Yesterday (Sat, 11/9/02) I birded Jefferson County.

The weather at times was windy and a few sprinkles fell, but other than that
the day was dry.

First major stop was the Port Ludlow. The conifers adjacent to the Port
Ludlow Conference Center held a mixed flock of GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS,
TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS ( 2+), RB NUTHATCHES and HUTTON'S VIREOS (2+). Oddly
enough, I had a difficult time locating RC KINGLETS, which I finally did,
later in the day. On a vacant lot not far from the Center a WESTERN
MEADOWLARK popped up and landed on a nearby pole.

On to Oak Bay State Park. The tide was in and then some, as a half dozen
BLACK TURNSTONES scrambled about the washed up logs. It seemed they were
working more at avoiding the crashing waves than looking for food. Still, a
troop of EUROPEAN STARLINGS followed them around, possible looking for an
easy morsel. Several duck species lounged in the sheltered lake as their
saltwater cousins were battered about on the other side of the spit.

Mystery Bay State Park held at least one EARED GREBE. Much easier to see in
the rough waters were several COMMON LOONS and PACIFIC LOONS. A MERLIN
perched in a tree next to the parking lot.

Next stop: Fort Flagler SP. The high tide brought the shorebirds to the
lawns at the picnic area. Now THIS was lazy man's birding. The large flock
of DUNLIN included BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, BLACK TURNSTONES, SANDERLINGS, and
a single WESTERN SANDPIPER. At least 13 LONG-TAILED DUCKS flew and dove
near the pilings.

Kah Tai Nature Park in Port Townsend held a nice variety of birds. There
were 13 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, a RING-NECKED PHEASANT, HOODED and COMMON
MERGANSERS, and a WILSON'S SNIPE.

Glen Cove produced the only 2 GADWALLS I saw all day.

At Old Fort Townsend SP a single MARBLED MURRELET showed up. It's uncommon
for me to see a single bird. Seems I nearly always see them in pairs. This
site produced my only RED-THROATED LOON for the day.

All in all, a nice variety of 75 species.

It was a good day.

Marv Breece
Seattle, WA