Hi Tweeters -
Much of this report feels like a reiteration of other posts today,
but I figured it might be worth the re-hash.
I started today early with a drive to the Mountain Quail sites. My
experience was almost identical to that of Gary Wiles -- I dipped at
the first location [just past Maggie Lake], then continued on to the
road to 'Wood Lake' off the Belfair-Tahuya Rd. After failing to hear
or see any Mountain Quail at the ~2 mile point mentioned by Connie
Sidles, I started to head back and was stopped mid-way by the sight
of the same large warbler flock mentioned by Gary -- it included
MacGillivary's, Townsends and Black-throated Gray [a species I've had
trouble finding this year for some reason] --Also nearby/in the same
flock were W.Tanagers, many CB Chickadees, an RB Nuthatch and a Downy
Woodpecker. Pleased at the excellent consolation prize, I turned to
leave and spotted an adult Mountain Quail on a blocked side road. I
tried to follow it a bit, but it quickly disappeared into the brush
and I had to be content with the initial good look and long listens
to its chatter with the rest of the unseen family.
This spot is approximately 1 mile down the road from the turn off,
where a dirt side road turns off to the right, interrupted by high
birms[sp?] to make it auto-impassible.

Next, I headed to Bottle Beach, arriving just a bit before high tide.
Shorebirds seen included up to 100 BB Plovers, about a dozen
Whimbrel, several Marbled Godwit, LB & SB Dowitcher, Semipalm
Plovers, Western & Leasts. Most of the BB Plovers left before the
tide was fully in, but of the ones I got a good look at, I couldn't
find any Golden Plovers. Given their scruffy state & my inexperience,
especially with juveniles [about half the group], I wouldn't be
surprised to learn that I'd overlooked them though.

My final stop was the 72nd St. Pond in Kent -- Great place I'd
definitely recommend for those interested in close looks at peeps and
others in the open [and in good light, in the afternoon] -- I saw the
same 8 species mentioned by the Sullivan's earlier, in about the same
proportions [Lsr Yellowlegs, Pectorals, LB Dowitcher, Semipalm
Plover, Killdeer, Western, Least & Semipalm Sandpipers]. It was great
to finally be able to feel confident about my id of a Semipalm --
relatively easy at this location with the available close comparisons.
Finally, Chris Duke was also there at the same time, and we puzzled
together over a presumed Least that was noticably darker and solidly
colored than the rest -- The back&scaps were dark-brown to blackish
with no noticable rufous, and the coverts were similarly plainly
colored, though in a bit lighter shade. Given the size, shape &
yellow legs, we ruled out pretty much everything else we could come
up with and took it as a lesson in the range of variation that those
little ones can manifest. We wouldn't want it to get easy now, would
we?

In any case, thanks Marv again for pointing out this new sight --
definitely worth repeated visits and I hope it lasts.


Matt Bartels,
Seattle, WA


>Hi Tweeters,
>
>Jan and I ventured over to the Mountain Quail site near Belfair State Park
>in Mason County yesterday morning and eventually got looks at two adults
>and a pair of chicks. We searched the location with Rodney White's Slough
>(see Connie Sidle's directions from July 27) for several hours, both by
>walking and driving slowly along the gravel road. Finally, at about 9:20
>a.m., we spotted the birds on the roadside about midway between the
>entrance off the Belfair-Tahuya Road and the slough. They were quite far
>ahead of us, but flushed almost immediately when I tried to sneak closer
>on foot. We waited and watched from the car for 15-20 minutes, hoping
>they might reappear. When that didn't happen, we drove forward and found
>them in some low vegetation on the road edge. They again ran off, but I
>did get a close look at one chick, which was just starting to show its
>extended head plume.
>
>Soon after that and a bit farther down the road, we encountered one of the
>largest warbler flocks that I've ever seen. It probably held at least
>40-50 individuals, most of which were Yellow-rumped Warblers. However,
>4-5 Black-throated Grays, 2 MacGillivary's, 1 Townsend's, and 1 Wilson's
>were also present. I'd guess that 90% of the birds were immatures. No
>other species were included aside from a few loosely associated Cedar
>Waxwings. The flock fed voraciously around us for 15 minutes before
>finally moving on.
>
>Gary Wiles
>Tumwater, WA
>wilesharkey at yahoo.com
>
>
>
>
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