After reading the posts about the GYRFALCON this past week I decided to make the trip over to Ocean Shores and see if I could also locate the bird. The weather was quite windy upon my arrival, so I thought that birding would be difficult (which it was to an extent), and that I would find no birds (which was not the case).

I parked in the turnout area just north of the Sewage Treatment Plant at about 10:00 am and walked over to the beach at the Oyhut Wildlife Area. I continued north along the beach about 150 yards and spotted the GYRFALCON sitting on the roots of an old downed tree near the shoreline. I observed the bird for about 15 minutes before leaving. Additional highlights of todays trip were:

ROCK SANDPIPER - One individual at the Ocean Shores jetty among 5 SURFBIRDS and 8 BLACK TURNSTONES

BLACK SCOTER - There was a group of 25~ birds at the Ocean Shores jetty

SNOWY OWL - Saw 4 birds at Damon Point

RED-THROATED LOON - 1 bird seen at the Ocean Shores jetty

GLAUCOUS GULL - 1 at the Hoquiam Sewage Ponds

RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER - Rochester - near the site where the Red-Shouldered Hawk has been seen (which I did not see today)

FOX SPARROW - Tenino - Briefly observed the "reddish" FOX SPARROW; the directions as posted by Paul Hicks, whom I met at the site. Directions: From SR507 1 mile east/north of Tenino turn left (north) on Mull Rd and proceed past the bridge 100 feet.



Cheers and Good Birding;



Michael Fleming

Ballard, WA

michaellf AT myway.com

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