Subject: RFI: Coastal birding in March
Date: Jan 30 11:42:22 1998
From: Deb Beutler - dbeutler at wsunix.wsu.edu


For spring break, I will be visiting the coast. Right now, I'm not
sure what part of the coast I want to visit so I need some information from
all of the "west-siders". At this time, my plans are rather flexible. I am
willing to visit any part of the Oregon and/or Washington coast (maybe even
as far north as Vancouver, BC if I have to :-) ). The dates would be March
14-22, 1998.

My primary species of interest is the Harlequin Duck. I have never
seen one and would love to see one. (I'm hoping that if I see one on the
coast, I will be more likely to find them in northeastern Washington and
northern Idaho.) Is mid-March too late to see Harlequins on the coast?
Should I take a shorter trip (weekend) in February? What are the best
places on the coast to find these ducks? Are they more common on the outer
coast or in Puget Sound? Are there any ferry routes that are particularly
good for Harlequins?

In addition, I would like information on really good birding spots
on the coast. I have visited Newport Bay, OR, once (this summer); other
than that, I haven't spent any time on the coast. I would like to see most
of the coastal species but I am particularly interested in Red-throated
Loons, Yellow-billed Loons, Rock Sandpipers, Surfbirds, and Black
Turnstones. What are some good coastal areas to see these birds? And what
are your favorite coastal areas to bird, regardless of species of interest?

I do have copies of Evanich's (sp?) birding guide to Oregon, the
guide to Ocean Shores, WA, the guide to King County, WA, and Paulson's PNW
shorebird book; I have access to Wahl and Paulson's Washington bird guide
(at the WSU library). I will carry a DeLorme for Washington in my car but I
don't have the one for Oregon yet. If you want to just give me page numbers
rather than directions, that would be fine.

Send the information directly to me. There is no need to clutter up the
list with this information. If anyone is interested in the results, feel
free to email me.

Thanks in advance for all of your help.

Deb Beutler
Department of Zoology
P.O. Box 644236
Washington State Univerisity
Pullman, Whitman Co., WA
dbeutler at wsunix.wsu.edu