Subject: CARACARA and On the Road to Neah Bay.
Date: Jan 23 01:59:49 1998
From: Norton360 - Norton360 at aol.com


This is an open letter in reply to some queries.
Any hawk far out of range could be a falconer's escape or from some sort
of aviary. It had no bands or jesses and can fly up here more easily than a
XANTU'S HUMMINGBIRD but you never know. I went to see the first TUFTED DUCK
for the 48 in Massachusetts and that was said to be undoubtedly an escapee but
they could never approach it closely enough to collect it and time has brought
many other records so now even if they are seen in Arizona they are presumed
to be wild.
I think the CARACARA should be easy to see as James Burlingame or his wife
have seen it almost every day since the 4th. It did not stay long on its perch
south of the Makah Fuel when we saw it and did a lot of flying back and forth
when it did fly. Be patient and check that snag frequently.
As for other likely spots to bird once you have seen the CARACARA,
presuming you have Wahl and Paulson; A GUIDE TO BIRD FINDING IN WASHINGTON: At
this time of the year and from east to west, I like John Wayne Marina on
Sequim Bay (MARBLED MURRELETS, PACIFIC LOONS, OLDSQUAWS etc.), Ediz Hook in
Port Angeles, Elwha River Dike, 2nd road to the right, Place Road, on WA 112
after crossing the Ewha River, usually has many THAYER'S GULLS and some
others on the sand bars amongst the 'Olympic' GULLS and BLACK SCOTERS off the
opposite shore [the Indian side gives closer views but you usually get
hassled], Salt Creek Recreation Area is good for MARBLED MURRELETS and a wide
selection of waterfowl, Twin Rivers has a pullout and frequently a good
selection, Pillar Point CP also often has a good selection and in Clallam Bay
when the road angles sharply west a jog to the east puts you at Clallam Bay CP
with a trail over the Clallam River and beach through some good vegetation
where I always think I will see some good passerine but the best I have come
up with was a winter SOLITAIRE. In Neah Bay itself the steam coming in at the
Senior Center is the best spot to check for unusual gulls and the Fish Dock
gives a view of the rocks at the entrance of the harbor and there are
frequently many ducks around the dock. The latter spot is reached by driving
north on the the first road to the east of the Coast Guard Station. Sometimes
you can drive out partway on the jetty towards Waadah Island but avoid it if
there are logging trucks or other activity out there. A trip down the Waatch
and back by the unpaved log road will reveal TRUMPETER SWANS If you go south
at the bridge to the Fish Hatchery there are good ducks and passerine areas.
There is a new and excellent trail and boardwalk to Cape Flattery with a good
look at Tatoosh Island from an observation platform and the birds can be quite
good especially if the tide is running strongly (I think I have always been
able to find a Black Oystercatcher there if I look long enough).
There is an excellent public toilet in a sepatate building on the right of
the only large grocerystore. The Makah Museum is quite good. It displays
primarily artifacts from an Ozette village that was buried in a mudslide and
also has some large photo blowups of Makah life before everything became
Safeway.
Not too far south is the town of La Push where I have visited seldom but
have had good birds more often than not (EMPEROR GOOSE and BLACK-LEGGED
KITTIWAKE come to mind). The opposite shore, Rialto Beach of the Olympic
Nationa Park gives veiws of the same birds but involves walking and not as
good views.
My wife says I should mention the Breakwater Inn between Clallam Bay and
Sekiu as a place to eat. There are one or two restaurants in Neah Bay which
are adequate. Hilden' s (sp ?) Motel half way between Sekiu and Neah Bay is
clean and adequate but has no place to eat nearby. I have not been in any
motels in Neah Bay - if anyone stays there, I would like a review.
If anyone sees something out of the ordinary, Bob Boekelheide or I would
like to know about it since we are trying to keep records for the area (and
would also like to try to see them).
Bob Norton
Joyce (near Port Angeles), WA
norton360 at aol.com
(360) 928-3053