Hello Tweets and other birders,

Today my mother and I birded the Tokeland-Midway Beach Rd. area with exceptional weather and a few good birds for the day! We ran into several birders during the day,but for one were unsuccessful in relocating the Black-tailed Gull upon 2 attempts made during the day at North Cove(11am,12pm). Gull numbers were very scarce today at North Cove,but perhaps this weekend will be different. We and other birders during the day observed the juvenile Bar-tailed Godwit at Tokeland,which was foraging at the south end of Graveyard Spit amongst a scattered flock of Marbled Godwits and up to 58 Long-billed Curlews(accessed from 7th Street and viewing made outside the boundaries of the Bayshore RV Park). Poor lighting conditions were very apparent from this location during outgoing/incoming tides,but good enough for scoping views off the Bar-tailed Godwit and it may return to the Tokeland Marina. A lengthy visit to Midway Beach Rd. between 1pm-2:15pm produced up to 40 Snowy Plovers with a walk made north of the roads end and a return walk made south of the roads end 42+ Lapland Longspurs were flushed from sand dunes and other vegetation before continuing southward within the upper beach areas.

Our main highlight of the day however came while driving east along S.R.105 at 4pm after passing the Johns River WRA(Johns River)between MP 40 and 41,where we spotted a Clark's Nutcracker flying fairly high above the treeline bordering the south portion of the highway with 2 Common Ravens. We immediately pulled off onto the shoulder to obtain better looks at the bird,as it continued in no particular direction,as we noticed the bird was apparently "flycatching" on the wing possibly catching dragonflies or any other flying insects. The bird declined in elevation and soon flew onto the north side of the highway,as it circled around several times before continuing east towards Oleary Creek Rd. At this time we obtained many photographs of the bird,as it flew overhead and several more when the bird finally landed in several conifer trees on both sides of the highway. It was truly an exciting bird to see,especially since there are less than 5 records for Grays Harbor Co. to date and a much overdue WA year bird for us both! We continued watching the bird,as it slowly worked eastward along the highway passing the western portion of Oleary Creek Rd. until 4:20pm,where we left the bird as it seemed to gain elevation again and continue eastward. We never heard the bird vocalize,but it remained very active foraging in flight,showing off it's black and white wing and tail "flashes",a truly striking bird! Perhaps this sighting is an indication of a possible influx of wandering Clark's Nutcrackers from high elevations? On the subject of corvids we also noted fairly good movements of Steller's Jays during the day,primarily at Tokeland with our largest roaming flock noted containing up to 65 birds in a steady stream near the Tokeland Marina. Other migrants groups were far less in numbers,but still noteworthy and seemingly annual from coastal locations.

Other noteworthy species encountered during the day included the following:

Western Grebe
35+ off North Cove

Horned Grebe
1 at Tokeland

Turkey Vulture
8 along the outer beaches at Midway Beach Rd.
1 at North Cove
7 at Tokeland

Peregrine Falcon
1 at North Cove
2 at Midway Beach Rd.

Ring-necked Pheasant
1 calling bird at Midway Beach Rd.

Semipalmated Plover
20 at Midway Beach Rd.

Willet
19 at Tokeland

Whimbrel
5 at Tokeland

Marbled Godwit
450+ at Tokeland

Sanderling
4 at Midway Beach Rd.

Pectoral Sandpiper
10 at Midway Beach Rd.

Long-billed Dowitcher
8 at Midway Beach Rd.

Herring Gull
1 adult at North Cove

Caspian Tern
15 at Tokeland
4 at North Cove

Mourning Dove
25+ along Hwy.12 at Satsop

"Streaked"Horned Lark
8 at Midway Beach Rd.

Am.Pipit
2 at North Cove
25+ at Midway Beach Rd.
12 at Tokeland



Mammals:

1 Coyote along S.R.105 west of Bay City




Good birding,

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