Hello Tweets,

This morning Ken Knittle and my mother I birded the Point No Point area of northeastern Kitsap Co.,where several migrants were noted. En route to Point No Point we made a quick stop at the Titlow Beach area of Pierce Co.,where 12+ PURPLE MARTINS were noted perched atop wires and flying near the Steamer's Seafood Restaurant. Nearby, in a protected cove near Day Island 4 Least Sandpipers were observed during high tide.

We arrived at the Point No Point Lighthouse at 9am and were joined by Brad Waggoner,who graciously birded with us and exchanged recent sightings. The weather remained cloudy with some wind and some movement was noted. Small numbers of Yellow-rumped and Orange-crowned Warblers were most prevalent in shrubbery and trees near the lighthouse,as well as flying overhead. Most noteworthy sightings included 2 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS that flushed from a canal within the wetland area just east of the lighthouse,as they called and continued northward. As we scoped to the south along the shoreline towards Foulweather Bluff 3 breeding plumaged Black-bellied Plovers were observed amongst a scattered flock of Sanderling along the immediate beach. Small numbers of Bonaparte's Gulls were quite active in the offshore waters fairly close to shore,as well as small numbers of Red-necked Grebes,Rhinoceros Auklets and Red-breasted Mergansers. A few additional sightings from the Point No Point Lighthouse included the following:

1 Pacific Loon
3 Horned Grebes
80+ "Black"Brant
1 Common Murre
3 Marbled Murrelets
2 Northern Rough-winged Swallows
10+ Am.Pipits
4 Golden-crowned Sparrows(amongst good numbers of Savannah Sparrows)

After birding a short time at Point No Point we all drove over to Foulweather Bluff area,where we walked the rocky beach to the north of the end of Twin Spits Rd. Conditions were very calm here and the tide was receding rapidly. As we approached an area of heavy driftwood Brad spotted 2 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES that were foraging from several perches along the upper beach. They allowed nice close looks,but lighting conditions weren't the best for photos. We continued walking along the edge of the washed up driftwood for a short ways towards the tip of a spit,then decided to continue back to our vehicles. A very nice area with great habitat and a place we hope to visit again! A few other highlights from this location included the following:

5 Western Grebes
20+ "Black"Brant
2 Ospreys(at an active nestsite)
1 accipiter species
1 Greater Yellowlegs
17 Western Sandpipers
1 Least Sandpiper
7 Dunlin
2-3 Orange-crowned Warblers
1 singing Purple Finch
1 Pine Siskin

We have placed 4 photos of the Townsend's Solitaires onto our website,which can be accessed from the following link: http://www.pbase.com/godwit/recent_photos/


We later returned back to Point No Point with Brad,as winds shifted from the north and light rain showers began. Conditions seemed great for migrants,but the wind was slightly too brisk. We all walked the north trail from the lighthouse,as the tide continued going out and the rain continued. Just beyond the end of the trail Brad spotted our 3rd Townsend's Solitaire of the day. This bird foraged by itself along a lush hillside along the upper beach and was much crisper than the 2 birds near Foulweather Bluff. We walked back to the parking area at the lighthouse,as the rain increased then headed for home. Other sightings in the Point No Point/Hansville area included the following:

1 calling Ring-necked Pheasant
65+ Band-tailed Pigeons
1 Mourning Dove
1 Bushtit

A nice morning birding with Brad with his sharp eyes and good company!


Good birding,

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