Hello Tweets,

Today Jim Pruske and my mother and I birded from the Elma-Brady area to Ocean Shores with several highlights within the 104 total species we observed during the entire day. The weather remained nice all day with mostly cloudy skies and wind at Ocean Shores,which didn't seem to deter our birding at all. Our best highlight was probably a PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER observed during our afternoon visit to the Oyhut Wildlife Area(accessed behind the Ocean Shores STP),where the bird loosely associated itself with several Black-bellied Plovers and other shorebirds species. The bird was only observed for a few minutes before it and he entire flock of shorebirds it was with flushed due to the presence of 2 immature Peregrine Falcons chasing eachother. This was most likely the same Pacific Golden Plover that we originally reported at this same location on the 16th of November,but was a good bird to see again! The Oyhut WA as a whole produced our greatest numbers and diversity of shorebirds with 8-9,000+ Dunlin flying back in forth in waves,as we looked eastwards towards Damon Point. These flocks would shift around and fly out over Grays Harbor a short ways before returning back to the sandy "spit" or peninsula that is separated by a large canal. The Peregrine Falcons were a treat to watch,as we first noted one bird as it pursued and captured a Dunlin then flying our direction. The bird was soon joined by a second Peregrine Falcon,as they gained speed in a pursuit. The 2 birds continued flying towards the jetty,where we watched the smaller bird(most likely a male)being grounded by the larger bird(most likely a female). Just before the male was grounded it dropped the Dunlin and landed to retrieve it,as the female flew overhead and circled several times before flying to a nearby perch. We then watched as the female flew to an unknown location and the male was left behind,where it started consuming the Dunlin. It was quite a show to watch and entertained us greatly while it lasted!

A few other highlights of the day included 2 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS included 1 adult bird along Foster Rd.(Brady Loop Rd. complex)and a additional bird along Paulson Rd. between the Hoquiam STP and S.R.109. Continuing with raptors we located the lingering adult light-morph "Harlan's"Red-tailed Hawk intergrade along Schafer Boom Rd.,which is accessed near Brady Loop Rd.

We enjoyed a nice assortment of geese at the Ocean Shores Golf Course just east of Point Brown Ave and south of the Ocean Shores Fire Station. Here,we easily located the lingering immature SNOW GEESE as it associated with a flock of 10 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. Closely nearby were a mixed flock of Canada and Cackling Geese including 2 "ALEUTIAN"CACKLING GEESE and 3 "Dusky"Canada Geese. At the Ocean Shores Jetty we were treated to great,close views of a single ROCK SANDPIPER as it foraged in dense debris and driftwood along the upper beach near the base of the jetty. Nearby, near midspan on the jetty itself were a mixed flock of "rockbirds" that contained 2 additional Rock Sandpipers,13+ Black Turnstones and 1 Surfbirds. A single LAPLAND LONGSPUR and 2 Horned Larks flew overhead,as they eventually flew eastwards calling loudly. Presumably the same Lapland Longspur and 1 Horned Lark were located during the mid afternoon just east of the base of Damon Point in beach vegetation.

It was a good day for Eared Grebes with 7 birds at the Hoquiam STP and 1 bird at the Cabana Pond at Ocean Shores. We also observed most likely the same Pacific Loon(with 1 Common Loon)that we reported at the Cabana Pond on the 16th of November,as well as a single Red-necked Grebe. 2 additional Red-necked Grebes were noted at the Hoquiam STP,where they both dined on small fish. 4 Common Loons and 3 Canvasbacks were also noted at the main pond at the Hoquiam STP along with a small assortment of other waterbirds. Our last two main species of the day were noted during a walk at Damon Point with our only Red-throated Loon of the day and 2 "Black"Brant. The remains of a dark-morph Northern Fulmar were also discovered,as we walked the upper beach at Damon Point bordering Grays Harbor.


Additional highlights noted during the day included the following species:


1 Brown Pelican observed off the Ocean Shores Jetty with 5 birds later noted resting at the tip of the Westport Jetty observed from Damon Point

2 Tundra Swans observed flying west along Wenzel Slough Rd. near Elma

4 Black Scoters and 1 Harlequin Duck at the Oyhut WA

1 late OSPREY at Vance Creek Co. Park near Elma(our first good bird of the day)

2 Am.Kestrels along Brady Loop Rd.

5 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS along the beach just north of the Ocean Shores Jetty with 28 birds noted later at the Oyhut WA

1 Spotted Sandpiper along the Hoquiam River in Hoquiam

4 Western Sandpipers and 24 Least Sandpipers at the Oyhut WA

1 1st winter plumaged Thayer's Gull, 1 Herring Gull, and 1 Western Gull observed amongst a large flock of gulls near the west end of Wenzel Slough Rd. near Satsop. This gull flock was primarily Ring-billed and Mew Gulls with several Glaucous-winged Gulls and 3 California Gulls to round out the flock with 7 species. A flock of 15+ Herring Gulls was later noted during our visit to the Oyhut WA.

2 Western Scrub Jays along Wenzel Slough Rd. near Elma.

1 adult Northern Shrike north of the Ocean Shores STP.

2 Savannah Sparrows,1 Western Meadowlark and 1 Brown-headed Cowbird noted along Brady Loop Rd. 3 additional Brown-headed Cowbirds were observed amongst a blackbird flock along the western portion of Wenzel Slough Rd. near Satsop.



Good birding,

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