Hi,
Birding on the beaches is great as many of you have reported. On my
recent trip I spent most of the time north of the Oysterville Road, just
south of the main State Park boundary at the far north end, tromping the
heavily vegetated dunes between the internal wetlands (Hines Marsh)--
surveying wildlife. Highlights were a brood of wood duck and another of 5
green-winged teal along with 20+ herons feeding and resting, bobcat and deer
tracks and lots of beaver activity. Bear sign was evident everywhere I
went, especially scat. The vegetation was flattened along trails where the
bear had travelled. Many elderberry trees were flattened to get at the
berries, which are in abundance this year. I even came across an area where
the bears had been sleeping. It was difficult to keep my mind on birds and
butterflies when every rustle may have been a bear and my dog finally did a
strong bear alert, terminating my surveys in the area.


Martha Jordan
marthaj at swansociety.org
www.swansociety.org