Subject: Chestnut-collared Longspur and Rusty Blackbird in Grays Harbor Co.
Date: Nov 28 17:45:29 1999
From: Ruth Sullivan - godwit at worldnet.att.net


Hello Tweets,

Today my mother, Vicki Biltz, and I birded Grays Harbor Co., with great
weather, starting at the Hoquim STP at 7:45am, where were met by other
birders in search of the CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR, which was noted at
8am, along the south border of the ponds, between the road and the
fenceline, foraging mainly by itself, where it appeared to show the same
tolerable habits, than the bird at the Montlake Fill in Seattle in December
1995, being fairly approachable, and cooperative for photographes, which
were taken during our 2 1/2 hour visit. Several other birders were also on
site including Hank Vail, Bob Morse, Tom Schooley, Phil Kelley, Scott
Downes, and others. Other notable species in the general area included: 2
GR.WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, 3 CANVASBACKS, 2 BONEAPARTE'S GULLS, 1 MERLIN, 1
PEREGRINE FALCON, 14 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, and 4 LEAST SANDPIPERS.

We later birded the Brady-Elma areas, with Phil Kelley ,and a Chehalis
birder, starting at Brady Loop Rd., where highlights included 1 PEREGRINE
FALCON(photographed), 1 NORTHERN SHRIKE, 74 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS(with some
winter-plumaged birds in sunlight that appeared as golded plovers, BUT
could NOT be turned into as such), 210 DUNLIN, and 2 LEAST SANDPIPERS.
Extensive searching was made along this route, as the fields, being flooded
in places now, are productive from fall-spring, mainly for waterfowl,
shorebirds, and raptors, but being hunting season in progress, waterfowl
numbers were scarce, and scattered in numbers in the entire valley. We next
birded along N. Blockhouse Rd., SE of Elma, accessed off of Hwy.12, where a
female RUSTY BLACKBIRD was well observed and photographed near a manure
pile. Other noted species in the vicinity included: 2 TUNDRA SWANS(off of
S.Blockhouse Rd. in flooded fields), 1 GR.WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, 42 MOURNING
DOVES, 4 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, and 1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. On the way
home, we quickly stopped by Am.Lake, BUT still NO Little Gull, but 4
RED-NECKED GREBES. After my mother and I arrived home, we had a male
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, and a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER in our yard to end a very
rewarding day of birding.

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net