Hello Tweets,

Today my mother and I birded the similiar coastal route in Pacific and Grays
Harbor Cos. than we did previously on the 12th of October with similiar
species observed in additional to a few new species located. Our main route
followed from Brady Loop Rd. to the Hoquim STP then west to Ocosta Third
Street south to Tokeland and continuing south along S.R.105 to Raymond to
Bay Center along Hwy.101. We were unable to relocate the Tropical Kingbird
near Bay Center(during our short,but rather late visit at 6:05pm)found by us
on the 12th and yesterday by Jan and Steve Watson as reported onto Tweeters.
The bird may still possibly remain in the general vicinity,but we were
unablr to loacte the bird possibly due to the time of day.We were able to
spend considerable time at Tokeland during incoming tide,as the shorebird
flocks containing 10 species observed moved closer into view from nearby
exposed mudflats. The lingering flock of 54 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS were
observed foraging along the northshore of Grays Harbor immediately south of
the Hoquim STP,then 3 adult Peregrine Falcons of the Tundra race flew in
from the east and actively flew overhead calling,as they swooped down over
the main sewage pond and exposed mudflats of the northshore of Grays Harbor,
then they chased eachother for up to 10 minutes before continuing in
seperate directions. The large shorebird flock at Tokeland was slightly
increased during our 2 hour visit to the Tokeland Marina than our last two
visits with up to 375 Marbled Godwits observed and counted among other
shorebird species. Good and lingering numbers of Northern Pintail and lesser
numbers of various other waterfowl species were observed along S.R.105 at MP
14 foraging on Eel grass and other vegetation along the shoreline of Willapa
Bay. Up to 9 adult WHITE-TAILED KITES were counted and observed hunting and
perched atop brushy vegetation clumps within the open fields along Hwy.101
at MP 51.2 west of South Bend. It seems the birds are most active and
readily observed before 5:30pm,as they actively hunt the open fields before
roosting for the evening. A list of notable highlights noted follow below at
selected times and locations:

Brady Loop Rd. 11:45am-12:30pm

1 Sharp-shinned Hawk
2 Merlins
1 Ring-necked Pheasant
4 Mourning Doves
1 Western Scrub Jay
4 Am.Pipits

Hoquim STP 1pm-1:30pm

12 Brown Pelicans
2 Greater White-fronted Geese
3 "Cackling"Canada Geese
3 Canvasback
14 Ring-necked Ducks
7 Greater Scaup
5 Lesser Scaup
1 Bufflehead
1 Hooded Merganser
3 Peregrine Falcons
54 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS
4 Least Sandpipers
12 Long-billed Dowitchers
2 Bonaparte's Gulls

Ocosta Third Street 2pm-2:15pm

1 Am.Kestrel
1 Virginia Rail(heard only)
15 Wilson's Snipe

S.R.105 at MP 32(Elk River bridge) 2:20pm
1 Great Egret

S.R.105 at MP 20(North Cove)
540+ Heermann's Gulls(amongst good numbers of lingering
California,Ring-billed,Mew,and Glaucous-winged Gulls)
6 Herring Gulls

Tokeland 3pm-5pm

18 Western Grebes
2 Horned Grebes
900+ Double-crested Cormorants(actively feeding on schools of fish with
various other waterbird species)
22 Red-breasted Mergansers
27 Black-bellied Plovers
2 Semipalmated Plovers
16 Willets
2 Whimbrel
4 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS
375 Marbled Godwits
220+ Western Sandpipers
1 Short-billed Dowitcher
17 Long-billed Dowitchers
330+ Heermann's Gulls

Hwy.101 at MP 51.2(west of South Bend) 5:40pm
9 WHITE-TAILED KITES
1 Virginia Rail(heard only)


Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net