Hi Tweets,

Heather and I finally hit the tides and the SUN right at Leadbetter Point on
the Long Beach Peninsula. On Sunday, we walked all the way out and around
Grassy Island for the first time in many trips. It is about a 7 mile ramble
over flat, but uneven terrain, and is best to do in rubber boots if you want
to actually see shorebirds.

Highlights included:
600 Sanderlings
2 Sharp-shinned Hawks actually buzzing the Sanderlings
100 Western Sandpipers
100 Least Sandpipers
1 Greater Yellowlegs
3 Whimbrel not far from a rather odiferous 35' Gray Whale carcass. It is
fairly well picked over, but looks like is floated up in early summer. It
is about half way to the island in the salicornia near the narrow inlet.
Look for a big reddish and black log.

Migrants:
Hutton's vireo
Barn Swallows
1 Violet-green Swallow
1 Black Swift - looking rather big and black and a pleasant surprise

Good Birding,

Marcus Roening Tacoma,WA
MDR51044 at GlaxoWellcome.com