Hello Tweets,

Today my mother and I birded a portion of the Kitsap Co. peninsula from Gorst to the Southworth Ferry terminal,which included visits made along the Port Orchard waterfront to Manchester. Good numbers of waterfowl/waterbirds were most noteworthy in diversity,specifically both species of goldeneyes,Surf and White-winged Scoters,Buffleheads,Red-necked and Horned Grebes,and Red-breasted Mergansers. We also encountered 2 large flocks of Am.Wigeons at two locations,beginning with a large flock of 500+ birds along the Port Orchard waterfront along Beach Drive that hosted up to 8 Eurasian Wigeons(7 males,1 female)and a single Eurasian/Am.Wigeon intergrade. The other locations that hosted a large gathering of Am.Wigeon was along Yukon Harbor Drive between Colby and South Colby that contained up to an estimated 900+ birds with up to 7 Eurasian Wigeons tallied amongst the vast,extensive flocks. Both locations hosted fairly shallow water and a relative abundance of marine vegetation that the wigeons favored and are locations that have hosted good numbers of Am.Wigeons during past winters. These sightings were most significant to us during the day since other observers have noted a decline in waterfowl numbers,specifically Am.Wigeons.

Our day began at the Purdy waterfront in Pierce Co.,then we continued onto the mouth of Gorst Creek at Gorst and continuing to the Port Orchard waterfront via S.R.166 from Hwy.16. We worked our way slowly and carefully checking most of all the accessible locations along the open waterfront to Manchester,of which these areas hosted our main highlights of the day. Our first highlight of the day was a single Clark's Grebe observed from a Kitsap Transit Park and Ride along the Port Orchard waterfront with a group of 95 Western Grebes noted nearby. The Clarks' Grebe was observed alone and with excellent light conditions showed all the main key field marks and we carefully scoped through all the Western Grebe flocks we came across within limited viewing distance. We also noted our first flock of Black Turnstones of the day at this location,as the foraged along the rocky shoreline with a total of 25 birds. Our next flock of Black Turnstones were noted further along the waterfront just south of Waterman Point. Our next highlight came as we drove along Yukon Harbor Drive at Colby,where we encountered a larger flock of Black Turnstones along with 3 Surfbirds,as they actively foraged along the rocky shoreline with nearby flocks of Am.Wigeons. Birding became slower to the Southworth Ferry Terminal with checks made at Manchester State Park and the Manchester waterfront,but a visit made along a brushy hillside at Southworth produced an adult male Anna's Hummingbird. The bird was brought in by "pishing" and allowed great views,which is always nice to see away from feeders. Our last stop of the day was made at the Gog-le-hi-te wetland along Lincoln Ave. bordering the Puyallup River,which hosted large numbers of Thayer's Gulls and few remaining sparrow flocks ending the day.

A list of additional highlights noted during the day at selected locations include the following:

Red-throated Loon
1 along the Port Orchard waterfront

Pacific Loon
1 off Manchester

Eared Grebe
15 at Purdy
1 at Gorst
5 along the Port Orchard waterfront
4 at Colby

Green-winged Teal
85 at Gorst

Harlequin Duck
5 along the Port Orchard waterfront
4 at Colby

Black Scoter
8 at Gorst

Ruddy Duck
1 at Colby

Black Turnstone
50 along the Port Orchard waterfront
48 at Colby

Dunlin
205 roosting on floating logbooms along S.R.166 just north of Gorst

Bonaparte's Gull
1 at Little Clam Bay near Manchester
8 at the Southworth Ferry Terminal

California Gull
3 at Colby

Herring Gull
1 at Gorst
2 at Colby
2 at the Gog-le-hi-te wetland

Thayer's Gull
2 along the Port Orchard waterfront
850+ at the Gog-le-hi-te wetland

Marbled Murrelet
1 along the Port Orchard waterfront

Lincoln's Sparrow
1 at the Gog-le-hi-te wetland(with Golden-crowned Sparrows)


Good birding,

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