Hello Tweets,

I would like to respond to the 4 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS seen yesterday on
the mudflats at the S. end of the Hylebos Waterway and add extreme caution
should be taken in identifying this species, especially in S.Puget Sound,
where there are extremely FEW records. Multiple birds are extremely rare or
unheard of this far south, as most individuals travel south to the
Vancouver area(Iona Island), with only a few that trickle in to W WA,
mainly in N.Puget Sound(Whatcom-Snohomish Cos.)and casually to King Co.
with mainly single birds. I would hesitate to confirm mulitple birds,
unless photographed in S.Puget Sound, but a single bird would be
acceptable, but still very RARE.

Today I checked the Tacoma location in which the birds were seen yesterday
at 12:30pm-1:15pm(low tide) and was able to confirm the good numbers of
Western Sandpipers, which numbered at around 300, and Least Sandpipers at
45. The Westerns were mostly juveniles, with a few in partial breeding
plumage. I was able to notice several Westerns that had mud-coated bills,
which made the bill looked thicker, and somewhat blunt-tipped, as a
Semipalmated would have, but is much duller and paler overall than a
Western. Other birds at this location included: 5 Boneaparte's Gulls, 3 Mew
Gulls, 8 California Gulls, and 2 Purlple Martins.

I birded S.King Co., starting at the Clay Street Wetland in Auburn at
1:45pm, where highlights included: 3 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, 11
L.B.DOWITCHERS, 1 Gr.Yellowlegs, 1 GREEN HERON, 45 W.Sandpipers, 8
L.Sandpipers, and all 3 Teals. From 2:35pm-3:45pm I birded the Kent Ponds,
which are still under construction, with workers present during my visit
clearing brush around the pond edges, etc. Notable species included: 1
HORNED GREBE(my first for the season), 2 OSPREY, and 1 E.KINGBIRD.

Waterfowl present:

25 Canada Geese
75+ Mallards
52 Gadwall
34 G.W.Teal
1 B.W.Teal
17 N.Shovelers
15 N.Pintail
4 Am.Wigeon
20 H.Mergansers

Shorebirds:

8 Killdeer
1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER
2 L.B.Dowitchers
1 W.Sandpiper
7 L.Sandpipers
1 Spotted Sandpiper
8 L.YELLOWLEGS
2 Gr.Yellowlegs

Good Birding,

Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net