Played hooky Thursday, hit 3 spots to play with new spotting scope. With the scope, this was my first chance to really try to get a handle on the peeps. I was also helped by being able to see the different species together for comparison. Breeding plumage sure helps, doesn't it?

Quick check of Bowerman Basin at 10:30am . . . . not much, no peeps . . .. tide out. Saw a weasel-ish animal, reddish fur, black-tipped tail . . .. any ideas?
then Jetty at Ocean Shores (incoming tide -- around noon-2pm)
then Damon Point 2:30-4:30pm (high tide was around 3:30pm I think)
then Bowerman Basin 5:30-6:30pm . . . many many peeps and more arriving each minute, lots of movement.

50+ species . . . 8 lifers . . . . pretty good day, generally overcast with spots of sun all day.

COMMON LOON
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
GREAT BLUE HERON
BRANDT
CANADA GOOSE
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
MALLARD
GADWAL
GREEN-WINGED TEAL
AMERICAN WIDGEON
NORTHERN PINTAIL
NORTHERN SHOVELER
GREATER SCAUP
RING-NECKED DUCK
SURF SCOTER
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
BUFFLEHEAD
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER
KILLDEER
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, nice breeding plumage at Damon Pt. Also saw some at Merritt Island NWR in Florida on April 15 . . . not breeding plumage.
MARBLED GODWIT, several at Damon Pt.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS, one at Bowerman Basin
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (I think Short . . . . maybe Long)
LEAST SANDPIPER (about 1-6 ratio Least/West)
WESTERN SANDPIPER

3 lifers seen together on jetty . . .they landed all around me . . . and stayed . . . . too much fun.
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BLACK TURNSTONE (a bunch)
ROCK SANDPIPER (only 1)
SURFBIRD (a handful here and there)

DUNLIN
RED KNOT - one or two in with mixed flock resting at Damon Pt. at high tide. In addition to right near the parking and along the water there, I had good luck on the point by going to the end of the road to the washout, cutting off to the right along the washout and checking the interior further up once you can traverse by foot without having to wade or slop through mud. Had to be patient to see the bill . . . spent most of time tucked in back snoozing.

Various Gulls . . . .I don't keep track there
CASPIAN TERN, 2 at Damon Pt., 2 at Bowerman Basin
TURKEY VULTURE
BALD EAGLE, stopped by Bowerman Basin, much to the chagrin of the 2 terns
RED-TAILED HAWK
PEREGRINE FALCON, streaked by Bowerman Basin, resulting in many alarm calls from peeps

*** WILD TURKEY (Rt 109 and Breckenridge area ... just west of Hoquiam)
Is this unexpected/unusual?
Has anyone else seen turkey just standing by the road like this in late morning?
I thought they were more cautious than that.

ROCK DOVE
TREE SWALLOW (and likely other types . . . not paying close attention)
STELLER'S JAY
AMERICAN CROW
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE
BEWICK'S WREN
MARSH WREN
AMERICAN ROBIN
EUROPEAN STARLING
SAVANNAH SPARROW
SONG SPARROW (MORPHNA)
DARK-EYED JUNCO
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD
PINE SISKIN

Also have a Central Florida trip from April if anyone's interested.

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Ned McGarry
Kirkland, WA