This morning (Sunday 9.18.05) I began the birding day at Damon Pond at Ocean Shores. As I approached the pond, there were 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS at the near edge. Not far from the west end of the pond were 8 PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS and 4 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS. Also near the pond, SAVANNAH SPARROWS were numerous, and there were a few LAPLAND LONGSPURS as well. En route to Damon Point I saw a dozen BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS and 2 SANDERLINGS.

I then visited the game range. As the tide came in, WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS and a few DUNLIN were perched on higher ground. Three LAPLAND LONGSPURS flew overhead.

Next stop was Bill's Spit. By this time it was 2:00; high tide. I scoped the spit from a nearby vantage point and could see numerous large shorebirds huddled together on a small patch of sand, so I hurried to park and walk down to the beach. The population seemed to be mostly LONG-BILLED CURLEWS (44), and MARBLED GODWITS (25). But an initial look through the binoculars turned up well defined supercilia on 3 of the birds. Two of them were BAR-TAILED GODWITS, looking very much like the bird I had seen at Tokeland the day before. The third was difficult to see since it was hidden behind other birds most of the time. It didn't seem to be a bar-tailed, but I wasn't sure. Before I could ID bird #3, the flock lifted off. To my delight the small trailing godwit had a tail that was pure white at the base. The birds banked, and flew overhead, as if reading my mind. The black underwing of the smaller bird left little doubt that it was a HUDSONIAN GODWIT.

Smiling ear to ear, I departed for home.

It was a good day.

Marv Breece
Seattle, WA