Subject: Gyrfalcon, Harlequin Duck, etc.
Date: Jan 1 20:38:30 2004
From: RochWarrBB at aol.com - RochWarrBB at aol.com


Happy New Year Tweeters,
Birded in primarily Grays Harbor and Pacific counties today with the
following highlights: small flock of American Pipits on the north side of Brady
Loop and a Peregrine Falcon on Foster Road; 2 Semipalpated plovers on the
ocean side of the Hoquiam sewage treatment plant, numerous Canvasbacks and
Hooded Mergansers on the sewer pond ; a single Harlequin Duck in the marina at
Westport; 4 Varied Thrush in Grayland and the Gyrfalcon was not seen on Midway
Beach Road but was found on the next road heading south called Warrenton Cannery
Road. I drove about 50 yards onto the beach and saw the bird flying from the
south and it landed on a large tree stump about 25 feet from me and proceeded
to engage me in a stare down. The Gyr won as I slowly drove back onto the
road and proceeded on to Tokeland where it was incredibly quiet at low tide. My
main highlights there were the Red-breasted Mergansers, Horned Grebes and
Common Loons. The Marbled Godwit flock was across the bay near Hwy 105 on your
way to Raymond.
A good start to 2004!!

Larry Heinz
Rochester, WA