Tweeters,

As threatened, I made a mad dash up to Hoquiam from Albany, Or on Saturday
afternoon. It took 4 hours of travel but it was well worth it. I arrived
about 3:30 pm and immediately went to the sewage pond to find the Tufted
Duck, a lifer. To make a long story short, I found it amongst a small
group of Greater and Lesser Scaup in the SE part of the pond. All of the
birds were continuously diving for food and it took about 15 minutes to
zero in on a positive ID of the Tufted Duck. What a striking bird :) It
was easily distinquished from the scaups because of the dark back and tuft
which blew in the breeze as it shook its head each time it surfaced. When
it turned so that the back of the neck was into the wind the tuft blew
quite alot. NEAT!!! I want to publicly thank Bill Smith and Constance
Sidles for providing me with great info on this bird prior to my trip.
Their info plus the predictability of the bird provided me with a lifetime
experience!

After soaking in the Tufted Duck for a little while, I moved over to the
refuge by the airport cafe and scoped the fields to the north and the water
area beyond. Saw 2 Greater White-fronted Geese and an enormous army of
Tree Swallows! I'm talking hundreds and they were very actively feeding
over the grassy areas. Haven't seen that many Tree Swallows in our area
here in the Willamette Valley. Also saw a few Violet-greens and one Barn
Swallow. After reviewing all the posts of people who also visited this
area this weekend, I didn't see any mention of Barn Swallows. A new
arrival perhaps?

As the sun was beginning to sink in the west, I headed for Ocean Shores for
the first time in my life. What a public arena. I guess it was because of
the last days of spring break but there were more people on that beach than
birds!!! I did manage to see the beached Sperm Whale that was quite an
attraction for many people. I plan on revisiting this area towards the end
of April for shorebird viewing. Watched a great sunset then went back to
the motel in Hoquiam.

On Sunday morning, I went back out to see the Tufted Duck again. This
time, it was not actively feeding so I got great looks at this bird. At
one point, I had it plus the Greater and Lesser Scaups in my scope view all
at once. What an opportunity for comparison :) I was thinking how great
it would have been to have a drake Ring-necked Duck in the picture too.
While there Craig Kempler (Craig, I hope I didn't botch your name spelling
too bad) arrived to view the Tufted also. On his recommendation, I
returned to Albany Sunday afternoon via Westport and Tokeland. Mimicking
other birders comments, there wasn't much activity around Westport and the
jetty birdwise but I did manage to harvest 16 sand dollars on the beach
near the jetty for my family and friends back home. It was a different
story in Tokeland. I drove all the way out to the dock area and was
treated to Whimbrel and Willet right by the docks. Western Grebes and
Red-breasted Mergansers were highlights for me among the "common birds" in
and around the docks. Tide was out further than I would have liked because
way out there were some fairly large shorebirds ( maybe 150 to 200 or so)
which could have been Long-billed Curlews or maybe Marbled Godwits. They
were noticeably brownish in color. Any suggestions here from you locals ?
The heat waves distorted my viewing through my scope so that I couldn't
determine body/bill lines.

So, that is it for my whirlwind visit! A new lifer and an introduction to
a wonderful birding area. Hope to revisit this spring to sample some more
of your goodies :) Thanks again to all who made my trip memorable!

Jeff Fleischer
Albany, OR