Subject: WOS Trip to Ocean Shores
Date: May 9 15:48:12 1999
From: Penelope Bell - bellasoc at mail.isomedia.com


Hi Tweets -

Yesterday, Saturday 8 May 99, five people (Stu & Sandy Renn, Franny
Drobny, Mari Daniels, and John Friars) joined me on the WOS trip to
Ocean Shores. We birded the Hoquiam Sewage Ponds-Bowerman Basin area and
many of the usual spots at Ocean Shores, with a quick drive along Wenzel
Slough Rd on the way home.

We had an absolutely glorious morning at Bowerman Basin (Grays Harbor
NWR), mostly clear with puffy white clouds, calm, and wonderful light.
The tide was falling while we were there, but we had good numbers of
shorebirds some in close and many out further. We got good close looks
at Western Sandpipers, Dunlins, and Semi-palmated Plovers all in
brilliant "breeding" plumage - got lots of wows. Further out we had
several thousands (tens of thousands?) of "peeps", likely mostly Western
Sandpipers, perhaps thousands of Semi-palmated Plovers and scatterings
of Marbled Godwits and Dowitcher species. We worked the forest and trail
and had Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-rumped (Myrtle and Audubon),
Orange-crowned and Wilson's Warblers. Lots of singing Marsh Wrens and
Song and Savannah Sparrows and Golden-crowned and White-crowned
Sparrows.

Our day at Ocean Shores continued with excellent weather conditions. The
highlight for most people at Ocean Shores (aside from awe at the power
behind the wreckage of the storms and modifications to the landscape)
were the 20+ Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels which were visible very close to
us on the Point Brown jetty. Great light, close views both sitting and
flying (even a couple of scope looks). We walked the road at Damon Point
out to the pond, which was fairly unpopulated (Canada Geese, some
Green-winged Teal, Mallards), but the bay side was excellent. We had a
large flock of Brant (closest views for some folks). We also had a good
scattering of shorebirds at fairly close proximity - Western and Least
Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstone and Black-bellied Plover, all in "breeding"
plumage and with great light. The Ruddy Turnstone was dazzling and did
its namesake act for us. While we were watching the show, a small flock
of Common Terns came over and was dive bombed by a Merlin (apparently
unsuccessful). Near the base of Damon Point we had Whimbrels and
Short-billed Dowitchers. Had some looks at Grey Whales.

Went over to Bill's Spit under unfavorable tide conditions, but still
had good numbers of "peeps" in the distance, and Marbled Godwits and
Whimbrels in medium distance views.

By the time we totaled up our haul for the day we had 84 species, plus
extended good views of many of them. A most satisfactory day.

Brian H. Bell
Woodinville, WA
bellasoc at isomedia.com