Hello, All.

It is all Brants fault.

When I knew we were headed out your way I knew that I
wanted to find a Brant. Not sure why. Then I wanted a
Harlequin Duck. Searches started pointing to Dungeness
and it looked like my kind of hike, too.

So, knowing I would go there and still have days to
fill I asked all of you kind folk for other locations
and suggestions. One more to go tomorrow, Nisqually,
and then we head home.

In thanks, I will give a Eurasian Wigeon location. But
first...

I made it out to Dungeness at 7 AM. Cold. Wind picking
up. Light rain. I was a bit concerned with weather
reports saying winds in excess of 25 mph. Hey, I had a
dream.

Plus, I voted for going last Monday.

I am used to hiking in 95 degree heat, 90 percent
humidity through marsh land dodging gators and
cottonmouths. After today I can say that Dungeness in
today's opposite conditions is just as daunting.

Winds were steady at 25 plus gusts I would put at
least at 40. I used my umbrells to protect my cameras
and had to brace it on my right shoulder until the
rain stopped 90 minutes into the hike.

Earlier, I described it as trying to walk down the
beach with both my boys pushing me from the side at
the same time. Exhausting. One the rain let up I
closed the umbrella for good and made good time.

Found the Brants pretty quickly. The wind was pushing
birds out into the Straits so I watched a bunch of
activity off to the left. Red-breasted Mergansers,
Western Grebes, Brants, Surf Scoters, Western and
Glaucous Gulls, Harlequin Ducks, Killdeer, Bald Eagle,
Barrow's Goldeneye, and Harbor Seals joined me on the
trek.

Got the tour of the lighthouse as headed back. Same
birds plus Pelagic Cormorant and my prints tell me a
Red-throated Loon. Male Red-breasted Mergansers
treated me to some displays next to their ladies.

That last walk UP the bluff is a killer after 5 hours
of walking and shooting. At the bird feeder at the top
of the hill were Spotted Towhee, Dark-eyed Junco, Song
and Fox Sparrows.

a lot of bird song in the woods but I am not up on the
Western bird calls like I am back home. Something
REALLY loud out near the parking lot. Grouse, perhaps?
Not sure, need to check some sources.

Finished earlier than I expected so I decided to check
some sites from the Opperman book on the way back to
base.

Stopped by the oysterhouse and another spit. Not much
different. Went by Three-crabs and down that lane but
it mainly had American Wigeons. Decided to check out
the water across from the restaurant before I left.

There, with the Mallards and American Wigeons was a
male Eurasion wigeon! My first ever. If you park in
the Three-crabs lot and turn around and walk toward
the fences it was right there.

About makes up for a missed Snowy Owl to me.

I was resigned to the fact that I wasn't going to get
Black Oystercatchers on this trip but hit a couple
remaining spots.

At the John Wayne Marina they flew right up next to
me. It was a nice long ride home.

Still trying to get a Townsends Warbler before I leave
but with over 35 Lifers in 5 days I can't complain.
Who knows what will turn up tomorrow.

I need to scan some images when I get home and will
post a page in hopes that someone might help nail down
a couple birds I am not sure of but it has been a
great trip.

Thanks for everyone's help!

Andrew Boyle
Orlando, FL

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