Returning home Monday from the WOS Convention in Bellingham I took the long way home, since one never sees birds doing 70 down I-5. My route included owling on Whidbey Island, Port Townsend, Hood Canal, Bottle Beach, and Tokeland. My day started off thinking of all the use-to-be dairy farms on Whidbey Island and where would a Great Horned Owl be. My brain picked one and sure enough there sat a Great Horned on the power lines going into the farm. This is approx. 1/3 mile west on Boone Road south of Oak Harbor. I streaked on down to the ferry as it was starting to get light. Crossing over to Port Townsend I braved the cold wind and had 2 good looking Long-tailed Jaegers heading towards Point-no-point. Shorebirds were scarce in Jefferson Co., but did hear a California Quail at the Quilcene marina area. The Hood Canal was messing with my good fortune when I scoped the mouth of the Skykomish River and there was a male Redhead swimming close to a lot of Surf and White-winged Scoters. I think this is my first time seeing Redheads on Salt water.

My timing seemed off when I arrived at Bottle Beach. Low tide had most of the shorebirds way out there. It didn't take long to locate the Curlew Sandpiper feeding with Black-bellied Plovers, but hanging with the Western Sandpipers when they would fly. I got another birder on it who waded out to it and got very close after an hour or so. It was tough to re-find it when it would fly. Also there was a very late Semipalmated Sandpiper on the mud flats. A quick stop at Tokeland and sorting through all the godwits and finding one Bar-tailed Godwit. I only wish I could have had all those who I put through torture on the Mt. Baker field trips the past 3 days on this day and reward all of them with quality birds. After finding the Long-tailed Jaegers early in the morning I figured I was dealt a super nice hand. Seems like a quality bird first thing and more likely follow that day.

Ken Knittle
Washington Birder newsletter
2604 NE 80th Street
Vancouver, WA 98665
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