Hi Tweeters,

I led a birdathon field trip for East Lake Wa. Audubon
Soc. yesterday. A huge highlight was dozens of Red
Knots at Bottle Beach on the incoming tide. The
numbers outnumbered all the knots I have ever seen.
Dozens. There may be good count out there by someone
who keeps track of numbers better than I do. We also
saw a lot of other great shorebirds here including
about equal numbers of Western Sandpipers and Dunlin,
one Marbled Godwit, about 6 Whimbrel foraging with
about a dozen Ruddy Turnstones on the high water line.
Plus a few others and a small flock of Brandt.

Other highlights, Yellow Warbler in numerous places.
Pacific-slope Flycatcher and American Pipit at
Bowerman Basin, also good looks at a silent Swainson's
Thrush. Two Peregrines were working the sandpipers
here. Hoquiam STP had scads of Bonaparte's Gulls in
various plumages and a Blue-winged Teal drake.
Western Wood-Pewee on the Wenshall slough (sp?) loop
on the way home.

I think all the paid participants felt like they got
their money's worth. At least no one asked for a
refund!! I just might do this trip again next year.
You never know about what will be around and yesterday
was a very pleasant surprise.

Kathy
Roosting in S King County

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com