Greetings, Tweeters -
On some days, the birds just keep themselves hidden & frustrating. On
others, they seem to make it all too easy. Fortunately, today was one
of the latter days.
I started out rather late today with a run over to the Boeing Ponds
on 59th St. in Kent. I met up with Mary Francis Mathis there, and as
reported by Marv Breece yesterday, we quickly found a STILT SANDPIPER
working the shores. Between about 10:30 and 12:00, we double-checked
our ID probably too thoroughly, then also enjoyed looks at other
present birds: Greater & Lesser Yellowlegs, Western & Least
Sandpipers, many Killdeer, a Northern Pintail.... An Osprey flew by
overhead, and an American Kestrel spent most of the time watching
over the pond from the nearby snag -- it made a few half-hearted
attempts at stirring things up, but really didn't seem to be trying
too hard.

Next, I drove out to Port Townsend. I arrived at the Kah-tai
Lagoon[s] at 2:00 and almost immediately found the BUFF-BREASTED
SANDPIPER standing right along the edge of the larger pond, right
near the little bridge that goes over the channel between the two
ponds. It stayed put for a while offering incredibly close looks
before it flew a bit further off to the north, still along the edges
of the larger of the lagoon. Over the course of the next hour and a
bit, a few of us were able to relocate it here and there. Advice for
those heading out: It seemed to move around a good bit, but always
stay away from the muddy edges of the water [exactly as described in
'the books'] -- Be sure to watch along the hidden areas where the
grass between the trail & the lagoon meets the sand. A Virginia Rail
wandered about on the far shore for a good long while, seemingly
ignorant of the rule that it should remain well hidden & only allow
glimpses. Also in the area: plenty of peeps [Westerns mostly],
yellowlegs of both variety, and several Great Blue Herons, including
one very scruffy looking guy.

Things had gone so well I decided to head on over to Sequim after
that. And again, once I was in the right place [a couple hundred
yards down the road from the Three Crabs, in the direction marked
'dead end'], the targeted bird was way too available. Another couple
was already present & looking at the RUFF, right where reported.
Light was great, it stuck around in the general area for a good long
time, all worked out just fine. Several of us had time to watch it
and even get a bit complacent and focus on the other birds sharing
the space with it. Besides the Westerns, Gr. Yellowlegs & Dowitchers
[which we never really got down to species], we were pretty sure we
had a Semipalmated Sandpiper in the mix as well. A Blue-winged Teal
was sitting among the Mallards. And when the whole area was flushed
by a menacing looking Ultralight/Glider, an American Bittern flushed
from the reeds nearby and flew overhead for nice looks.

Finally, on the way home I recalled a mention of Diamond Point being
worth a stop -- A quick visit turned up a couple of TUFTED PUFFINS
sitting pretty close to shore amongst some Common Murres, Heerman &
other gulls & a Pelagic & DC Corm.

I think I'm due for a run of bad-luck after today.... Thanks to all
for the earlier postings that allowed the day's trip, and if any one
is looking for directions & can't find them in earlier messages, I'd
be happy to pass along what got me to these places.

Matt Bartels,
Seattle, WA




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