After the Gray's Harbor CBC on Monday, Jan 2, I stuck around to do a bit more birding on Tuesday, Jan 3. There were 6 SNOWY OWLS on Damon Spit at Ocean Shores. I did not see any Snow Buntings. While driving towards the Ocean Shores STP, a dead RED PHALAROPE lay on the road. 3 other REPH's were swimming on a pond nearby.

The Ocean Shores jetty held the usual BLACK TURNSTONES and SURFBIRDS as well as 5 ROCK SANDPIPERS. The weather was windy and rainy, so I didn't stick around to get counts on these birds. Not much on the water at this location.

The GLAUCOUS GULL was still at the Hoquiam STP, but I didn't see any phalaropes as I had the day before.

I flew through Brady Loop. West of the intersection of Brady Loop and Foster Road, there were 10 swans in the field. There were 5 of each of the 2 species.

At Elma, I went south on Hwy 12 to Rochester. I dipped on George G's Red-shouldered Hawk, but saw the WHITE-TAILED KITE at mp9 on Lincoln Creek Road, in Lewis County, SW of Rochester (Thurston Co).

A good start to 2006.

Happy New Year and Good Birding to all Tweeters.

Marv Breece
Seattle, WA