Hi Tweets;
I'm recently back from a three day (May 10/11/12) exploration of the
Long Beach Peninsula and wanted to share with you some of my birding
adventures. First I want to offer anyone interested two photos: One is
of the Nat. Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations bulletin board
showing the list of birds and mammals sighted from the North Head
Lighthouse. Two bird counters with massive binoculars (that could ID
birds 2 1/2 miles out to sea!) spent May 11, counting all the birds
they viewed over the ocean, especially feeding on the foam line (where
fresh and salt water meet.) It was a thrill for me to be invited to
look at the birds through this massive binocular and see my first loon
ever! Also interesting was seeing a raft of sea-lions floating on their
backs and hearing their extremely loud voices over the crash of the
surf; the second is my photo close-up of a "By-the-Wind-Sailor"
Velella velella (I think), possibly the same observed by Judy Rowe
Taylor and Identified by Eric Kraig on Tweeters recently. The NOAA
counters said they work with Audubon Society or other birder
volunteers and welcome help with counts and interpreting for the
general public. If you are interested they will put you on their list
of volunteers to receive emails announcing the time and place for
counting seabirds. Their info follows:

Jeannette Zamon, PH.D and Troy Guy
NOAA Fisheries
Point Adams Research Station
PO Box 155/520 Heceta Place
Hammond, OR 97121-o155
email Jen.Zamon at noaa.gov

We stayed at the North Head Lighthouse, lighthouse keepers residence
(one of three over one-hundred year old buildings beautifully restored
and rented by the Washington State Parks.) It is located within view of
the North Head Lighthouse. It is surrounded by a forest full of singing
birds. Unfortunately one lens of my 26 year old Swift, 7x50 binoculars
came loose so I was unable to see them well (can you believe this after
waiting over ten years to bird-watch at the beach?)

One other beautiful place we went to observe birds was Leadbetter
Point, walking the beach on the bay side. Believe it or not there was
not one person on the beach besides us but also only a handful of
birds. By the looks of things the migration was over. One highlight was
a Sandhill crane seen in the tall grass in the distance (or was I
seeing/imaging things?).

Joy Stickney-Markgraf
near White Salmon WA
email: joymarkgraf at gorge.net