Hello Tweets,

Today upon a nice survey of Damon Point at Ocean Shores 7 SNOWY OWLS were observed,where they were all observed near the tip of Catala Spit. We spent between 11:30am-2pm watching the birds resting atop driftwood obstructions,on the ground and in flight during cold stiff winds. All the birds appeared to be immature birds with 2 birds that were farther away that were uncertain of age. On one occasion a single adult Bald Eagle made a flyover,as we were watching 3 of the Snowy Owls and all 7 birds soon took flight and scattered with at least 3 of the birds observed flying south over Grays Harbor towards Westport. Within 15 minutes all the birds returned to the original location,but it was interesting to see the interaction eventhough the Bald Eagle didn't show any direct threat to the birds. We were able to watch one of the Snowy Owl for a length of time,where it rested on a large driftwood piece along the upper beach and the entire time it just looked around,but also attempted several time to cough up a pellet. After watching the bird for some time the bird finally flew to another perch,then upon tracking the bird's exact resting location we noted 2 pellets. The pellets were placed in separate spots with one of the pellets being very fresh,being both 4 inches long and 1 inch wide. We figure of the 2 pellets we located that there were plenty more in the immediate area,but were of course the first Snowy Owl pellet we have ever encountered. There appears to be good feeding near Catala Spit with good amounts of grassy beach dunes nearby along with large amounts of driftwood obstructions to perch from and we suspect the Snowy Owl numbers could increase at this location through upcoming weeks. It would be great to have them as an addition on the Grays Harbor CBC on the 2nd of January,which is 26 days away.

Our visit to Damon Point began nicely before seeing the Snowy Owls with a first-winter plumaged GLAUCOUS GULL that was first noted eating something along the northern beach shoreline,as we stood in the parking lot. Upon walking out to get closer to the bird we soon learned that the bird was consuming the remains of a female Surf Scoter that had presumably washed up onto the beach. The bird allowed fairly close approach before flying into nearby North Bay to wash it's bicolored bill,as well as bathe. As were worked our way to the Damon Point"pond" 2 SNOW BUNTINGS were observed at nearly the same location than we noted 5 birds on the 20th of November with 6 birds on the 18th of November. We resume the 2 birds are the remains of the initial flock,but have slowly declined from predators such as a Merlin or Northern Shrike that have persisted in the area. Anyhow, both birds were a nice addition to the day,as was a single LAPLAND LONGSPUR that was amongst a flock of 20 "Streaked"Horned Larks near the tip of Catala Spit. Other noteworthy species noted during our visit to Damon Point included the following:

2 Red-throated Loons
1 adult male Peregrine Falcon
1 Black-bellied Plover
25 Least Sandpipers(amongst small numbers of Sanderlings and Dunlin at the Damon Point"pond")
1 Bonaparte's Gull


We didn't spend too much time birding other areas of Ocean Shores,but made a few short stops at the Ocean Shores Swage Treatment Plant and near Bill's Spit. Highlights from both these locations yielded the following species:

1 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK hunting with 5 Northern Harriers and 1 adult Red-tailed Hawk just north of the Oyhut Wildlife Area.

2 Anna's Hummingbirds and 1 Hutton's Vireo amongst an active passerine flock near Bill's Spit.


Our day began along I-5 at Nisqually,where 20 SNOW GEESE were observed in a flooded portion of the Nisqually NWR that borders McAllister Creek. This location may or may not be visible from the McAllister Creek Trail since we were on the incline portion along I-5,as it travels south of Nisqually.

Continuing westward we made a quick check along the outer perimeter of the Brady Loop Rd. complex,where a nice swan gathering held 44 Trumpeter Swans and 18 Tundra Swans,which consisted of both adult and immature birds. Other species along this route included 3 Am.Kestrels and a single Western Scrub Jay.

To end the day we made a quick stop at the Hoquiam Sewage Pond,where 5 Canvasbacks consisted of the only highlights.


Good birding,

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