On Tuesday, April 20th Dianna Moore and myself led a group of birders around
the Ocean Shores area. Weather conditions were far from optimal with
moderate winds and frequent showers. Our main highlight of the day occurred
at the Ocean Shores golf course while we were watching a large flock of
shorebirds that consisted of mainly Marbled Godwit and Short-billed
Dowitcher with a few Dunlin and Whimbrel mixed in. A immature Peregrine
Falcon came swooping into the area and immediately dived down onto a Marbled
Godwit. The falcon had the godwit pinned down on the grass when a mob of
crows surrounded it. The crows were quite ferocious in their attack on the
falcon and it didn't take long for the godwit to make its escape and for the
falcon to leave the area. The godwit didn't appear to be very good health
because it was flying very slow. What a sight to see!

Shorebird numbers were impressive with a good variety of species. Here's
some of what we saw at the various locations:

Hoquiam STP: Greater Scaup, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, 4 Swallow species
(Tree, Violet-green, Cliff, and Barn)

Hwy 109 near Grass Creek: Osprey

Ocean Shores golf course: Marbled Godwit (estimated 400 godwits during our
afternoon
visit), Short-billed Dowitcher, Whimbrel, Dunlin

Jetty (very windy): Pelagic Comorant

Sewage Treatment plant: Lesser and Greater Scaup, Killdeer

Game Range (accessed from behind STP): Red-breasted Merganser,
Black-bellied Plover, Lincoln's Sparrow, Cooper's Hawk

Perkins Pond: Pied-billed Grebe, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, Bald Eagle,
Brown-headed Cowbird, American Goldfinch

Damon Point (viewed from restroom area): Horned Grebe, Common Loon, Surf
Scoter, Caspian Tern

North Bay (viewed from private land north of Bill's Spit): Brant,
Semipalmated Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Dunlin, Western Sandpiper

Driftwood Ave. beach access: Dunlin, Semipalmated Plover, Western
Sandpiper, Sanderling, Merlin (landed on top of a house nearby for great
views)

Cyber Lake: Greater Yellowlegs (at least 75 birds resting on the floating
bridge)

Burrows Rd: Western Grebe

We ended up with around 65 species for the windy day.

Good birding,

Tim O'Brien
Elma, WA
mailto: kertim7179 at centurytel.net