Hello Tweets,

Today Dave Hayden,and my mother I birded several coastal birding locations
that we know well in both Grays Harbor and Pacific Cos. with a total of 104
species for the day from 6am to 6pm,as weather conditions were fairly
favorable and not what was forcasted by the weatherman. We encountered
several highlights including a pair of Peregrine Falcons(Tundra race)during
our second visit to Bottle Beach at 9:40am,as they both pursued and captured
a single Dunlin, then exchanged the dead bird in flight,while flushing all
the other existing shorebirds including 42+ Black-bellied Plovers and a
Dunlin flock that contained approxiametely 280 birds at outgoing tide. The
birds then flew to the south presumably to eat their prey,but the entire 4
minute show was spectacular in scoping views,especially during the exchange
of prey in mid air from one adult to the next. Another highlight at Bottle
Beach observed during two visits were SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS,being again
our firsts' for the season at this location as last year by exactly a week.
There were a total of 11 birds noted on our first visit at 7:45am followed
by a total of 16 birds there at 9:45am, so perhaps there are more returning
birds at other nearby locations. Another locations that hosted fairly good
numbers of shorebirds was Johns River Wildlife Area along the 1/2 mile trail
bordering the Johns River,where relatively good numbers of roosting and
foraging Dunlin were encountered with up to 2 Western Sandpipers and 2 Least
Sandpipers. Up to 45+ Greater Yellowlegs were noted and observed giving
different breeding and territorial call variations, which was a highlight to
hear. We also noted good numbers of Tree Swallows at this location with
lesser numbers of Violet-green, Barn Swallows,and our first NORTHERN
ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS at this location, and also on an evening visit to the
Schouweiler Rd. wetland. A list of our additional highlights follows at
selected locations:

Red-throated Loon
42+ at Midway Beach Rd.,Pacific Co.(PA)

Red-necked Grebe
24 at Tokeland,PA
1 at Westport,Grays Harbor Co.(GH)

Brandt's Cormorant
1 at Westport,GH

Greater White-fronted Geese
4 along Hwy.105 at MP 35.4 at Ocosta,GH
2 at Brady Loop Rd.,GH

Black Brant
37 at Bottle Beach,GH
400+ at Tokeland,PA
35 at Midway Beach Rd.,GH

Wood Duck
1 pair at Johns River Wildlife Area,GH

Common Teal/Am.Green-winged Teal hybrid
1 male at Jons River Wildlife Area,GH

MALLARD/NORTHERN PINTAIL hybrid
1 male at Johns River Wildlife Area,GH

Cinnamon Teal
3(2 males,1 female)at Johns River WA,GH
1 male at the Schouweiler Rd. wetland

Ruddy Duck
1 at Brady Loop Rd.,GH

Osprey
1 at a traditional nesting location viwed along Hwy.12 at Montesano,GH
1 at the Schouweiler Rd. wetland,GH

American Kestrel
1 pair at Johns River WA,GH
1 along Brady Loop Rd.,GH

Virginia Rail(only heard)
1 at Bottle Beach,GH
1 at Friends Landing(south of Montesano),GH
1 at the Schouweiler Rd. wetland

Black-bellied Plover
42+ at Bottle Beach,GH
3 at Tokeland,PA


Snowy Plover
4(2 pair)at Midway Beach Rd.,GH

Greater Yellowlegs
45+ at Johns River WA,GH
12 at Tokeland
5 over Midway Beach Rd.,GH
2 at Brady Loop Rd.,GH

Willet
11 at Tokeland,PA

Whimbrel
2 at Tokeland,PA

Marbled Godwit
280+ at Tokeland,PA

Black Turnstone
8 at Westport,GH

Surfbird(relatively high count)
87 at Westport,GH

Sanderling
200+ at Midway Beach Rd.

Western Sandpiper
2 at Johns River WA,GH
12+ at Bottle Beach,GH
1 at Midway Beach Rd.,GH

Dunlin
280+ at Bottle Beach,GH
160+ at Johns River WA,GH
58 at Tokeland,PA

Common Snipe
18+ at Johns River WA,GH
2 at the Schouweiler Rd. wetland,GH

Bonaparte's Gull
1 adult at Tokeland,PA

Herring Gull
1 adult at Brady Loop Rd.,GH

Thayer's Gull
1 first-winter bird at Westport,GH
1 first-winter bird at Brady Loop Rd.,GH

Caspian Tern
2 at Johns River WA,GH
6 at Tokeland,PA
7 at Midway Beach Rd.,PA

Pileated Woodpecker
1 at Johns River WA,GH
1 at Friends Landing,GH

Horned Lark
4 at Midway Beach Rd.,GH

Northern Rough-winged Swallow
2 at Johns River WA,GH
6 at the Schouweiler Rd. wetland,GH

Varied Thrush
17+ at Johns River WA,GH

Orange-crowned Warbler
3 at Johns River WA,GH
2 at Tokeland,PA

Purple Finch
6 at Johns River WA,GH
2 at Friends Landing,GH


Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net