Hiya tweets,

Been seeing stuff on tweeters about Snow Buntings and easy Townsend's Warblers at Point Robinson lighthouse, and just got a wild hair and decided to go this morning. None too early, I caught the 8:25 boat out of Fauntleroy/West Seattle. I didn't get any lifers today, just a few good birds to add to my year list. First addition was Pigeon Guillemot right there at the Fauntleroy ferry terminal. Then, upon raching Vashon Island, I picked up another 20 or so species for the day before getting my next year bird, which was Common Loon. This was on the east-facing beach at the lighthouse, and I soon found 2 Snow Buntings on the north side. It was easy; just look for the photographers! Anyway, had plenty of good looks at the two birds, and walked a long ways up the beach both ways, but didn't find any others (6 were reported yesterday here). As I was walking up the beach, I stopped to pish a bunch of stuff down and saw a flash of a large black and white bird - an Ivory-Bill!! No, !
just my
first Pileated Woodpecker of the year. Along the beach area here, I was also seeing lot's of all 3 Scoters, Horned Grebes, Buffleheads, Barrow's Goldeneye and a few Red-breasted Mergansers.

After leaving the beach area, I decided to check out a couple of the trails, since I had never been there before. Saw a juvenile Bald Eagle in a tree, and soon picked up a lovely pair of Townsend's Warblers to add to my year list. Then, I decided to explore the island a little further, so took a different route back. This allowed me to find the little triangle of roads with the IBA on one side looking SW through Quartermaster Harbor, and then the other side, looking N and E into Puget Sound. On the Puget Sound side were a nice little flock of 24 Brant, as well as a number of American Wigeon. A little further along, I turned at Chautauqua Beach Road and stopped there, as there were a number of ducks and other birds. Turned out the only bird I added here was the surprise of the day: a Spotted Sandpiper bobbing it's little butt along, picking up stuff on the little mudflat. Very handsome little bird, picking amongst the Mallards and Shovelers lollygagging on the beach.

Next, I found KVI park, which was kind of interesting. I immediately built my day list up to a finishing 55 for the day, with Lesser Scaup and Ring-necked Duck being my final two birds of the day. Not a bad day at all, and most of it was pretty dry until I was sitting at the Vashon ferry terminal waiting for the ferry back. Started really raining then. For the year, I am at 93 species, and I have driven a total of 114 miles to see them, and taken one ferry ride. Not too bad I think. Good birding y'all!

Brett A. Wolfe
Seattle, WA
m_lincolnii at yahoo.com



---------------------------------
Yahoo! Autos. Looking for a sweet ride? Get pricing, reviews, & more on new and used cars.