Tweets,
I decided to chase some Snowy things today, Owls and
Buntings.
Started at Luhr Beach at 7:00 AM. Parked for 1/2 hour
until it got bright enough to see ;) One Snowy Owl
across the way at Nisqually, plus assorted regulars
and loud hunters.
Then off To Ocean Shores.
Met Tim O'Brien and saw 4 Snowy Owls East of the Pond
(as he reported earlier), but No Snow Buntings.
Decided to hang around, so went to the Jetty. The
usual Rock Pipers (Surfbird, Bl Turnstone) and at
least 8 Rock Sandpipers. And Sanderlings on the rocks
(!?!?!)
Also saw Black Scoters in the HEAVY surf!
And I now know exactly how wool pants sound when you
rip out the crotch while rock-hopping ;)
The rest of the day was rather drafty.
Then went out on the Game range, saw a few shorebirds,
quite a few ducks, and another Snowy Owl!
This Snowy MAY be injured, I saw what I thought was a
pale blood stain on its breast. He looked OK, he was
bucking that heavy wind, and was watching me
carefully, so he may be fine, and/or it may have been
reddish dirt on him. I carefully did not flush him
up, so maybe anyone else visiting can watch him and
see how he does the next week or so?
Still had a couple of hours before sunset, so I went
back to Damon Point to try for the Buntings again.
Scoured the West side of the pond, and still found
Zip, Nada, Nothing.
Trudged out towards the end of the point, and found a
spot where I could see 6 Snowy Owls at one time ! Ran
into Patrick and Ruth Sullivan, and they reported even
more Owls out at the end of the spit, and across to
the north side of the Point!
With the one at the Game Range, we estimated that
there were at least 12-13 Snowy Owls at Ocean Shores
today!
I will leave it to Patrick and Ruth to come up with
the final tally ;)
Trudged back in from the point with sore feet, under a
BEAUTIFUL sunset!
It was a good day of birding, if a little windy and
cold ;)
Guy

Guy McWethy
Renton, WA
mailto: lguy_mcw at yahoo.com

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