Tweeters:

The Sequim-Dungeness CBC was held Monday, Dec. 16. We've now heard from all
field parties and a couple of observers have already reported on some of the
sparkling rarities. Per tradition, we lucked out with a break in the storm
winds and rain, and, except for some drizzle during owling hours and a brief
blow in the afternoon with rain, the weather was fabulous--we figured on a
high of 54, low 42 at Graysmarsh, with sunshine much of the time from
mid-morning on.

The preliminary species count is 143, preliminary because details are to be
provided on several rarities, a few feeder parties have not yet reported,
and two additional entries from Graysmarsh are under review/deliberation.
We had our best day ever at Grays in 20 years of CBC coverage, with at least
92 species (average is mid-eighties) not including the two review entries.
The birding at the salt water and beach was so hot that it was truly hard to
leave, and we did not even have time to cover all our forest. The marsh
itself was all flooded out, making access more difficult. Related to this,
over the course of the bird-til-you-drop marathon, there were adventures, as
usual: this year, distracted by a flock of passerines, I at one point
stepped off the flooded path and into a hidden cross-channel, water up to
the thigh. Losing balance, I almost went for an impromptu CBC swim!

Bob Boekelheide, our compiler, has begun tabulation and so more complete
data will be shared soon.

Here are highlights:

YELLOW-BILLED LOON 1 (as previously reported, Protection I. vicinity,
sailboat party of Labar, Wright et al)
DARK SHEARWATER, sp. 20 (Jamie Acker et al, Dungeness Spit during afternoon
blow & squall)
BLUE-WINGED TEAL, sp. 1 (female, BW or Cinnamon, Graysmarsh, apparently same
bird as last year)
LESSER YELLOWLEGS 1 (heard only but clearly over Graysmarsh beach, one had
stayed nearby at Three Crabs for a couple weeks until 12/13, CBC first)
RED PHALAROPE 550+ (seemingly all parties w/salt water, D. Spit had 355)
THICK-BILLED MURRE 1 (Diamond Pt. as previously reported, Labar, Wright, CBC
first)
LONG-EARED OWL 1 (Sullivans as reported, Diamond Pt. airpt, CBC first)
YELLOW WARBLER 1 (Patrick Sullivan/Bob Boekelheide as previously reported,
irrigation ditch edge opposite Fire station and near old Dungeness
Schoolhouse, CBC first)
PINE GROSBEAK 1 (near n. end of E. Sequim Bay Rd, Fred Sharpe)

And some of the second-tier notables:

Canvasback & Ruddy Duck (both are tough in the area)
Least & Western Sandpiper (singles, Grays & Dungeness Spit respectively)
Long-billed Dowitcher 2 (Bob B. et al, Three Crabs)
Glaucous Gull 1 (off Graysmarsh beach)
Ancient Murrelet (many, several parties)
Anna's Hummingbird 2 (Dungeness)
Orange-cr. Warbler 3 (1, old Dungeness Ruth Sullivan, 2, Bell Hill/Happy
Valley area)
White-thr. Sparrow 2 (single birds Bob's feeder, Graysmarsh)
Swamp Sparrow 2 (Graysmarsh)

Bob Boekelheide managed to field some 85 observers approximately, plus
feeder-watchers. Even with super coverage, a few regulars were missed: Am.
Bittern, Gr. White-fr. Goose, Band-t. Pigeon, Hermit Thrush, and Evening
Grosbeak, all of which we normally get in small numbers. The first species
I should have had, and I also missed Sora, which has shown singly several
times over the years, especially in mild winter years.

As in years past at Grays, we were rewarded at day's end by the sight of
hundreds of swirling duck flocks flying in to roost on the barley fields,
against a backdrop of clear skies over the Ridge of the Gargoyles and other
n.e. Olympics, the highest ridges coated in fresh snow, highlighted by last
rays of the sun. Wispy clouds touched the Olympics here and there, while
ominous dark clouds and rain were visible immediately to both the east and
west of us. In all, a memorable sight to conclude a memorable day.

Scott Atkinson
Lake Stevens
mail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com

















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