Last Dec. 31st(2004) I found a rock sandpiper at the Port of Tahuya Park (at
the very end of the paved section of North Shore Rd. beyond 'downtown'
Tahuya). This park is adjacent to Rendsland Creek which has a nice estuary
on Hood Canal and is due north of the outlet of the Skokomish River estuary
where this weekend's rock sandpiper is located. I'm wondering if it might
be the same rock sandpiper here this year as was here last December, we'll
never know.

Because of the extreme changes of water depth within very short distances
along this area of Hood Canal you get a wide diversity of waterfowl this
time of year. One doesn't realize how shallow the water is until we get a
minus tide or one looks at an aerial photo of the area between Hoodsport and
Union. The silt fan from the SKokomish River extends almost to the north
shore and is beautiful in an aerial view in the Google Earth program.

Thursday I was out at the Tahuya Port park and found a lovely glaucous-wing
gull, standing about 15 yards away across the rocky channel of Rendsland
Creek. It was alone, watching me watching it. Lots of mew and 'Olympic'
gulls hung about the outer beach area. American wigeons, Northern
pintails,Barrow's goldeneyes and mallards feed both in the water and amongst
the beach vegetation. A large flock of dunlin stayed in a small muddy area
open when I was there and stayed far enough away that at times they were
hidden from view as I searched for anything different in the flock (trying
for a rock sandpiper). Guess I'll have to go out there again when the tide
is up as I did last winter and had dunlin and the rock sandpiper landing
virtually at my feet.

Red-neck grebes and common loons were abundant and a few Western grebes were
around. Surf and white-winged scoters were easy pickin's as the saying goes.

At the Tahuya River bridge a dunlin fed right next to a common snipe
(looking very plump) in an exposed muddy area mid-channel. As they
continually turned in unison as they fed it appeared as though they had
practiced their feeding ballet for hours before performing it for me.
Birding behavior never ceases to make me pause and watch and wonder.

Keep those binoculars warm....

Mary Hrudkaj
N. Mason County
hrudkajm at hotmail.com