Hello Tweets,

Today my mother and I birded a few areas at Ocean Shores,as well as checked a few locations to and from destinations. We were joined by Igor Uhrovic during most of our visit to Ocean Shores,as we encountered relatively slow birding conditions,but we noted a few highlights for the day. Our main reason for going to Ocean Shores was attempting to possibly locate the Curlew Sandpiper and obtain photographs,but we were unable to locate the bird upon extensive searching made at several key locations.We arrived at the Ocean Shores Jetty at 11:45am were quite calm,as a generous walk out to the end of the jetty was made between 11:50am-1:30pm,where waterbird numbers were still fairly good compared to our last visit on the 17th of May. The main highlight at the Ocean Shores Jetty was 2 adult Arctic Terns amongst a large flock of Common Terns being harassed and pursued by 4 Parasitic Jaegers approximately 50 yards south of the tip of the jetty. The Arctic Terns were readily picked out from the flock of Common Terns by their overall darker gray color and mantle,noticeably longer tail,smaller head,and the minimal amount of black along the outer primary edge of the wings compared to nearby Common Terns,being all noted in scoping views. Most notable waterbird species at The Ocean Shores Jetty remained Common Murres and Pacific Loons followed by Rhinoceros Auklets and Surf Scoters in floating,foraging "rafts".Throughout the remainder of our visit to Ocean Shores Igor and my mother and I checked a few additional locations including the Ocean Shores STP,Damon Point,and Bill's Spit,but few species were encountered as we searched for shorebirds and other migrants during incoming tide. On our return travel home my mother and I checked along the south portion of Brady Loop Rd. immediately west of the junction of Foster Rd.,where the 2 adult Am.Golden Plovers were relocated in the same freshly plowed field than reported and observed on the 17th. Other highlights of the day included the following at selected locations:

Western Grebe
1 off the Ocean Shores Jetty
1 off Damon Point in Grays Harbor

Sooty Shearwater
7+ off the Ocean Shores Jetty

Brown Pelican
54 off the Ocean Shores Jetty
8 at Damon Point

Am.Wigeon
2 pair at the Ocean Shores Game Range(observed from Marine View Drive)

Bufflehead
1 female near Bill's Spit

Osprey
1 at the Ocean Shores Jetty
1 at Damon Point

Peregrine Falcon
1 adult at Bill's Spit

Ring-necked Pheasant
2 at the Ocean Shores Jetty parking lot
1 at Damon Point

Black-bellied Plover
3 nonbreeding adults at Damon Point

Semipalmated Plover
1 at Damon Point

Greater Yellowlegs
8 along Foster Rd.(Brady Loop Rd. complex)

Wandering Tattler
10 at the Ocean Shores Jetty

Spotted Sandpiper
2 at the Ocean Shores Jetty
2 at the Ocean Shores STP(with 2 Western Sandpipers and 1 Least Sandpiper)

Whimbrel
3 at the Ocean Shores Game Range
8 at Damon Point
6 at Bill's Spit

Ruddy Turnstone
3 at the Ocean Shores Jetty
1 at Damon Point

Black Turnstone
6 at the Ocean Shores Jetty

Red Knot
2 at Damon Point

Dunlin
28 at Damon Point(with 4 Western Sandpipers)

Long-billed Dowitcher
4 at the Ocean Shores STP
1 along Foster Rd.

Red-necked Phalarope
18 at the Ocean Shores STP

Parasitic Jaeger
10 off the Ocean Shores Jetty

Bonaparte's Gull
20+ off the Ocean Shores Jetty
45+ off of Bill's Spit

Heermann's Gull
1 off the Ocean Shores Jetty

Black-legged Kittiwake
30+ off the Ocean Shores Jetty

Common Tern
310+ off the Ocean Shores Jetty

Marbled Murrelet
7 off the Ocean Shores Jetty

Band-tailed Pigeon
9 near Bill's Spit

Vaux's Swift
1 at the Ocean Shores Jetty

Olive-sided Flycatcher
1 near Bill's Spit

Western Scrub Jay
1 along I-5 at Olympia
1 along Hwy.12 at Brady Loop Rd.
1 along I-5 at Nisqually

Wilson's Warbler
1 at the Ocean Shores Jetty
2 at Damon Point

Western Tanager
1 along Foster Rd.


Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
godwit at worldnet.att.net




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