Subject: [Tweeters] birding Wahkiakum County-Sunday
Date: Apr 10 19:46:33 2005
From: washingtonbirder - washingtonbirder at hotmail.com


Today with John Gatchet, Andrew Emlen, and myself we birded Altoona, Grays Bay, Puget Island, and the Skamokawa River drainage. It seemed a week or two early for shorebirds at Grays Bay. The end of the month would be better. Birds seen at Grays Bay are: Peregrine Falcon and an adult Bald Eagle harassing a Green-winged Teal at the same time on the mud next to a Canada Goose. The goose moved away as it didn't like the swooping of both raptors. The eagle kept getting closer and finally landed when the teal knew that was his time to take wing and get out of there. The landing of the eagle had disrupted the Peregrine who was coming in close behind the eagle. Needless to say the teal got away. For shorebirds at low tide there were 3 Short-billed Dowitchers, 1 Least Sandpiper, 35 Black-bellied Plovers, and 100's of Dunlin. The Covered Bridge Road produced 1 female Western Bluebird a nice bird for Wahkiakum Co.

At Altoona there were lots of Red-throated Loons feeding in the deeper water along with 1 Common Loon, lots of Pelagic Cormorants, 1 adult Thayer's Gull, and a few Greater Scaup still hanging around.

At Puget Island we had 1 female Anna's Hummingbird, 1 Orange-crowned Warbler and 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle's). Cathlamet produced several flocks of Evening Grosbeaks, Western Gull, and Lincoln's Sparrow. Skamokawa River drainage produced Dipper, 1 loud chirping River Otter (sounded like a Pileated Woodpecker in trouble), 26 Sandhill Cranes which flew over head, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, several Band-tailed Pigeons and a possible Gray Jay. The Red Crossbills didn't sound like type #3 which are more loudly vocal and sharper. These may be a different type, but not up on my crossbill types this year, I'll have to pass which type they were. They were feeding in spruce forest.

Those not acquainted with Wahkiakum County may have to plan a trip down there. I think Grays Bay might be the best spot for shorebirds in 2-3 weeks. We walked out to the mudflats and then north where we could see most of the northern parts of Grays Bay. The mud is soft in many areas. Boots and luck are recommended.


Ken Knittle
Washington Birder newsletter
2604 NE 80th Street
Vancouver, WA 98665
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