A belated report,
Sunday a group of about 15 birders and I birded the western end of Thurston
County and then headed to Ocean Shores.
about 4 miles up Rock Candy Mountain road, we all had great looks at a very
cooperative HERMIT WARBLER.
At Ocean Shores jetty, there were several SOOTY SHEARWATERS flying just
offshore, also all 3 SCOTERS, PACIFIC LOONS, HEERMANN'S GULLS in large
numbers. and Sam Terry spotted a group of RED-NECKED PHALAROPES that the
rest of us missed. Also near the Sewage Treatment Plant, on the end of the
jetty was 1 BLACK BRANT, about 40 WESTERN SANDPIPERS and 1 SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPER on the rocks. Also 1 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER at the pond at Damon
Point in with another large group of WESTERNS. Also 4 SHORT-BILLED
DOWITCHERS at the Sewage Treatment Plant.

On Monday we all left my house early, 3:00AM, and arrived at Paradise on Mt
Rainier. The weather was dreary, cold, and SNOWING! Though some of us
got up the nerve to hike up the snow patch, and we were rewarded with an
excellent look at a GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH within 5 feet of us. Life birds
for everyone who saw it except Charlie and myself. Also several booming BLUE
GROUSE, and 1 male 5 feet away on the side of the road. Calling VARIED
THRUSH were all around aswell.
Packwood yeilded no OVENBIRD, but we did have a pair of NORTHERN PGYMY OWLS
perched high in the trees near the pink flagging.
We then headed to White Pass Campground were all we really found of note was
the WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER nest. at campsite 8. White Pass was very rainiy
and dreary, and not to mention pretty gosh darn cold. A female BARROW'S
GOLDENEYE flew over Leach Lake, and there were a few SPOTTED SANDPIPERS
around aswell.
After White Pass all of us Washington people went home, and everyone else
headed south to California.
Thats about it


Observers, and where from:
Nick Block: Texas
Cameron Cox: Texas
Graham Gips: Texas
Justin Rink: Illinois
Mike Retter: Illinois
Josh Engel: Illinois
Evan Obercian: New Jersey
Mike Andersen: New York
James Restivo: (Monday) Connecticut
Dan Stoebel: California
Charlie Wright: Sumner WA
Jason Starfire: Shoreline WA
Sam Terry (Sunday only): Seattle WA
Stephanie Dosch: Bellevue WA
and myself

Ryan Shaw
Lacey, WA
RTShaw80 at aol.com
http://hometown.aol.com//rtshaw80/index.html