Greetings all
Ryan Shaw and I birded this morning out to Ocean Shores and back through the
Satsop area. Started at Hoquiam STP, where weather was absolutely miserable.
About 400 Tree Swallows were congregated around the ponds due to the high
winds and rain. Conditions weren't much better at Ocean Shores. The golf
course was loaded with shorebirds and gulls, but nothing extraordinary. A
first cycle Glaucous Gull was with a cluster of gulls at the base of Damon
Point near the marina. The base of the Pt Brown jetty produced a small flock
of rock shorebirds, including 6 Rock Sandpipers still in basic plumage.

On the way back near Montesano we noticed a large gathering of gulls in
agricultural fields just east of the Wynoochee River. We got fairly close to
them and upon scanning through the flock found an adult Black-legged
Kittiwake. I can't imagine a more unexpected place to see this species, but
considering the storm on the coast I guess it makes sense. There were also
good numbers of Bonaparte's Gulls in the field, and this wouldn't be a bad
place to look for Black-headed Gull.
--
Charlie Wright
Bonney Lake, Washington