Subject: Grays Harbor/Pacific county birding
Date: Mar 8 18:06:31 2003
From: JanFWatson at aol.com - JanFWatson at aol.com


My husband and I birded Wenzel Slough, Brady Loop, and Tokeland today
despite almost constant rain. We also managed to hit every area at the
"wrong" time for tides. Most of the 55 birds seen were pretty predictable,
but there were a few notable sightings:

Wenzel Slough 9:00
Pileated Woodpecker

The Hoquiam STP about 10:00- This stop was notable for the LACK of birds.
Very quiet there...only a few species seen. Even starlings seemed scarce.

Ocosta Third 10:30
18 Tree Swallows seen in the morning. Only two seen about 1:30. No kites.
Maybe almost saw a swamp sparrow...maybe not. Weather not conducive to
hanging around hoping it would pop back up. Usual ducks and a few shorebirds.

Bottle Beach 2:00
Steady rain, but some shorebird activity (peeps, Black Bellied Plovers,
Dunlin). We didn't see any Semi-palmated Plovers, though. The trail appears
to have been cleared further back in the past couple of months. The water is
flowing freely under the bridge and the area around the bridge has been
cleared further back.

Bay City
One Great Egret at the base of the east side of the main bridge. The is the
same place where many people have often seen up to eight of them.

Tokeland Marina- noon
Tide was out, and the rain was very steady, but there was a lot of bird
activity past the jetty. Hundreds of marbled godwits were out there, and at
least three Long-billed Curlew fed close to the front edge of the group. At
least five Willet were also out there.

North Cove
One Common Murre swam near a small raft of Surf Scoters. That is the first
Common Murre we've seen this year, and there was only one out there.

Wet day, but SO good to get out!

Jan Watson
Rochester, WA

Also of note- Yesterday we saw our first Rufus Hummingbird of the year in our
yard. (Very south Thurston County)