Subject: Ruff at Ocean Shores
Date: Nov 29 20:09:54 2003
From: Ruth Sullivan - godwit at worldnet.att.net


Hello Tweets,

Today my mother and I birded spent a rewarding day birding our way to Ocean Shores beginning at the Nisqually NWR at 8am, as weather conditions were much improved compared to yesterday. Our main highlights of the day were primarily encountered at Ocean Shores beginning with a Ruff observed at the Ocean Shores STP at 12:45pm during incoming tide amongst a flock of 43 Dunlin ,5 Black Turnstones, and 2 Long-billed Dowitchers. The Ruff was initially observed flying in from the nearby Oyhut Wildlife area in the direction of the large fluorescent orange and black navigation tower,where we had observed a single Ruff on the 25th of September,2003. As the Ruff flew in from the east amongst the other smaller shorebirds we immediately identified the bird,as it circled the southern most sewage pond twice before landing allowing further observations until the entire flock of shorebirds were flushed by other sources and were observed flying towards the Oyhut Wildlife Area. We then relocated the Ruff at 1pm amongst a larger diverse flock of shorebirds that also included a single Ruddy Turnstone on the partially exposed mudflats immediately beyond the tall navigation tower previously mentioned. The Ruff was well observed at this location actively foraging amongst the noticeably smaller shorebirds and seemed to be alert and quite wary,although we were able to obtain photographs for documentation until the bird was observe flying back towards the Ocean Shores STP amongst a small flock of Black Turnstones and Dunlin. At 1:30pm we relocated the Ruff foraging along the grassy edges of the center sewage pond at the Ocean Shores STP amongst other shorebirds including a single Rock Sandpiper(dominant race),where the bird was also observed by Ollie and Grace Oliver. The Ruff remained until we left the location at 2:05pm,as it rested and foraged amongst the other shorebirds and going by the overall small size and length of bill of the bird it appeared to be a female. Our other highlights at Ocean Shores began with 1 "Priblof race" of the Rock Sandpiper that was well observed and photographed amongst 22 Rock Sandpipers of the dominant race at the Ocean Shores Jetty at 12pm,as the birds were well observed fairly close to shore from the mainland. The Priblof race of the Rock Sandpiper(among main features including the bolder white wing stripe, softer gray overall tones)was nearly immediately located upon our first scoping of the jetty,as it was separated by the darker,noticeably slimmer body structure dominant Rock Sandpipers with only 15 Black Turnstones and 3 Surfbirds observed during our visit. Our third main highlight noted at Ocean Shores included a single 1st winter Glaucous Gull observed at two locations beginning at in the inner bay at the Oyhut Wildlife Area observed from the Ocean Shores STP along with Ollie and Grace Oliver at 1:35pm,then presumably the same bird relocated at 2pm(going by similar plumage and behavior)located close to shore in North Bay at Damon Point. It truly was a good day at Ocean Shores along with additional mentioned highlights and conditions were quite good,although northerly winds increased after 1pm.

We began our day as mentioned at the Nisqually NWR from 8am-9:20am, where we ran into several other birders during our visit. We immediately located the 2 Ross' Geese upon our arrival at the west portion of the main parking lot foraging amongst a small flock of "Cackling"Canada Geese along the edges of flooded area south of the McAllister Creek trail, until the entire flock were flushed and flew off to the south and east. The 2 Ross' Geese were relocated after our visit to the Nisqually NWR in a partially flooded pumpkin field along the Nisqually Cut-off Rd., which is accessed immediately east of I-5. This location also hosted good numbers of Red-winged/Brewer's Blackbirds and up to 35 Western Meadowlarks and a single Am.Pipit that were observed. Additional highlights noted at the Nisqually NWR during our visit included the following:

8 Eurasian Wigeon
9 Ring-necked Ducks
1 Cooper's Hawk
1 dark-morph Red-tailed Hawk
1 adult Peregrine Falcon
75+ Dunlin
1 immature Northern Shrike

After the Nisqually NWR we drove straight to Hoquiam,where we checked the large,open grassy fields of "K"Street at 10:45am in search of the Pink-footed Geese,which produced NO geese. We then checked the nearby Hoquiam STP along with a brief visit to the Bowerman Basin Airport,which produced only minimal Canada Geese flock,primarily resting on the exposed mudflats of Bowerman Basin. Upon visiting with Ollie and Grace Oliver at the Ocean Shores STP later that day we learned they had observed the 2 Pink-footed Geese and 2 Greater White-fronted Geese at "K"Street in Hoquiam on the 26th of November,which to this date and knowledge to us represents the latest date of the Pink-footed Geese observed, but perhaps there is a later date from another observer. To date we have 305 observers that either had successful unsuccessful attempts of the 2 Pink-footed Geese in our personal records. Highlights noted at the Hoquiam STP included the following:

47 Canvasbacks
1 male Redhead
14 Surf Scoters
1 White-winged Scoter
32 Common Goldeneyes
18 Ruddy Ducks
1 adult Peregrine Falcon(observed perched atop a dead snag north of the intersection of Paulson Rd. and S.R.109)
18 Sanderlings
24 Least Sandpipers(with 14 Dunlin)
3-4,00+ Dunlin(at Bowerman Basin)

We arrived at the Ocean Shores Jetty at 12pm and continued our afternoon covering areas such as the Ocean Shores STP, the Oyhut Wildlife Area, Damon Point, the Ocean Shores Marina, and our last stop at Ocean Shores of the day made at Bill's Spit. Additional highlights noted at Ocean Shores away from our main highlights included the following:

Red-throated Loon
2 off the Ocean Shores Jetty

Eared Grebe
2 at Lake Minard(accessed behind the large,cement water tower along Marine View Drive)

Northern Fulmar
1 dark-morph bird off the Ocean Shores jetty

Short-tailed Shearwater
1 off the Ocean Shores Jetty

Greater White-fronted Goose
1 immature bird at the Ocean Shores STP

"Black"Brant
9 observed flying north of the Ocean Shores Jetty

Black Scoter
22 at the Oyhut Wildlife Area(accessed from behind the Ocean Shores STP)

Cooper's Hawk
1 at the Oyhut Wildlife Area

Rough-legged Hawk
2 light-morph birds at the Oyhut Wildlife Area(observed from the Ocean Shores STP)
1 light-morph bird along Marine View Drive west of Tonquin Ave.

Black-bellied Plover
8 at the Oyhut Wildlife Area

Semipalmated Plover
30 at the base of Damon Point

Black Turnstone
15 at the Ocean Shores Jetty
9 at the Ocean Shores STP/Oyhut Wildlife Area

Surfbird
3 at the Ocean Shores Jetty
1 at the Ocean Shores STP

Sanderling
130+ at the Oyhut Wildlife Area

Western Sandpiper
8 at the Oyhut Wildlife Area

Least Sandpiper
11 at the Oyhut Wildlife Area

Dunlin
72 at the Ocean Shores STP/Oyhut Wildlife Area
500+ flying over Damon Point/Ocean Shores Marina(with small numbers of Western Sandpipers)

Long-billed Dowitcher
2 at the Ocean Shores STP/Oyhut Wildlife Area

Herring Gull
12 at Bill's Spit

"Streaked"Horned Lark
2 at Damon Point

A single Peregrine Falcon was observed on our way to Hoquiam along S.R.109 at Grays Gables and on our way home we briefly stopped along the south portion of Hwy.12 at MP 16.9 east of Satsop at 4:30pm,where a large swan flock resting in a large,muddy corn field was counted and contained up to 74 Tundra Swans and 30 Trumpeter Swans. 30+ Mourning Doves were also observed at the same location.



Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Tacoma,WA
godwit at worldnet.att.net



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