Hello Tweeters,
I got delayed with this report due to chasing a Dragonflie what is not
listed ever in this Co.Grays Harbor.
Vicki Biltz and i looked for the Yellow-billed Loon on Damon Point,it was
around 10.30AM.High tide was at 2.49 PM.The Loon was so close to shore and
direct in front when you approach the beach.So maybe the right tide for this
bird.We also walked to the big Pond on Damon Point what is large now,there
was no birds at all.We did had lot;s of Shorebirds on opposite from the pond
including:
6 Black-bellied Plovers
1 Amerin Golden Plover
20 Whimbrel
15 Short-billed Dowitcher (call note keek)some in bright breeding plumage
75 Western Sanpipers
2 Least Sandpipers
30 Semipalmated Sandpipers
trying to find one with black feet for the rare Mongolian Plover
Several Horned Larks seeing going sky high into the air making there
destinct call
This whole area around Damon Point takes some time since you have to do it
all by foot.
Vicki was nice to carrying the Scope what is quite heavy.
We did go back one more time for the Yellow-billed Loon,the tide start
comming in already,but he was nowhere in sight.
Bills Spit produced the most birds for me this year:
300 Whimbrel
75 Black-bellied Plovers
I American Golden Plover
100 Long-billed and Short-billed Dowitchers
200 Western Sandpipers
1 Greater Yellowlegs
2 Ruddy Turnstone
I Common Tern ( flying overhead>
Again large flock of Caspian Terns mixed with gulls
Our next stop was the Cyber Lake next to the high School
The student's at the school,who created the trail(what is marked in the
parking lot) around the lake and the boardwalk accross the lake,recieved a
Presidential award for there environmental efforts last year.You can see
large groups of Shorebirds there ,if there not standing on the boardwalk
there sitting in the back of the pond in trees and on the lillypads.
We had around 50 Greater Yellowlegs all in the back .While standing on the
boardwalk,i seeing all kinds of Darners going by(i din't bring my net ) and
as we both standing figure out what species there could be what including
Blue-eyed ,California and Paddle tailed Darners.One huge Dragonflie came
from behind,you could not miss this one. He was larger than all the Darners
around but what stands this one out was the colour JET BLACK and BRIGHT
YELLOW my first tough saying to Vicki :WESTERN RIVER CRUISER.But i changed
my mind since thanThis Dragonflie had black and yellow stripes on the thorax
and large yellow spots on the abdoman.I must come to the conclusion that
this could be a "PACIFIC SPIKETAIL"This is one of the most attractive
largest Dragonflies around.I collected this species in two Co.first in Lost
Creek Skamania Co and the other found on Stossell Creek what is in King
Co.This species is only found in 5 Co. and only one on the westside.Since
there are rules for first Co.record to collect the species this would only
be a sight record since i have Vicki as a wittness.I been there looking
since than, but could not find one back yet.There was quite few of this
species on Stossell Creek last year.There is much to learn about Dragonflies
discovery.As of the Pacific Clubtail what i found onBlack Lake in 1998 in
Thurston Co.This species have only three records in Washington .One
historical record from Lake Wasington and the other from House Lake on the
Columbia River.
Sorry for the late report, it is frustrating not to find what you looking
for.

Ruth Sullivan
Tacoma
godwit at worldnet.att.net