Hello Tweets,

Today we birded a portion of Kitsap Co. from Gorst to Point No Point,where weather conditions held up with no rain until on our way home. The winds were fairly stiff,especially at the Point No Point Lighthouse and at the waterfront town of Suquamish. We began at the Elandan Gardens,which lies along S.R.16 at Sinclair Inlet near the Gorst Estuary. This was our original main stop of the day so we did some additional birding since we were already on the Kitsap Peninsula. We purchased some "floaters" for our small pond in our yard that help keep the pond clear and clean to some extent. The extensive Bonsai collection at the Elandan Gardens is nice,as well as the collections of landscape artistry and sculptures. While here we made a nice scoping of the extensive mudflats visible behind the property,which is a continuation of the Gorst Estuary. Most significant highlights during our visit included 2 Greater Yellowlegs, a flock of 58 Dunlin and 7 Western Sandpipers, and 8 Caspian Terns resting on the mudflats with scattered Mew Gulls.

We continued northward and made our next stop at the town of Suquamish,where we thoroughly scoped the open water of the Port Madison. Our only Osprey of the day was noted along S.R.305 between Poulsbo and Suquamish. Conditions began quite windy and remained that way,but we were able to sort a few species of waterbirds. We were unable to relocate the previously reported Yellow-billed Loon,of which could still be around or could have wandered elsewhere. We did locate several Common Loons,of which all were in high breeding plumage except for 2 birds in alternate plumage,as well as numerous Horned Grebes in full breeding plumage. Small numbers of Rhinoceros Auklets and Pigeon Guillemots were the alcid species of note at this location and up to 12 immature Bald Eagles were tallied from the waterfront store,as they dropped down to the water and all caught fish. Looking eastward to the northeast tip of Bainbridge Island were observed a large tight flock of Bonaparte's Gulls that concentrated along the shoreline,where numbers were estimated at 600+ birds.We made a drive over to the town of Indianola,which also resides along Port Madison and also offers good waterfront viewing. We made a nice scoping from the main dock in town and located our only Red-throated Loon of the day,as well as continued scattered numbers of Common Loons. Along the immediate shoreline were a gathering of 40 Barrow's Goldeneyes and 50 "Black"Brant.

After birding the Suquamish-Indianola area we decided to end the day at Hansville and at the Point No Point Lighthouse. Upon driving to the lighthouse via Hansville we located 4 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES which were all noted in resident yards either in scattered trees or perched atop telephone wires and rooftop antennas. We have encountered this species during spring migration in past years at this location,so perhaps they are annual. Arriving at the lighthouse we made a short walk to he actual tip,where a nice gathering of Red-breasted Mergansers floated in the stiff winds,as well as small numbers of Red-necked Grebes and 40 "Black"Brant. Further offshore small numbers of Rhinoceros Auklets and Bonaparte's Gulls were observed,as well as a single adult BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE that flew into the heavy winds. On our way back to Hansville 2 of the 4 Townsend's Solitaires were noted easily visible from the main road and neat he Hansville Store a very cooperative adult Bald Eagle perched atop a telephone pole for close examination. Other noteworthy species encountered at Hansville/Point No Point included the following: 1 calling Ring-necked Pheasant and 1 Mourning Dove.


Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Fircrest,WA
godwit513 at msn.com