Hello Tweets,

Today my mother and I located and photographed a single Tropical Kingbird just north of the Ocean Shores STP along Ocean Shores Blvd. between 11:25am-12:15pm. The bird was observed actively "flycatching" from telephone wires on both sides of the road,as well as from a small spruce tree and rooftop at residence. We initially observed the bird in flight as we quickly pulled off the road,as the bird soon perched atop a rooftop. The bird remained in a limited area,but may move to other areas in search of insects,etc. It was a neat bird to see and one we have both been looking for in recent weeks from favored coastal locations. We never heard the bird vocalize,but strongly feel the bird to be a Tropical Kingbird and not a similar Couch's Kingbird. The bird's bill seemed very typical for Tropical and not especially thicker and broader based as a Couch's would appear,which our photos should indicate.We left the bird,so perhaps others will relocate it or others to follow at this or nearby locations.

Away from the Tropical Kingbird our visit to Ocean Shores was much better than yesterday and with much better weather too,as we covered several areas more thoroughly and extensively. Our first stop was made at the Oyhut Wildlife Area(accessed behind the Ocean Shores STP)between 9am-10:45am,where a fairly good assortment of species were encountered followed by a nice visit to the nearby Ocean Shores Jetty. Here,we encountered nice gathering of "rockbirds" at close range ,as they foraged intently at the tide line next to the jetty. Within this flock we counted up to 22 Rock Sandpipers,64 Surfbirds and 8 Black Turnstones followed by offshore viewing that produced up to 35 Brown Pelicans.. Our last stop at Ocean Shores was made at Damon Point at 12:30pm that produced 2 fairly cooperative Palm Warblers immediately upon our arrival to the fee parking area that kept very close together and foraged through brush patches and small stands of Scot's Broom continuing on towards the Ocean Shores Marina.

Other sightings from the Ocean Shores region included the following:

Western Grebe
47 at North Bay(observed from Damon Point)
6 at the Oyhut WA
4 off the Ocean Shores Jetty

Great Egret
2 at the Oyhut WA

Snow Goose
1 lingering adult bird with 17 Greater White-fronted Geese at the Ocean Shores Golf Course

"Black"Brant
78 at North Bay(observed from Damon Point)

Eurasian Wigeon
1 at Damon Point

Black Scoter
1 at the Ocean Shores Marina

Northern Harrier
7 at the Oyhut WA
1 at Damon Point

Merlin
1 along Pt.Brown Ave. north of Tonquin Ave.

Black-bellied Plover
7 at the Oyhut WA

Least Sandpiper
250+ at the Oyhut WA

Long-billed Dowitcher
1 at the Oyhut WA(Ocean Shores STP)

Wilson's Snipe
6 at the Oyhut WA

Anna's Hummingbird
1 near the Oyhut WA

Red-breasted Sapsucker
1 along Pt.Brown Ave.

Am.Pipit
34 at the Oyhut WA
25 at Damon Point

Northern Shrike
1 at Damon Point

Yellow-rumped Warbler
135+ at the Oyhut WA(with 95% being of the "Myrtle" subspecies)

Savannah Sparrow
1 at Damon Point

Lapland Longspur
6 at the Oyhut WA

Western Meadowlark
10 at the Oyhut WA

Purple Finch
7 near the Oyhut WA


After birding Ocean Shores we traveled to Brady Loop Rd. at 2pm ,where we made a rather quick drive around to Foster Rd.,which produced the following highlights:

2 Northern Harriers
1 Rough-legged Hawk
24 Black-bellied Plovers
1 Greater Yellowlegs
4 Dunlin
2 Long-billed Dowitchers
42 Western Meadowlarks

Our last stop of the day was made along South Bank Rd. near the town of Porter in southeastern Grays Harbor Co.,where we observed the previously reported Lewis' Woodpecker,which was observed actively foraging during our entire visit between 2:40pm-3:30pm. The bird was observed at the same location than posted by Ken Knittle in his Tweeters posting yesterday(and most recently by Tim O'Brien) and upon speaking with the owners of a residence we found out that 2 Lewis' Woodpeckers have taken up residence in their yard for the last "few" weeks,if not longer. During our visit we were joined with Alan Richards and at times we thought we were seeing 2 bird,but could never confirm that so definitely one Lewis' Woodpecker for our viewing pleasure of this exceptional Grays Harbor Co. species. The bird remained very active and elusive throughout our visit flying from through groves of oak trees,as well as to a stand of Black Cottonwoods south of the residence. We also observed the bird storing and transferring acorns from tree to tree and to at least one telephone pole,so it appears the bird is very active and flies around alot within the immediate area. The owners told us the mornings would be the best time to watch the bird(s) and were accommodating to our visit. Other species noted from this location included the following:

1 Am.Kestrel
1 Mourning Dove
1 Hairy Woodpecker
10+ Western Scrub Jays(with Steller's Jays)



Good birding,

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




Hello Tweets,

A short not from me, Ruth Sullivan. I find it absolutly rushed to do both Ocean Shores and Tokeland in one day. We found this out yesterday and did not thouroughly bird the game range to our demise not seeing the Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. It is much better to go slower to observe all the birds better.


Cheers,

Ruth Sullivan