I will be visiting Washington in late September, renting a car at
SeaTac late Friday Sept 24 and returning to catch a midday flight on
Tuesday Sept 21. The time in between is for birding. 8-)

I am a novice birder. My one earlier opportunity to bird this area
was mid November last year. At that time I started at Ocean Shores at
dawn (but didn't own a scope then), hit the refuge near Hoquiam around
mid-day (the tide was wrong), and managed a couple of hours at the
parts of Basically that were not closed for construction and hunting
season (gates closed around 5:30). The next morning was spent getting
to and birding at Flaming Geyser (where I got my dipper!), which
pretty much finished the trip.

Even without a scope I was able to come up with a dozen lifers, and
added the 13th when I realized the towhees had split.

In preparation I have been searching the web like mad, including
reviewing the archive for this list and then joining. This seems like
the best place to ask for advice.

So, where do you think I should go? Back where I went last time? Up
north? Into the mountains? I only got serious about birding about 18
months ago, and don't know western birds, so I'm thinking of getting a
good look at what you have plenty of more than picking up rarities.
I'll have quite enough problems identifying the common birds! Oh, and
I have a scope now.

All advice gratefully received. Thanks!

Roy Harvey
Beacon Falls, CT
rmharvey at snet.net