Tweets - Matt Bartels and I did a somewhat quick trip to Vashon Island this
morning. Overall, things were fairly quiet. We hit KVI Beach, Point
Robinson, Quartermaster Harbor, Fern Cove, and KVI Beach again, before
departing on the 12:20 ferry.

While there was not much to see much of the time, we did find a couple of
good birds.

At Point Robinson, we had a small flock (maybe 25 birds total), comprising
WESTERN SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, SANDERLING, and a single BAIRD'S
SANDPIPER, which we were very happy to find, as it was a new King County
bird for both of us.

At Fern Cove there was a flock of about 60 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, which we'd
looked through at least a couple of times before I glanced over and noted a
juvenile FRANKLIN'S GULL amongst them. Another new county bird for both of
us. We had to walk quite far out over the mud at low tide to see the bird.
I was glad I had boots.

KVI Beach was a disappointment during both visits. The best bird there was
a COMMON LOON.

Alki, which I hit in the afternoon, was also quiet. I did find about 6
BLACK TURNSTONES at the boat launch east of Duwamish Head. There were also
a dozen or more HARLEQUIN DUCKS south of the lighthouse.

So it was a nice day, even if we couldn't turn up a single Common Tern, even
looking over to Kitsap County. No jaegers either.

== Michael Hobbs
== Kirkland, WA
== http://www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
== birdmarymoor at verizon.net