Tweets,
What an awesome day. I decided to bird Ocean Shores today with stops at BLack
Lake Meadows and Schouwieler WRA enroute.
The day started off by meeting Ryan Shaw at Black Lake Meadows at 6 AM. We
were looking for Solitary Sandpiper, but had no luck. We did have a male
AMERICAN KESTREL which Ryan says is rare at the meadows. In addition to this
I had a single VAUX's SWIFT and a SORA. A pair of CINNAMON TEAL was present
well. Also had a LONG-TAILED WEASEL scurry accross the path.
>From here I headed towards Ocean Shores. My first stop was at Ocean City ST.
Park, looking for migrants. Here I had 1 PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, 1 male
WILSON'S WARBLER, 4-5 BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER and lots (20-25)
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. I then decided to walk out to the beach area to see
what was out in the surf. Well I never got to the beach, I ran into a major
distraction. Along the trail from the picnic area to the beach is a small
slough. A spotted sandpiper sized bird flushed in front of me but did not
call. It settled down a little ways in front of me allowing a excellent look.
What was it? A breeding plumaged PECTORAL SANDPIPER! While I have seen plenty
of pecs in the fall, this is the first time I have never seen one in breeding
plumage.
Good omen for things to come, you betcha.....
It was about high tide now so I headed for the marina and Damon Pt. A nice
suprise was a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK carrying a white mouse! I have only seen
sharpies take birds before, I guess the white mouse was just too easy to pass
up. Somebodies pet?
The pond on Damon Pt. was loaded with shorebirds. I estimated the total to be
about 500. Lots of peeps, both WESTERN and LEAST, both DOWITCHERS calling,
one GREATER YELLOWLEGS, no lesser; darn. 2 RUDDY TURNSTONES and my suprise
here? A molting AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, which allowed close looks.
On to the jetty. Scoped out the shorebird flock with a KAS fieldtrip led by
tweeter Nancy Ladenberger. Among the BLACK TURNSTONES was 1 each of WANDERING
TATTLER, SURFBIRD AND ROCK SANDPIPER. Also had a BROWN PELICAN flying over
the Westport jetty and many PACIFIC LOONS.
On to Bill's spit, where no new shorebirds were found but a WESTERN TANAGER
giving its call note in the trees accross the street.
Hoquiam STP had no phalarope but did have a male CINNAMON TEAL.
Well done with Ocean Shores. A stop at Schouwieler WRA on the way home was in
order. New birds here? A RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER hammering above the trail, 3
seperate AMERICAN BITTERNS calling and one flew and relanded to allow looks.
Also a pair of CINNAMON TEAL present.
I decided to make a stop at BLack Lake Meadows again to check for Solitary
Sandpiper. No luck, but was rewarded with 3 WOOD DUCKS, 2 m,1f. A COOPER'S
HAWK flew by and 2 GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS are still sticking around.
It was now 6:30. I decided I really wanted to at least get one of my missed
target birds: Blue-winged Teal, Solitary Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs and
Red-necked Phalarope. Phalarope was out, but any one of the other 3 could be
at Montlake Fill.
I made a dash for the fill to check in the fading light. None of these were
present, in fact no shorebirds at all, except Killdeer.
Despite the fact I missed four target birds, a very fullfilling day. 114
species total. This is more species than I have ever recorded in a single day
prior to May. Previous high was 112 for a non-may day.

Scott Downes
sgd24 at aol.com
Seattle WA

To identify a species should not be enough to quench one's thirst,
a proper thirst must seek to understand every facet of the bird's
existence.