Tweets,
Out birding today with Judy Mullally, on a sunny day!. At La Push was a
SWAMP SPARROW, at Shipwreck Point along the Strait of Juan de Fuca was a
YELLOW-BILLED LOON and at the Old Fish Dock at Neah Bay was a TROPICAL
/COUCH'S KINGBIRD. The sparrow and Tropical Kingbird were county birds for
both of us.
The Swamp Sparrow was at the east end of road which runs along the
Quileute River past the Coast Guard Station. There are the remains of a
crumbling bridge at this spot which used to cross the slough. It was in some
low bushs and in the grasses right next to the slough with several Song and
one Fox Sparrow. As usual there were a good variety of gulls there: at least
2 Westerns, at least 50 Thayer's, 5 Herring, one California and 30 Mews.
The Tropical was calling frequently according to Judy (my $3200 hearing
aids just barely picked up a little buzz). It was just east of the old Fish
Dock and then worked east past the rock ridge that goes across to form the
entrance to Neah Bay Harbor and ended up at the top of the firs on the
ridge. Shiprock Point is a ways west of the last little nonindian village
that has a convenience store. For those who know the area, the loon was out
from the large rock with graffetii on it that frequently has Turnstones or
Surfbirds on it. There is an interpretive sign also that says Shipwreck
Point but it is not very obvious.
There were also a variety of gulls in Neah Bay on the shore near the
Marina. Besides the intergrades, these were mostly Thayer's and Mews.There
were the usual ducks and grebes in the harbor.
Bob Norton
norton36 at olypen.com
Joyce (near Port Angeles), WA