Tweeters --

Spent the afternoon chasing godwits in the rain around the
Westport-Tokeland area. Actually missed the Hudsonian. NO godwits
were at the marina at highest tide on this very-high-tide day, and
120 Marbleds without a Hudsonian were there in the late afternoon
when I returned. Some flew east but I could not relocate them on the
large beach to the east of the Coast Guard station. However, a
BAR-TAILED GODWIT at Tokeland was a nice consolation.

The afternoon's highlight was a single FORK-TAILED STORM PETREL just
beyond the fishing boardwalks, seen from the N/NW end of the marina
where the Surfbirds & Turnstones hang out. It afforded great views as
it alternately flew, landed on the water, and even foot-pattered the
water surface. At one point it came within about 30 meters of me.
However, I think there may have been something neurologically wrong
with this individual. It seemed to have a kind of nervous tick
whereby it would jerk its head to the left repeatedly, and it never
once turned its head to the right. So maybe that accounts for its
being so close to shore. Its retrices were also a bit messed up, but
its flight appeared perfectly normal.

The other highlight was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at Tokeland, in the
big blackberry patch a few blocks inland from the marina. Plus the
usual Willets, Whimbrel, and other shorebirds.

Jay Withgott
withgott at comcast.net
Portland, OR