Hello Tweets,

Today my mother and I participated on Dave Hayden's Tahoma Audubon
Society(TAS)field trip in Mason Co. along the southern portion of Hood Canal
and S.R.106 and Hwy.101 north to Duckabush area south of Pleasant Harbor
S.P. in Jefferson Co. A total of 11 participants in 3 vehicles began the
cloudy day at the public dock in the town of Allyn at 8:30am,then we
continued on towards Twanoh S.P. along S.R.106 and Hood Canal then birded
our way south along S.R.106 to the George Adams Fish Hatchery from
11am-12pm. After 12pm the rain began and remained through the remainder of
the day,being quite heavy and persistant at times. We birded the west
portion of Hood Canal from Potlatch S.P. north to the Duckabush Estuary in
Jefferson Co. and birding overall was quite slow at times due to the wet
weather,but we still managed to locate a few highlights for this area with
most for all the participants to see including our most exceptional
highlight of the day,being 1 of 2 SWAMP SPARROWS observed and heard in an
extensive freshwater wetland/marsh at the George Adams Fish Hatchery. One of
the Swamp Sparrows was heard first,then a second bird was observed until the
entire group of field trip participants were able to get fairly close views
of one of the birds with nearby Song Sparrows and 1 Lincoln's Sparrow. After
watching the single bird we the other bird called further out in the wetland
for most to hear,as both birds gave a sharp,metallic "chip" call note,being
very similiar to a Black Phoebe. This was a life/state bird for most
participants,which made the sighting that much more rewarding,as well as the
oppurtunity of even being able to observe one of the birds for a fairly
lengthy time,after relocating the bird for everyone. We also observed 3
adult Am.Dippers at the George Adams Fish Hatchery in the fish holding tanks
and along nearby Purdy Creek,which was a highlight for everyone along with
watching all the near dying salmon as they swam around the entire fish
hatchery and in Purdy Creek.

Throughout the entire day we encountered good numbers of
waterbirds/waterfowl,which are fairly known from this portion of Hood Canal
including very good numbers of Red-necked Grebes,Barrow's Goldeneyes and
Red-breasted Mergansers. A list of 74 species was counted for the day,of
which a few additional highlights were noted including the following:

Red-throated Loon
4 at Twanoh S.P.

Pacific Loon
1 at Twanoh S.P.

Eared Grebe
3 at Allyn

"Cackling"Canada Goose
12 along S.R.106 at Fernwood(south of Union)

Canvasback
1 male along S.R.106 at the mouth of the Skokomish River

Harlequin Duck
7 along Hwy.101 north of Hoodsport
2 along Hwy.101 south of Jorsted Creek
2 along Hwy.101 at the Eldon Estuary

Black Scoter
7 males along Hwy.101 at the Eldon Estuary

Ruddy Duck
1 female along S.R.106 south of Twanoh S.P.

Cooper's Hawk
1 along S.R.302 north of Victor
1 at the Eldon Estuary

Red-tailed Hawk
15 birds for the entire day at several locations(including one adult bird
that we almost hit at close range within inches with our vehicle along Purdy
Cutoff Rd.,but with quick response and reaction time by my mother no
collision was involved,since we were the lead vehicle)

Peregrine Falcon
1 along S.R,106 at the mouth of the Skokomish River

Least Sandpiper
1 at the Eldon Estuary

Dunlin
14 along S.R.106 at Fernwood(south of Union)
3 at the Eldon Estuary

Herring Gull
1 at Twanoh S.P.

Marbled Murrelet
2 off Potlatch S.P.

Pileated Woodpecker
1 along Purdy Cutoff Rd.

Other highlights for the day was a late dragonfly(Darner)species that was
observed while we were all in the field along S.R.106 at Fernwood,and good
numbers of fisherman/scuba divers north of Hoodsport.


Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net