Hello Tweets,

This afternoon my mother and I ventured over to the Hoquim STP in Grays
Harbor Co. after reading Richard Bledsoe's Tweeters posting of the juvenile
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper he reported earlier in the day,as we quickly packed
our birding/photography equipment and drove the 1.5 hour drive to the Hoquim
STP. We arrived at 3:35pm and carefully searched the vegetated edges and
exposed shoreline of the entire western portion of the main sewage pond with
the most extensive searching made at the extreme southwest corner of the
sewage pond,where Richard had originally reported the bird south of the
wooden bridge. We located the bird after 45 minutes of searching at 4:15pm
immediately east of the wooden log submerged in the exposed sewage in the
extreme southwest corner of the sewage pond,as it held it's neck and head up
over the vegetation,but the bird did not appear to be as bright and crisp as
we initially expected compared to the other 7 previous records that my
mother has observed of this species in WA and 9 observations for myself at
various locations. The bird had most of the lower body concealed and knowing
that Richard had mentioned the bird may be hidden in vegetation we knew we
would probably not see the bird right away. After we initially located the
bird alone we watched the bird within inside and outside boundaries of the
main sewage pond headquarters and grounds,but the main viewing was made
outside the main grounds near the metal gate at the edge southwest corner of
the sewage pond,allowing great views of the bird within close range as it
very actively foraged cautiously in the thickly vegetated margins within the
exposed sewage and at times remained hidden,before continuing to feed
alone.We watched and photographed the bird within a two hour period until we
left the bird at the location at 6:15pm,as photographs of this bird and the
juvenile observed by Bill Tweit and Ryan Shaw at Westport on the 20th will
have to be determined due to the fairly close range of the two sightings. It
is possible that it could be a different bird than the Westport individual
due to multiple sightings in British Columbia previously.As mentioned
previously and going by our personal past sightings of this species in WA we
had recognized this particular bird not to be as bright in color and
tone,but when lighting conditions were at best this afternoon/early evening
we could clearly see the warm buff wash on the upper breast,rusty
crown,slightly drooping black bill,bordered by the fairly white
supercillium,and striking tertial and scapular pattern within the back. The
bird was very alert and wary,as it cautiously fed within a safe range from
us,but the bird always kept close to patches of thick vegetation away from
the immediate edge of the pond and this bird could be at times difficult to
relocate for other observers if it does remain. As mentioned previously the
bird was observed alone,but several nearby Least Sandpipers foraged and
roosted within close range of the bird. Nevertheless it is a very rewarding
bird to observe,and it makes it more special having it at this location due
to the very favorable shorebirding conditions,as this is one species we had
predicted to be seen at this location this fall.

Away from viewing the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper we noted a view other notable
species including the following:

9 Ring-necked Ducks
7 Lesser Scaup
2 Northern Harriers
1 Merlin
1 adult "Peale's"Peregrine Falcon
1 AM.GOLDEN PLOVER
18+ Western Sandpipers
27 Least Sandpipers
8 Long-billed Dowitchers
13 Am.Pipits

Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net