Hello Tweets,

Yesterday(July 8th)we again birded Ocean Shores,but encountered much slower conditions than our previous trip. We spent the better part of the day covering most of the key shorebird areas,as well as the Ocean Shores Jetty with relatively good weather conditions,although quite windy at times after 12pm. We noticed for one a great increase in southbound adult Western Sandpipers with good numbers encountered at several locations including 4000+ birds gathered around the edges of 2 of the 3 sewage ponds at the Ocean Shores STP. This was an amazing sighting and most of the birds were very bright and crisp and although we couldn't see fully into all the ponds we felt this number was a conservative count.

1000+ Western Sandpipers were encountered as they roosted partially on the Ocean Shores Jetty during our early morning visit to that location. On a return walk back from the tip of the jetty many of the birds had vacated their roost to possible feeding areas. Least Sandpipers on the other hand were in short supply,but noted as a small increase from our previous visit with small numbers noted at a few locations. It seemed that Western Sandpiper was the bird of the ay,as far as numbers and the main shorebird observed at almost every spot. Our only other notable shorebird sightings for the day were 17 adult LONG-BILLED CURLEWS(with 7 Whimbrel)at Bill's Spit,where they roosted amongst a small gull flock during followed by 2 Long-billed Dowitchers at the Ocean Shores STP.

Our visit to the Ocean Shores Jetty produced continued good number of Common Murres and Rhinoceros Auklets,where they gathered in rafts primarily north of the tip of the jetty. Small numbers were also encountered in flocks flying back and forth,as in past visits. Sooty Shearwater numbers were quite low yesterday with only 120+ birds noted off the Ocean Shores Jetty during a 1.5 hour visit to that location with most birds observed further offshore within an ample sight distance. A single SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER was visible attracted to a large gull feeding flock north of the tip of the jetty before finally disappearing. This bird was mainly located by the much overall darker plumage(including completely dark underwings)than several nearby Sooty Shearwaters,as well as the slightly smaller size. he bird also seemed to fly more quicker than the nearby slower wingbeats of nearby Sooty Shearwaters. It was nice to see Short-tailed Shearwater during the summer months rather than occasionally seeing them during a fall/winter storm from this same location!
Brown Pelican and Heermann's Gull numbers were also fairly low yesterday,but still apparent from several main locations including the Ocean Shores Jetty,the outer beaches at Marine View Drive and the Oyhut Wildlife Area.


We also searched diligently at the Oyhut Wildlife Area for the Northern Shrike by walking the entire area with NO luck,but the bird could still be around. 3 separate "Streaked"Horned Larks were encountered at this location,including one adult bird that was banded. A list of our other noteworthy sightings made at Ocean Shores yesterday included the following:

Common Loon
5 at the Oyhut Wildlife Area

Red-throated Loon
3 off the Ocean Shores Jetty
3 at the Oyhut WA

Northern Pintail
3 lingering birds at the Ocean Shores STP

Northern Shoveler
8 birds at the Ocean Shores STP

Red-breasted Merganser
2 at the Oyhut WA

Turkey Vulture
1 bird flying low over the Oyhut WA

Osprey
2 birds at the Oyhut WA(including one bird consuming a freshly caught fish from the nearby Cabana Pond)

Northern Harrier
3 birds at the Oyhut WA

Cooper's Hawk
1 bird at the Oyhut WA

Semipalmated Plover
12 birds at the Oyhut WA

Whimbrel
7 birds flying south along the outer beaches at the Marine View Drive beach access
2 birds flying south over the Ocean Shores Jetty
3 birds at the Oyhut WA
7 birds at Bill's Spit

Black Turnstone
1 bird at the Ocean Shores Jetty

Western Sandpiper
65+ birds along the outer beaches at the Marine View Drive beach access
4000+ birds at the Ocean Shores STP
1000+ birds at the Ocean Shores Jetty
50 birds at the Oyhut WA
125+ birds at Bill's Spit

Yellow Warbler
2 birds along Marine View Drive near the Oyhut WA


Other birds of note to and from Ocean Shores included the following:


2 Turkey Vultures flying along Hwy.12 over the Wynoochee River
1 American Kestrel along Hwy.12 west of Brady
2 Western Scrub Jays along Hwy.12 at Brady




Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Fircrest,WA
godwit513 at msn.com