Hello,

I just returned from my first visit (ever) to Tokeland and looked for
shorebirds for a couple of days (Tues, Wed). Problem was, without my
"Birder's guide to Washington" (lost earlier in the year), I wasn't quite sure
where I was suppose to be looking. I stayed at the Tradewinds on the Bay
Motel in Tokeland and saw the following shorebirds on the flats in front of
the grounds:

Red Knot - 3
SB Dowitcher - 15-25
BB Plover - 200-400?
Whimbrel - 1
G. Yellowlegs - 2
Peeps - Western and Least, est. 500

I didn't know whether to be impressed with this total or not. Others had told
be about "hundreds" or "thousands" of Godwits here. I didn't see one. Was I
looking in the right place? Of course I'd be disappointed if they were just
around the corner and I missed them, but I'd rather know than not know. In
any event, I enjoyed the trip from Portland regardless, and highly recommend
the Tradewinds
Motel to dedicated shorebird watchers. It faces SW from the Tokeland
penninsula towards the ocean.

Ken Aldrich
KAldr at aol.com
Lake Oswego, OR