Hi Tweeters,

Some of this will be a bit of repeat of previous post
about Ocean Shores but there's more! I was torn
yesterday between the Gyrfalcon and the Yellow-billed
Loon. The Gyr won out. This my notable sightings of
the day.

In Kent off Russell Rd near the Kent-Des Moines
overpass a Scrub Jay was perched up near the Green
River calling. A Cooper's Hawk was nearby. Also in
Kent at 264th and Military Rd a pair of Band-tailed
Pigeons.

On I-5 near Enchanted Parkway two swan sp. arched over
the freeway and back towards the Green River Valley.
First time I have seen swans near I-5 in this area.

Quick stop at Mud Bay, usual suspects plus a River
Otter cruising along.

First Ocean Shores stop Damon Point. I didn't spend
as long here as I could of due to the wind but I did
see 5 or 6 Snowy Owls, some of which were flying
around. Shorebirds here included Semi-palmated
Plover. I ran into Micheal Fleming and he said he had
spotted the Gyrfalcon at the Game Range.

At the Ocean Shores Game Range I had to hang out quite
a while to eventually see the Gyr. In the meantime I
watched a Western Gull try to capture a Dunlin that
was food challenged. The Dunlin had an orangish worm
that was easily a foot long dangling from its bill.
This compromised its flight and made it a good target
for the gull. Eventually it was able to swallow its
meal and live at least until the next very long worm.
As Micheal had mentioned a Bald Eagle was stirring
things up and seemed to be claiming the area. I am
sure I witnessed the same Gyr/Dunlin exchange Patrick
and Ruth did from afar. This aroused the attention of
the eagle and it moved toward the commotion. Then the
Gyr sneaked back my way flying very low to the ground.
It landed on an apparent previous kill and not
finding anything left to eat perched on a washed up
snag and preened. Patience paid off.

Missed the Glaucous Gull at Hoquiam STP but saw the
only other birder all day. We waved. I totally
missed the Sullivans as a significant birder sighting.

I went to Tokeland hoping to see the Clark's Grebe but
the likely suspect was tucked in tight and even with
scoping wasn't sure it was a Clark's. The tide was
quite low. The shellfish were being harvested and the
Marbled Godwits were in the shellfish beds along with
the harvesters gleening what they could.

Last stop Midway Beach. Nice looks at a handful of
Horned Larks, the streaked variety. Close looks at
some very tame Least Sandpipers in with some more wary
Westerns.

Kathy
Roosting in S King County



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