Greetings all:
Ryan Shaw and I took a trip out to Pacific County today, despite slightly
short of perfect weather. Ryan easily picked out the Black-tailed Gull
moments after we arrived at North Cove, at 10:35am. It's much fresher than
when I first saw it, having now aquired full basic plumage. The tide was
incoming, but still quite low when we saw the bird. I wonder, has anyone
seen it on an outgoing tide? Who knows how long this bird has been here, or
how long it will continue to appear at this location.
Otherwise, it was a wet, but quite productive day. Highlights were a
Franklin's Gull at Johns River and the first basic Bar-tailed Godwit still
at Tokeland Marina. Greater White-fronted and Cackling geese were migrating
in large flocks throughout the day. We ended the day fairly early with 103
species.

JOHN'S RIVER WILDLIFE AREA (8:40-9:50):
Greater White-fronted Goose (22)
Cackling Goose (30 minima)-migrating
Great Egret (2)
Black-bellied Plover (1)
Greater Yellowlegs (10)
Long-billed Dowitcher (2)
FRANKLIN'S GULL (1): first basic bird flew in around 9am.
Cedar Waxwing (75)
Lincoln's Sparrow (4)
Purple Finch (10)

NORTH COVE BEACH (10:35-10:45):
Western Grebe (12)
Mew Gull (50)
Ring-billed Gull (5)
BLACK-TAILED GULL (1): not present when we searched again at noon.
California Gull (400)
Herring Gull (12)
Thayer's Gull (5)
Heermann's Gull (250)
Caspian Tern (1)

MIDWAY BEACH (10:55-12:00):
Greater White-fronted Goose (200+)
Cackling Goose (75+)
Surf Scoter (200)
White-winged Scoter (200)
Red-throated Loon (8)
Pacific Loon (20)
Merlin (2)
Snowy Plover (4)
Semipalmated Plover (9)
Hutton's Vireo (1)
Horned Lark (6)
Hermit Thrush (1)
American Pipit (40)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (6)
Fox Sparrow (25)
Lapland Longspur (18)

TOKELAND AREA (12:15-12:45):
Willet (16)
Whimbrel (5)-Graveyard Spit.
Long-billed Curlew (56)-Graveyard Spit.
Bar-tailed Godwit (1)
Marbled Godwit (800)
Caspian Tern (16)
Palm Warbler (1)-marina.

That's about everything
Cheers and good birding,
Charlie Wright
Bonney Lake, Washington