Subject: [Tweeters] Northern Mockingbird at Grayland
Date: May 11 20:02:18 2005
From: Ruth and/or Patrick Sullivan - godwit at worldnet.att.net


Hello Tweets,

Today my mother and I observed the Northern Mockingbird at Grayland between 1pm-2pm,then again at 3:30pm at the previously reported location in Grayland along S.R.105 in southern Grays Harbor Co. The exact location is 1.5 miles north of the Pacific Co. line in the surrounding area south of the Beachcomber Grocery and DeliMart along S.R.105. This location is just north of Jado Place and south of the Walsh Motel along S.R.105,but the bird was seen at least once this afternoon flying east over S.R.105 to an unknown location. The bird was most readily observed calling and singing from treetops and powerlines immediately south of the Beachcomber Grocery and DeliMart,where it was easily located as it sang and called nearly constantly during our entire visits. The bird mimicked at least 10 different songs and calls from the listed species below:

Red-tailed Hawk
Am.Kestrel
Killdeer
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Western Scrub Jay
Steller's Jay
Sage Thrasher
Spotted Towhee

At times the bird was quiet,but soon became active and never strayed too far from the area. The bird is most easily heard or seen from parking at the Beachcomber Market and DeliMart,where you may park for a short time. The bird seems to have a set territory,but could wander as it continues it stay. A Olive-sided Flycatcher was observed at the top of an evergreen tree just southwest of the Beachcomber Market and DeliMart.

We also checked a few other coastal locations from Brady Loop Rd. to Tokeland during the day specifically for the lingering shorebird migration. Overall shorebird numbers were very low compared to our past visit last week,but a few species were observed. A list of highlights noted at these locations includes the following:

Common Loon
34 at Tokeland

"Black"Brant
32 off Tokeland(Willapa Bay)

Cinnamon Teal
1 pair along Brady Loop Rd.

Bufflehead
1 at Tokeland

Turkey Vulture
15 along Brady Loop Rd.
12 along Hwy.12 at Satsop
3 along Hwy.12 at Montesano
12 at Tokeland
3 along S.R.105 north of Grayland

Osprey
1 pair copulating at an active nestsite along Brady Loop Rd.

Northern Harrier
3 along Brady Loop Rd.

Cooper's Hawk
1 along Brady Loop Rd.

Am.Kestrel
4 along Brady Loop Rd.

Ring-necked Pheasant
3 along Brady Loop Rd.

Semipalmated Plover
3 along Brady Loop Rd.

Greater Yellowlegs
1 along Brady Loop Rd.

Whimbrel
450+ at Tokeland

Long-billed Curlew
5 at Tokeland(4 at Graveyard Spit,1 at the Tokeland Marina)

Marbled Godwit
280+ at Tokeland

Ruddy Turnstone
3 at the Tokeland Marina
1 at Bottle Beach(the only shorebird present at that location during incoming tide)

Western Sandpiper
22 along Brady Loop Rd.
35 at Tokeland

Dunlin
2 along Brady Loop Rd.
10 at Tokeland

Short-billed Dowitcher
22 at Tokeland

Long-billed Dowitcher
12 at Tokeland

Mourning Dove
1 along Brady Loop Rd.

Vaux's Swift
2 at Tokeland

Yellow Warbler
1 along Brady Loop Rd.

Wilson's Warbler
1 at Tokeland

Golden-crowned Sparrow
1 at Tokeland



Good birding,

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