Thanks to all who gave me directions to Bottle Beach. Sorry this is a
belated report, But as I was birding the coastal area on thursday, I came
down with something bad which kept me in my bed the rest of Thursday and
all of friday. I just checked my mail and found 104 messages unread!
Well I left my place at 4:45AM to catch the tide at Bottle Beach just
right, (had no trouble finding the place this time.) I arrived at 5:50
and found many shorebirds there very close to me. I think I like this
spot better than Bowerman Basin! Well there were Lots of Western/Least
Sandpipers, Black-bellied Plovers, and Red Knots. (my first Red Knots I
had seen since spring of 96, what can I say other than I've been
extremely busy during this time of year in the past years). There were
also about 15 Ruddy Turnstones along the beach with Dowitchers and a lone
Whimbrel.
I then went to Westport and saw a bunch of extremely faded
Glaucous-winged Gulls. 1 bird looked almost like the one I photographed
which was on Mike Patterson's "Ugly Gull Page". Other birds there were
about 60 Surfbirds. My next stop was Bowerman Basin. There were about
70+ Red-necked Phalaropes in the sewage pond. (First time I have seen
this species in alternate plumage!) Very nice birds. It was low tide by
the time I got out to the flats. But on the way out I did get my first
Wilson's Warbler of the year along the trail along with a bunch of
Orange-crowned Warblers and Yellowthroats. My next stop was Ocean Shores
Jetty. It was low tide and very windy when I got there. I walked all
the way out to the end on the right side of the jetty so I had shelter
from the wind and waves. There were lots of Surfbirds and Ruddy
Turnstones on the inside of the jetty with fewer Black Turnstones. 6
Wandering Tattlers were also around I got a nice full frame photo of one
of them. (this is also the first time I have seen this species in
alternate plumage) Did anyone have any Rock Sandpipers at The Ocean
Shores Jetty this year?? This is my first year without one there.

I then stopped at Ocean City State Park and saw some Marbled Godwits and
Sanderlings. My last stop was Black Lake Meadows in Olympia. I could
not find the Solitary Sandpiper but did see lots of Killdeer and a Common
Snipe.
Total of 19 shorebirds species, not too bad. would have liked to get the
solitary for the 20th though. Oh well.

Ryan Shaw
Lacey, WA
rtshaw at juno.com <-e-mail only, can't process file attachments
Lftpitcher at aol.com <-Internet and file attachment capable.

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