I birded Willapa Bay a bit on September 4 and 5.

On September 4 I birded the shore from the Ledbetter parking lot. As has
been the case for my few trips there in fall in the past three years - the
place was almost devoid of shorebirds. I had three WESTERN SANDPIPERS fly
over - nothing else. Not many years ago this was perhaps the best coastal
shorebird spot on the West Coast in fall.

Hopefully the spartina erradication program will restore it to its former
greatness. There was increased use by shorebirds last spring in the areas
where the spartina had been killed. More extensive spraying was conducted
this summer. As I understand there will be aerial spraying next year.

My spring trips to the Ledbetter area have been productive over the past
three years, but even then the numbers have not equaled the vast flocks that
I remember from the mid-1960s.

On the outgoing tide a flock of 12 GREATER YELLLOWLEGS and 9 SHORT-BILLED
DOWITCHERS were in the little cove off of my deck - a few miles south of
Nachotta.

On September 5 I didn't even bother with the Ledbetter Point area. I birded
from my deck on the incoming tide:

1 juvenal STILT SANDPIPER (associating with a flock of about 60 WESTERN
SANDPIPERS)
41 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS
17 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS
1 WHIMBREL

(I discovered a promising area for shorebirds that will need future
investigation.)

Good Birding.


Jeff Gilligan
Portland, Oregon
jeffgill at teleport.com