Hello Tweets,

Yesterday afternoon we birded between Bottle Beach and Tokeland during incoming tide,despite not relocating the Curlew sandpiper observed the previous evening by a few birders. We checked Bottle Beach during 2 separate occasions and had a different assortment of species there during both visits,but the greatest diversity during our visit between 2pm-3pm. Our main highlight at this location was 2 juvenile Pacific Golden Plovers observed just after we arrived at 2pm and earlier observed by Steve and Jan Watson. The birds were both present in close association amongst a large flock of 380+ Black-bellied Plovers,500+ Western Sandpipers and up to 11 Short-billed Dowitchers. Within 5 minutes of watching the flock of shorebirds the entire flock lifted unannounced and flew westward towards the outer beaches near Westport. A few shorebirds remained with still remaining amounts of mudflats of available for feeding,but the majority of group of shorebirds never returned. We made a short walk into the riparian area bordering Bottle Beach,where a small assortment of passerines were encountered. Our return visit to Bottle Beach at 5:30pm during high tide was far less productive,but a resting group of 48 Black-bellied Plovers(observed both on the sandy shoreline immediately east of the end of the pathway and a few birds resting on pilings)were noted with a single Marbled Godwit and 12 Semipalmated Plovers. A list of other noteworthy species encountered at Bottle Beach included the following:

1 Western Grebe
1 Greater Yellowlegs
1 Pectoral Sandpiper
1 Cassin's Vireo
5 Orange-crowned Warblers
8 Yellow Warblers
4 "Sooty"Fox Sparrows
12 Golden-crowned Sparrows
4 Purple Finches


At 3:30pm we made a short visit to Midway Beach Rd. with the only 2 species present upon a short walk made north of the end of road being 2 "Streaked"Horned Larks and a single Am.Pipit. A short stop along the riparian-lined roadside east of the outer beaches along Midway Beach Rd. produced a nice assortment of passerines including the following species:


3 Hutton's Vireos
1 Warbling Vireo
2 Orange-crowned Warblers
7 Yellow Warblers
5 Black-throated Warblers
1 Wilson's Warbler

Between 4:35pm-6pm we birded the Tokeland Marina and observed the juvenile Bar-tailed Godwit resting tightly amongst a group of 400+ Marbled Godwits that lined the most southern dock within the marina. The Bar-tailed Godwit at this time was best viewed from the main road to the fishing pier due to the lighting and other factors and a smaller group of additional Marbled Godwits with a few Whimbrel and Willets were noted on the "old" dock south of the marina connected to the large white building. The entire flock of Marbled Godwits and other large shorebirds were later flushed somehow,then a portion of the flock resettled onto the wooden dock.

At 4:55pm we observed a very likely candidate for a Lesser Black-backed Gull that flew in from an unknown location into the marina area,then finally settled into the sheltered water near the jetty. Upon quick actions and scope views of the bird revealed it showed a very similar plumage to the bird we photographed at the Ocean Shores STP on the 2nd of September,as we figured it was the same bird. Unlike at Ocean Shores we had superb lighting,which could have resulted in how the bird really appeared.The bird however showed more extensive white areas from the head to the underparts,but we at this time were able to bet more lengthy views of it,as well as obtain more photographs from different angles including in flight. At this time the bird remains undetermined by several authorities to exact species,but we remain confident the bird is a Lesser Black-backed Gull. We managed to obtain views of the bird,as it settled onto the rocky jetty amongst larger gulls within the marina,but the standing contrast of the bird was not nearly as strong as when he bird was observed in flight. While the bird did rest on the rocks we did observed non-descript fleshy colored feet and legs,a darkish eye,and an unevenly colored,yet refined bill. The bill actually appeared more thicker in some views and more thinner and refined in other views creating a deceiving appearance. The mantle pattern was not as crisp than in the bird at the Ocean Shores STP,but still noticeable during side views. In flight the bird showed a definite contrast between the mantle and primaries with dark or dusky underwings. The broad outertail band was also noted that contrasted well with the whitish rump area. Could there be 2 different birds matching these nearly same plumages and overall structures that we have described in a relatively small area? It is a very complex issue and 1st and 2nd year gull identification is very difficult,especially with the ideas of hybridization. We have not published our photos onto our website to date due to the ongoing examination of our photos of the gull and we may never know the exacy identity of the bird,but lean strongly towards Lesser Black-backed Gull. We however have placed 12 new photos onto our September 05 gallery within our website of recent sightings. These sightings include the Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Midway Beach Rd., the juvenile Bar-ailed Godwit at the Tokeland Marina, and Pacific Golden Plovers and a Pectoral Sandpiper at Ocean Shores. Our photos can be viewed at the following link: http://www.pbase.com/godwit/september05photos/ .


Our day yesterday actually began helping out with the Nisqually Restoration Site(in Pierce Co.)near the Nisqually NWR. Highlights during this private survey included the following species:

250+ Green-winged Teal
2 Blue-winged Teal
9 species of shorebirds including 3 Semipalmated Plovers,1 Baird's Sandpiper,8 Pectoral Sandpipers(with only one present on the actual restoration site),1 Short-billed Dowitcher and 7 Long-billed Dowitchers.
1 Cooper's Hawk
small numbers of Violet-green Swallows amongst larger numbers of Barn Swallows
30+ Am.Pipits



Good birding,

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