Went birding this morning with Jason Starfire to Ocean Shores, and
had some pretty decent stuff for the short time we were there.
Upon our arrival at the Marina, we worked the Scots Broom thickets and pished
out the following:

BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE - 3
WINTER WREN - 1
BEWICK'S WREN - 1
SONG SPARROW - 4
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW - 2
SOOTY FOX SPARROW - 2
SPOTTED TOWHEE - 1
PALM WARBLER - 1

The Tropical Kingbird seen the day before by the Sullivan's was not seen by
us, we were a bit down when we learned it was actually relocated by the
Smith's probably after we left. Jason and I used a bit of effort to search
the tree tops and wires but came up short.

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS where seen on the flats by Damon Point, and I could
hear the calling of BLACK TURNSTONES on the beach in the distance.

We stopped again at a different location down Catala Avenue where I was
hearing alot of chickadee activity. Some quick pishing pulled in a plethora
of birds for
real close studies:
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, of course
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH - 5
HUTTON'S VIREO -1
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET - 15
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET - 10
BROWN CREEPER - 1
RED CROSSBILL - small flock/flyover
Also there was a VARIED THRUSH in the vicinity

Jason I then headed for the Jetty where we observed a decent south-bound
movement of MEW GULLS. Still some lingering southern breeders, a HEERMANN'S
GULL here, a BROWN PELICAN there... 5 BLACK TURNSTONES flew past us and
landed a few yards down on the rocks for most excellent viewing.

Our last stop at Ocean Shores was the Game Range, where we kicked around the
Salicornia hoping for a late Pec/STSA. But no shorebirds where encountered.
Though we did flush a LAPLAND LONGSPUR, Jason also spotted another PALM
WARBLER, and it turned out there were 2 of them in this location. So 3 Palm
Warblers for the day, not bad considering neither of us had seen one in the
state before today.

Well we ended up cutting our coastal birding excursion short since Starfire
couldn't get his shift covered at the restaurant he works at in Seattle, but
it was still an excellent day, even though we dipped on the Tropical
Kingbird. But it wasn't a priority to locate as we had planned an Ocean
Shores birding day earlier in the week and wanted to cover as much ground as
we could.

We stopped at the Hoquiam STP, and observed basically the same birds that the
sullivans reported from the previous day.

Good Birding to you all

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