This is the first time I had seen the Hoquiam STP with so much shoreline.
Nice!

9:30-10:15 Steve and Jan Watson, Larry Heinz
App 20 long bill curlews on beach
A few Semi-palmated plovers on beach
4 Baird's Sandpipers
Both Least and Western Sandpipers
10+ Dowitchers
A few Yellowlegs
Several Caspian Terns. All checked carefully- no Eleg. Terns
few gulls ...NO FRANKLIN'S GULL identified

11:00-11-30 Steve, Jan and "Bruce with two cute kids"
Same basic results as above. He had already seen the gull previously so he
especially knew what to look for.

3:00-3:30
Gull activity had picked up considerably, but most of them on the dock had
their heads tucked. No FRANKLIN's GULL identified.
only 5 dowitchers seen
1 juvenile Semi-palmated Sandpiper in the NW "Tufted Duck" corner.
Baird's not seen, but sun glare limited visibility, so I really couldn't say
what all could have been eating over in the northern section.

12-2pm We also did a quick trip to Ocean Shores, but it was VERY quiet there
since the tide was so far out. 4 Least Sandpipers were at the marina, and
the Caspian terns that were there all sounded like juveniles. One Hermann's
Gull was the only sign of bird life at the STP ponds. Over the beach, Brown
Pelicans and corms flew overhead in groups of 6-7. Bills Spit had lots of
gulls pretty far out. The ring-billed and Heermann's gulls seemed to
be"bickering" more than I have ever noticed. The Caspian terns there sounded
more like adults, rather than the juvenile calls heard at the marina. Due to
distance, we were unable to check any of these gulls and terns very closely.

Another comment about motels and birding.
After I sent that e-mail, I wondered about children and traveling with people
who aren't along to bird. When we travel with our kids, we have to remember
that they like lots of activity, arcades, a pool, and other
teenagers...things we avoid. Our needs are simple- a bed, a shower with some
type of water pressure, no gunshots, and in-room coffee so I don't have to go
to the lobby at 4am.

Jan Watson
Rochester, WA