Tweets,

Another report from the coast (and Nisqually en route) this past weekend, where our paths crossed the Sullivans several times. It was an excellent weekend for shorebirds. We recorded 25 species. Also for raptors with eight species including several PEREGRINES, one a massive dark immature female that patrolled the Ocean Shores game range and outer beaches, scoring at least one Western Sandpiper on its several passes. We counted 11 GREAT EGRETs from the bridge over the Elk River slough and an exhausted YELLOW-BILLED LOON on the sand at Midway Beach (photos).

Our shore bird tallies are roughly as follows:

Black-bellied Plover 100+, Ocean Shores outer beach+, 2 at Nisqually reach
Pacific Golden-Plover 1, Ocean Shores outer beach
Snowy Plover 30, Midway Beach
Semipalmated Plover 1+
Killdeer 10
Greater Yellowlegs 8
Lesser Yellowlegs 4, Ocean Shores game range
Willet 18 Tokeland
Wandering Tattler 1 Ocean Shores jetty
Whimbrel 5
Bar-tailed Godwit 700+ Tokeland
Ruddy Turnstone 1 Ocean Shores jetty
Black Turnstone 15 Ocean Shores jetty
Surfbird 10 Ocean Shores jetty
Red Knot 5 Ocean Shores outer beach
Sanderling 1000+ Midway beach, Ocean Shores, etc.
Western Sandpiper 5000+ Midway Beach, Ocean Shores, etc.
Least Sandpiper 100
Baird's Sandpiper 3 Ocean Shores
Pectoral Sandpiper 15 Ocean Shores
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 1 Ocean Shores, brilliant apricot breast, strong supercilium
Dunlin 25 Ocean Shores outer beach
Ruff at least 2 juvenile males, Ocean Shores game range
Short-billed Dowitcher 10, Nisqually, Ocean Shores
Long-billed Dowitcher 4 juveniles, Ocean Shores game range

Heavy movement of Savannah Sparrows and Cedar Waxwings. No Black-tailed Gull and no unusual godwits seen though.

Gene Hunn.