Hi Robret,
Thanks for mention me as one of the Birders there Saturday.I went with Greg
Tischner who din't see the Caracara the first time we went.After you left
to Cape Flattery, we had the Caracara in real close few for THAT Photo.Also
there was other Birders which arrieved late, we helped them find the Bird.
I try to hike out to the Point at Cape Flattery, but i hurt my Foot, so the
story goes. It certainly was a beautiful Day beeing out there with all the
good Birders to see the Caracara and some of the other Birds.
Ruth
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net

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> From: Robert Taylor <taylorrt at foxinternet.net>
> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
> Subject: Saturday's Neah Bay Trip
> Date: Sunday, February 01, 1998 12:05 PM
>
>
> 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