Hello Tweets,

Today I birded in Grays Harbor Co., mainly in search of the first-year male
TUFTED DUCK at the Hoquim STP, which I located and photographed at 7:30am,
and watched it to 8am at the SW corner of the pond with both Lesser and
Greater Scaup, then again at 2:30pm on my way back home, at the SE corner
of the pond(alone). The weather throughout the day was variable, with
moderate/heavy rain/hail showers to mostly sunny skies, at times, and
constant wind, more directly close to the water.

At Ocean Shores I checked a few of the main locations starting at the Ocean
Shores Golf Course, where 3 GR.WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and 1 SNOW GOOSE were
noted. At the Point Brown Jetty, 3 ROCK SANDPIPERS were noted with 23
SURFBIRDS, and 34 Black Turnstones. 5 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES were noted
close to shore, just off the jetty, along with 8 HERRING GULLS, and a few
breeding plumaged California Gulls amongst the gull flocks at the tip of
the jetty, and on the beach. Further east on the Ocean Shores Game Range,
another "rock shorebird" flock was located that contained 54 SURFBIRDS, 5
ROCK SANDPIPERS, and 13 Black Turnstones. Other birds at the game range
included: 2 MERLINS, 4 BLACK SCOTERS, and 67 R.T.LOONS. The road past the
restrooms at the base of Damon Point is CLOSED due to recent storm erosion.
I walked to the Damon Point pond, where I encountered 1 female REDHEAD, and
4 HORNED LARKS. Scoping to the north on the inner bay side, 1 CLARK'S GREBE
amongst several Western Grebes offshore, along with good numbers of Surf
and White-winged Scoters. On my return to the Hoquim STP, along with the
TUFTED DUCK at 2:30pm, I observed 2 GR.WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at the south end
of the airport. At the AM visit, a single BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was on the
pond, and 1 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was observed, just north of the pond. On my
way home, further east I checked a few locations in the Brady-Elma area.
Along Brady Loop Rd. 1 PEREGRINE FALCON, 5 TUNDRA SWANS, 3 BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVERS, 5 Dunlin, and 12 TREE SWALLOWS were noted highlights. Along Wenzel
Slough Rd. 4 additional TUNDRA SWANS were observed in an extensive
wetland/marsh. My final stop of the day was made both the North and South
Blockhouse Roads, starting first at wildlife area, south of S.Blockhouse
Rd., where a single EURASIAN WIGEON was noted in an American Wigeon flock.
At the manure/compost/bramble patch along N.Blockhouse Rd. 1 AM.KESTREL,2
WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, 22 MOURNING DOVES, and 1 ORANGE-CROWNED
WARBLERwere good highlights to end the day!

Good Birding,

Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net