Made a quick trip yesterday with an out of town relative to Three Crabs Restaurant and hastily scoped out shorebirds from parking lot, also nearby brackish pond, and later at Helen's Pond just down the road. A couple hundred Western Sandpipers for sure flying low just over water in small, straggles, and 40-80 all told alighting also at nearby ponds. Also about 20 Dowitchers (Short-bills assumed), 13 at brackish pond, 8 at Helen's--that may have been some of same birds; four Yellowlegs at Helen's (not sure which sp.), also one immature Bald Eagle drinking (a 2-yr-old I'd guess)...plus 15 Great Blue Herons flew up in loose group in wetlands just south of Helens.

I'm also seeing more Caspian Terns this summer along Strait (six at least at 3 Crabs) and at Ediz Hook, six today while biking (tell me they aren't up here now breeding and in greater numbers...due to global warming). Anyway, also saw my first Heermann's Gull (an adult) at Ediz Hook this summer on June 28.

Bruce Moorhead
Port Angeles, WA
bruceb at olypen.com