Hello Tweets,

This afternoon the juvenile Hudsonian Godwit and up to 2 separate juvenile Bar-tailed Godwits were present during high tide at the Westport Marina between 12:30pm-1:30pm,where they gathered with a flock of 75+ Marbled Godwits. The entire godwit flock was observed from Float 21,where they settled along a portion of a jetty area immediately north of the coast guard station. We watched the godwit flock until 1:30pm until the entire flock flew off to the east,where we relocated the birds on a nearby beach and watched them until 3pm. We presumed the Hudsonian Godwit and both Bar-tailed Godwits are the same individual birds that have been present recently at this location and from Bill's Spit at Ocean Shores,but it was nice to finally see them all together! We obtained many photographs of the Hudsonian Godwit and both Bar-tailed Godwits in different poses,as well as in flight. In addition to the godwit flock we observed a flock of 50 Long-billed Curlews, which at times joined the godwits. Other notable species noted from the general Westport Marina included the following species:

90+ Greater White-fronted Geese(observed flying north to south in active migration)
8 Common Loons
7 Western Grebes
75+ Brown Pelicans
2 Northern Harriers
2 Merlins
1 Peregrine Falcon
5 Black Turnstones
12 Sanderlings
120+ Least Sandpipers
6 Pectoral Sandpipers
1 Long-billed Dowitcher
1 Western Meadowlark


Earlier in the day we made a visit to Bottle Beach during incoming tide between 11am-12pm,where a flock of 142 Black-bellied Plovers dominated the shoreline along with a few other species of shorebirds. We obtained great views and comparisons of adult and juvenile Black-bellied Plovers,which could be very easily turned into American or Pacific Golden Plovers. We observed at least 2 juvenile Black-bellied Plovers that showed very crisp "golden" overall colorations,but lacked structural aspects for a true golden plover such as wing projection,overall size compared to other nearby Black-bellied Plovers,and bill structure. When the birds finally flew the classic black axillaries were clearly evident. We strongly caution birders to not just look for the overall color of the birds,but keep in mind the structural differences too,as well as see any birds in question in flight to "clinch" your decision. Anyhow, it was a neat experience for us eventhough we realize this is prime season for juvenile Black-bellied Plovers!

Other notable species encountered at Bottle Beach included the following:

55+ Greater White-fronted Geese(observed in the same manner at the Westport birds)
80 Cackling Geese(same as above along with good numbers of other migrating waterfowl)
28 Common Loons
2 Semipalmated Plovers
4 Greater Yellowlegs
5 Sanderlings
34 Western Sandpipers
15 Least Sandpipers
12 Dunlin
1 Long-billed Dowitcher
1 Swainson's Thrush(noteworthy date for location)
3 Common Yellowthroats
1 Lincoln's Sparrow

A group of 9 Great Egrets were tallied as we drove west from Bottle Beach to Westport along S.R.105 at the Elk River(Bay City)bridge,then upon leaving Westport 7 Great Egrets were observed just south of the Westport Airport,which we presume were part of the same group observed earlier in the day.


Our last stop of the day was made at the Johns River WRA,where a few highlights were noted to end our day's list,despite the threat of lingering rain showers. These highlights included the following species:

1 Great Egret
15 Greater White-fronted Geese
44 Cackling Geese
3 Hooded Mergansers
1 Northern Harrier
4 Least Sandpipers
5 Pectoral Sandpipers
1 Wilson's Snipe
78+ Am.Pipits
8 Western Meadowlarks


Mammal highlight of the day:

75 Roosevelt Elk at the Johns River WRA



Good birding,

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