Well I left my home in Olympia to Ocean Shores this AM at 6:30 with hopes of
a Rock Sandpiper making an appearance at the jetty. So I gathered all my
raingear and boots preparing to walk the jetty in the rain and wind
determined to find a Rock Sandpiper (I missed out on seeing this species all
of 99). It was raining pretty steadily the whole way to Aberdeen, but
surprised I was as I neared Ocean Shores, Blue Sky showed itself. I arrived
at the Jetty parking lot at about 8:15 with the weather only being partly
cloudy with a slight wind. Luckily I was the only one there at the time and
there was a large gull flock on the beach before the jetty. The majority
were WESTERN GULLS, with some GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, but right out in front
standing out of the crowd was a 1st winter GLAUCOUS GULL. My first for Ocean
Shores. Also in the flock were 2 THAYER'S GULLS.
As I approached the jetty, a flock of BLACK TURSTONES took off down the
beach, then I scoped out the base of the rocks and found 2 ROCK SANDPIPERS in
a group of SURFBIRDS. I was very happy to find them so fast WITHOUT having
to trounce around the whole jetty walking on the slippery rocks (Which I
usually have to do to turn up the goodies) But thanks to a higher tide and
the surf pounding the jetty side opposite the beach, the birds were right in
view up close. I ended up finding another ROCK SANDPIPER scoping out another
mixed flock of SURFBIRDS and BLACK TURNSTONES. Which brought me to 3 birds
at least. In january of 97, my high count of Rock pipers was 6, 1998 had 2,
1999 a big fat 0.
Also of interest in Ocean Shores was a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK down Tonquin Avenue
and a CLARK'S GREBE in REAL close at the O.S. Marina.
Good birding!

Ryan Shaw
Lacey WA
rtshaw80 at aol.com