Subject: .......A windty---wild coast!!!!!!!
Date: Oct 13 19:12:24 2003
From: Gerald Hamilton - gerald at e-z.net


.......................2 WHITE-TAILED KITES at Julia B. Hansen Whitetail
Deer Refuge----Cathlamet, Wash. Friday. Smaller CANADA GEESE increasing
in numbers, but winter migrant ducks have yet to arrive.
.......................12 COMMON LOONS, and a WESTERN GREBE at Leadbetter
State Prk---east Willapa Bay---Long Beach Peninsula Sat. Zillions of
GULLS--- unusually large numbers of RING-BILLED GULLS, along with lesser
numbers of WESTERNS AND GLAUCOUS-WINGED. Strong onshore winds probably
drove them inland to more sheltered bay sites. DUNLINS, SANDPIPERS,
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, HERONS arrived with the rapidly lowering tide.
But no uncommon late migrants spotted. 2 BROWN PELICANS were seen---one
going south, and one going north. (.....or was it one returning north
later on???? (-; ). Weather alternating between sunny periods and
gusty , cold rain showers----weather only a "loony" birder would
endure!!!! (-: ) A few DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS sailed by at
times. Hundreds of ducks flew southwards overhead---to high to identify
species wise with just binos. Don't know if they were going to the
popular south end of the bay, or traveling further south.
.....................Sunday---more of the same----a combination of a
quite high tide, and gusty west winds drove the surf right up to the
beacb grass lines of times. It was "kinda cool" walking the beach with
all the dirty suds from the surf blowing across the beach. However,
after the rains came the sun somewhat for a few dry hours. However due
to the conditions, shorebirds were few and far between with some flocks
of DUNLIN and SANDERLINGS standing with heads tucked in.
.....................One curious sight---there were 8 small juvenile
WESTERN GREBES at scattered locations on the sand beach----trying to
walk (which West. Grebes don't do very well) flapping their wings
violently but *unable* to fly---though the flapping helped propel
themselves forward better on their weak legs. I was told their were more
further up the beach which I didn't walk. 3 adult WESTERN GREBES were
seen swimming in the surf in the area. I am told that West. Grebes are
particularily susceptible to oil spills, or toxic pollutants, though I
saw no evidence of oil on them. I know I have seen in past times adult
Grebes inflicted with a paralyzing ,eventually deadly disease or viral
affliction that involved a number of Grebes blown by a strong storm.
Maybe someone can give me some ideas on what seems to be happening here.

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