Hello Tweets,

Today my mother and I birded the Ocean Shores vicinity, with a few minor
stops made at a few other locations to and from home, with great weather,
with only minor wind at times along coastal locations. The main highlight
was a TROPICAL KINGBIRD that was well observed and photographed near the
Ocean Shores Marina from 1:30pm-4:30pm, as it actively pursued lingering
darners, as they were easy prey, as they slowly begin to die off, as it
begins to get rapidly colder, and late in the year. The bird would most
often perch on the lowest conifers, but also at times perch in taller trees,
as it foraged throughout it's limited feeding area, offering great views, as
it surrounded us at times, flying from tree to tree, paying no attention to
our presence! Late in the day the bird was noted to feed more often, as to
stock up for the night, or for dispersal. 2 PALM WARBLERS were also noted at
this same location today, which has produced them in past years, where they
tend to favor the densest Scotch Broom thickets. We checked the Ocean Shores
S.T.P., briefly during the afternoon, and located 2 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS upon
arrival, sitting on the perimeter fenceline, which are very local at Ocean
Shores.

A fairly generous walk out to the tip of Damon Pt. produced a few
highlights, but NO shorebirds, as was the case during our entire stay at
Ocean Shores, except for a flock of Black Turnstones near Bill's Spit, while
watching the kingbird. Notable highlights at Damon Pt. included:

1 CLARK'S GREBE(off the tip of Damon Pt., with nearby good numbers of
Western Grebes)
1 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
5 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS
1 female REDHEAD
2 female CANVASBACKS
5 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS

At the Ocean Shores Golf Course were 7 GR.WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, along with 9
"Cackling" Canada Geese

At the Hoquim S.T.P. waterbird numbers were rather good on the main pond,
which included:

1 EARED GREBE
1 WESTERN GREBE
54 GREATER SCAUPS
82 LESSER SCAUPS
37 RING-NECKED DUCKS
32 CANVASBACKS
26 RUDDY DUCKS
8 BUFFLEHEADS
30 NORTHERN SHOVELERS
1 NORTHERN PINTAIL
1 female CINNAMON TEAL
64 CALIFORNIA GULLS

We drove along Foster Rd., within the Brady Loop Rd. complex, and located 7
WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, and at least 4 Am.Pipits, but nothing too unusual, as
many of the open fields are still dry, and unplowed, at a few locations.

Patrick and Ruth Sullivan
Tacoma
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net