirds were seen at Pt. Brown Jetty.


Good birding (while it lasts)
a pessimistic Tom Schooley, Olympia WA , dunlin at mail.tss.net
"The earth that directed itself instinctively in its former phases
seems now to be entering a phase of conscious decision
through its human expression." -Thomas Berry