Hello Tweets,

Today Dave Hayden, and my mother and I birded the Olympic Pennisula and vicinity in Kitsap, Jefferson, and Clallam Cos., with 98 species, and great warm weather. The main highlight of the trip was both HERMIT and HERMIT/TOWNSEND"S WARBLER HYBRIDS that were photographed at the summit of Mt.Walker, just south of Quilcene in Jefferson Co., where we were unexpectedly joined by Marv Breece, who birded the remainder of the day with us at other locations.

We started out at the mouth of Gorst Creek in Kitsap Co. at 6:30am, where 3 BLUE-WINGED TEAL were noted, and 2 GREEN HERON flew overhead . We then headed to Miller Bay Rd., near Kingston at 7:30am, with the sun in our eyes, as we tried for the WHITE-FACED IBIS with NO luck, as the bird is presumably gone, but a pair of WILSON'S PHALAROPE, and a pair of BLUE-WINGED TEAL, were viewed from the road. From here we checked the Port Gamble waterfront, with good numbers of MARBLED MURRELETS observed offshore with a spotting scope, as 13 pair were counted, mixed with Pigeon Guillemots, and Surf, and White-winged Scoters. 3 PURPLE MARTINS were also noted near the log yard.

At 9am we were at the summit of Mt.Walker, with mostly sunny skies, but hazy conditions at a distance, where were Marv joined us, as my mother successfully attempted to photograph HERMIT WARBLER and HERMIT/TOWNSEND'S WARBLER HYBRIDS at the west lookout, as the birds were mainly all eye level, as they came in close for added views. A total of 13 pure HERMIT WARBLERS were noted from the summit area down, and only 2 TOWNSEND'S/HERMIT HYBRIDS were observed, and 1 pure TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, near the east lookout. It is a good area to get both species, as they probably interbreed in the general area and/or at this location. Other notable birds at this location were:

2 Gray Jays
1 Red-breasted Sapsucker
2 Pacific-slope Flycatchers
2 Hammond's Flycatchers
2 Olive-sided Flycatchers
1 Western Wood Pewee(at the east lookout, being somewhat high in elevation for the species)
3 Black-throated Gray Warblers(lower elevation areas)
1 MacGillivray's Warbler

At around noon we were at Diamond Point in Jefferson Co., where 2 TUFTED PUFFINS were noted on the wing, they made brief fly-bys to and from nearby Protection Island to the north. 12 MARBLED MURRELETS, 1 PACIFIC LOON, and all 3 cormorants were also noted as we all scanned the offshore waters, and 2 male LESSER SCAUPS were on the inland lake at the point.

We headed west to the Dungeness area, where we birded the 3 Crabs waterfront, as 145+ WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, with 20 SURF SCOTERS mixed in, and 2 male RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were noted, as were 2 WESTERN GULLS. The 3 Crabs "pond" produced the best birds here, with 1 male WILSON'S PHALAROPE, 6 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 1 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, and 5 BLUE-WINGED TEAL. Further west along Marine View Drive, near the Dungeness Oyster House, the tide was still out aways, but were able to locate a few notable waterfowl species for the date including:

68 Gadwall
6 Northern Pintail
4 Am.Wigeon


We checked the Kitchen-Dick "ponds", south of the Dungeness Rec. Area, where a single male BLUE-WINGED TEAL, and a breeding-plumaged Pied-billed Grebe were noted. Our last main stop of the day was made at W.Sequim Bay at Blyn,Clallam Co. at approaching high tide, where a single WHIMBREL, and a pair of possible nesting Spotted Sandpipers were observed.


Good Birding,

Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net
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