This morning, along the beach east of the lighthouse, I encountered a flock of 7 Semipalmated Plovers. Nearby I also counted 8 Least sandpipers and 4 Sanderlings. There was an interesting flock of about 170 Bonaparte's Gulls, partly on shore and partly floating about in the surf. I couldn't see any rarities among them. There was also a large group of Caspian Terns, I had hoped to find some Common Terns but failed to see any.

A short time later more people appeared on the beach and the shorebirds became scattered. There may have been more Semipalmated Plovers by then, as I kept encountering small groups.

I encountered a number of other birders today, and it certainly was a great day for it.


Mark Vernon
Renton, WA
mailto ma_vern at yahoo.com

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