A quick but a little more detailed report on a trip to Neah Bay.

I responded to Richard Rowlett's e-mail posting for ride sharers to go to
Neah Bay. If you have a chance to bird with Richard, do. He is
knowledgeable, informative and helpful. The folks we met all requested
that he continue his postings in the manner that he does. He told me to do
this one and I am (reluctantly).

Richard when you read this, please fill in my missed deatails -- there
are probably many.


Primary objective was to see the Caracara but also to enjoy the trip and
see what else would turn up. Caught the Edmunds-Kingston ferry before 6AM
so it was too dark to see anything on the way over (reserved checking the
Sound for the return trip. Hah!! It was black then, too!) and headed up
the peninsula. It was past Port Angeles before it was light enough to see
much of anything!

Once we started paralleling the shore we stopped regularly and checked for
everything. Got small groups of Oystercatchers (7, 5, 3, 6, and a couple
of 2's), all three scoters, Red-throated and Pacific Loons (if there were
any Commons, I don't recall them), fair numbers of Harlequin's, a few
Wigeon (no Eurasian), Buffleheads, Red-throated, Western, and Horned Grebes
and numbers of gulls scanned briefly without anything standing out.

While we were stoppped at one point checking out the Straits, a male
Pergerine passed behind us with its leisurely flap-cruise-flap-cruise flap
and disappeared to the east. Bald Eagles were frequent perched, in flight
and a coule on the rocky shore/beach.

Careful checking of the rocks also yielded Surfbird, Black Turnstone and a
lone Rock Sandpiper. Hey, and we found two River Otters! Also, along
this stretch we noted 2 male and a female kingfisher.

Arriving in Neah Bay at 10 we were immediately honked at by a following
GOSHAWK (that is Ruth Sullivan's license plate) and met by Ian Mcgregor
(who had seen the Caracara that morning). Indications were that it was
best seen at or near the Senior Center. When we arrived there we found
that Ian had just located a Black-legged Kitiwake where the little fresh
water creek flows into the bay. The Caracara was not apparent but a very
scraggly immature Bald Eagle drew some attention and then a Glaucus Gull
was tweeked out of the gulls at the fresh water creek! Someone then
spotted the Caracara peched in a large tree about 4 blocks from the water.
Easy and clear scope view was had by the group that had gathered (about 8
of us?).

Easiest way to describe the bird is "look in the NG Field Guide"! It left
there had moved to some alders for a brief stay and then flew further west,
returned and disappeared over the low hills to the west. It was clearly
seen and certainly no one was lacking a good look for ID purposes. The
Glaucus Gull then joined us near the closed off road to the spit.

We headed toward Cape Flattery. We had been told that there were a pair of
dead cows in the area and perhaps a food source for the Caracara and watch
out for Trumpeters. (We did not see the Caracara again on Saturday.
Apparently, it is not known where it spends the rest of its time.) Before
we checked out an area that looked excellent for Cattle Egrets (without
luck), we investigated what looked to be large pieces of white plastic bag
trash --- a pair Trumpeter Swans. Also, got Hooded Merganser, Robin,
Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Finch,Song Sparrow, Marsh Wren, Bufflehead,
etc. In the field there is also a 'Georgia O'Keefe' cowskull! One more
male Kingfisher over the the tidal creek. Plenty of Starlings.

At Cape Flattery, Richard remarked that if he went down to the Clumbia
River Jetties he would have been in all four corners of Washington satae
during the week! How many could say that?? The work that has been done on
the trail to the Cape is significant. For those that have not been there
recently (the last couple of years?). The trail has been smoothed. An
elevated walkway has been built. And WELL built. The split wood treads
have the rough grain going across the direction of travel that provides
skid resistance. The turns have been put together in a craftsman-like
manner. The steps are not too high or too shallow. There are handrails in
appropriate places. The lookout areas are not "poured concrete with steel
handrails"
but nicely shaped and well-positioned for seeing Tatoosh and the area.
This is truly a job "Well Done". If anyone has an e-mail address for the
Makah Nation so that a word of thanks can be forwarded to them I think it
would be most appropriate. Further, it should be used as an example of how
to do a job well for other County, State or Regional parks areas.

Plenty of Western grebes and a scattering of others. About a dozen Black
Turnstones. Murres in the distance. Harlequins. Scoters. A good sized
River Otter. Sea lions. Harbor Porpoises. A possible Ancient Murrelet and
Richard had a bird that could have been a Fulmar.

Went down the coast a bit -- to the Fish Hatchery and then back and
another try to go further down the coast resulted in running into an area
where several trenches had been cut acorss the road to bar further travel.
How do you get to Three Arches??? Found four more Trumpeters and on the
way Home got an exceptionally close view of the two Trumpeters closer to
Neah Bay. A last troll along the area where there should be Cattle Egrets
-- nop -- and then a long haul Home.

Ferry was a few minutes late and we were among the very last cars aboard.

Last Comment: WEATHER, best put as, "This must be June!" We had
generally clear skies, temps in the 50's, some wind but not harassing or
chilling. Birded from dark to dark.

Richard, "Thank You for a great day." It was good to see people get a
good bird and rewarding to see someone find their "life" Black-legged
Kitiwake.

Bob
Federal Way, WA
taylorrt at foxinternet.net