Hello Tweets,

Today my mother and I birded the Hoquim STP, Tokeland, and a brief stop on
the way home at the Brady Loop Rd. wetland. The best highlight was a
RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER* at 4pm near the same location that the Ash-throated
Flycatcher was heard yesterday, as we scoured the general area where the
flycatcher was heard, and nearby woodlots. The sapsucker was sen coming in
from the NE, then flew into a pine tree, then continued through the small
woodlot, then slipped away within a 5 minute period, so migration is
definetely here! What will show up next? The weather remained great, with
only a slight breeze today, especially at the Hoquim STP, being the
strongest winds. Heading towards Hoquim at Elma along Hwy.12, were 7
SANDHILL CRANES on the wing, heading southeast, then a W.SCRUB JAY at Brady,
along with several Stellar's Jays, which the latter were noted to be
increasing in good numbers at coastal locations over a two day period, with
the highest count at one time being 33, which are assumed to be in migration
or in fall dispersal.

We started out at the Hoquim STP at 11am, where we mainly checked for
migrant passerines in the vegetated roadsides going to the airport, and also
species on the main pond. Due to the wind, birding was slow at first, then
"pishing" helped pull out a few species, but nothing unexpected. The main
highlights at this location included:

14 RING-NECKED DUCKS
205 AM.PIPITS
12 VAUX'S SWIFTS
47 BARN SWALLOWS
2 V.G.SWALLOW
5 YELLOW-RUMPED"AUDUBON'S" WARBLERS
1 BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER
1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
1 FOX SPARROW

Next, heading towards Tokeland, along Hwy.105 at Bottle Beach was a
PEREGRINE FALCON. At 12:35pm we arrived at Tokeland, about the same time
yesterday, as we headed straight to the flycatcher location, but was notably
quite for a 15 minute period, in which we waited and listened for the
hopeful "prritt" call of the Ash-throated Flycatcher, but NO call was heard
at several attempts during our entire visit to Tokeland. A generous walk
within a two block radius was covered in searching and listening for any
other migrants, and of course, the Ash-throated Flycatcher including the
following:

3 VAUX'S SWIFTS
1 WILLOW FLYCATCHER
5 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS
3 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS
2 HERMIT THRUSHES
1 SWAINSON'S THRUSH
3 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS
5 GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS
1 FOX SPARROW

We checked the Tokeland Marina, where we met other birders including, Bob
Norton and his wife from Joyce, Ruth McClausland, a Tokeland resident, and
Mary Jane Cooper of Tacoma, and others. We waited until the tide became
lower, so the large shorebird flock would be observed closer. Species found
here were as yesterday, but higher numbers of MARBLED GODWITS, with a total
of 215 birds, and WILLETS with 13 birds, the 3 BAR-TAILED GODWITS, the
remaining winter adult AM.AVOCET, and flock of swallows that contained 34
BARN SWALLOWS, and 2 V.G.SWALLOWS, as we left the marina.

On the way home we observed 1 adult MERLIN at Markham, and a HAIRY
WOODPECKER flying over Hwy.105, just west of Aberdeen,then a fairly quick
stop at the Brady Loop Rd. wetland produced the remaining 6 GR.WHITE-FRONTED
GEESE, and 4 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS.


* indicates first county record

Good Birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net