..................Long Beach Peninsula, Leadbetter Point and south
Willapa Bay may not always have as many varieties of shorebirds as
other more famous places along the Wash. or Oregon shores. But it sure
can be noted at times for "sheer numbers" of shorebirds.
..................This weekend dense flocks of mainly DUNLIN lined the
ocean shore (north peninsula) as far as the eye could see in both
directions. Multiple swarms rose--in black clouds...than whitish
clouds--repetedly over the ocean, only to settle back exactly where they
were. *Thousands* of Dunlin would not be over-stating the fact!! Mixed
in with the Dunlin were a goodly number of WESTERN SANDPIPERS
and....the usual vast numbers of SANDERLINGS scurrying around.
Then.........there was the one lonesome SEMIPALMATED PLOVER busy about
its own business.
.................On the Willapa Bay beach the receding tide attracted a
number of LEAST SANDPIPERS and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS to mingle with the
abundant Dunlin there. The tide this weekend was very high and very low,
which may have had something to do with attracting such astronomical
numbers of shorebirds----nothing unusual seen---just awesome in the
sheer numbers.
.................No TRUMPETER SWANS yet at Black lake at Illwaco. But
plenty of CANADA GEESE (3 different sub-species), HARRIER HAWKS, MARSH
WRENS; SPARROWS; RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS; BELTED KINGFISHERS; elk and deer
at JBLH Whitetail Deer Refuge at Cathalmet, Wash. Lots of RINGNECK
DUCKS; BUFFLEHEAD; SCAUP; and common dipping ducks on the sloughs and
wetlands. But not the numbers of other species of winter ducks I
usually see there. A LOON was spotted, but it wouldn't stay above water
long enough for me to identify the species!!! A WHITE-TAILED KITE has
been seen in the area.
................A large flock of TUNDRA SWANS were seen two weeks ago at
the usual place on the pond along I-5 just north of Kalama, Wash. But
they were not there Sat.
................The mild winter has kept many of the migrant ducks
further north towards Canada this year , so I haven't yet seen the
usual more diverse species one usually spots in these areas.

.................As for the birds I didn't see.....oh well, the *next*
trip always holds infinite promise!!! (-:

.................Gerald Hamilton
Brush Prairie, Wash.
gerald at e-z.net