Hello All

I spent two fine days birding on the Olympic Peninsula. Yesterday, I started
with some birding around Sequim. I readily found the PALM WARBLER at
Kitchen-Dick Ponds, chipping very loudly in spite of the gusty wind. Three
Crabs area did not produce anything out of the ordinary, so I headed to
Elwha River Mouth. Among the gulls loafing on the sandbar were 6
Black-legged Kittiwakes and 8 Thayer's Gulls.

I took a jaunt up the Elwha River Valley, where I observed a pair of Barred
Owls (interacting with a pair of ravens in the oldest section of trees I
could find), a Ruffed Grouse which slooowly crossed the road, and an
American Dipper. As I climbed, it began snowing heavily, so I turned around
and kept heading west. On the way out to Neah Bay, I was surprised to see an
American Kestrel near Clallam Bay. I doubt they are very regular that far
out on the peninsula.

I stayed the night at Hobuck Beach, a Makah-run camp just a few miles south
of Cape Flattery. I took an afternoon walk all along the beach. I was
astonished to find a flock of 10 MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS foraging in the
driftwood on the north section of the beach. Also somewhat surprising was an
imm. Northern Shrike hunting the beach.

After a frigid night, I headed to Cape Flattery at daybreak. I scoped from
the last platform for about 3 hours. There was lots of activity, although
most alcids were distant and none were coming to the cliffs. I had 2 Ancient
Murrelets and 1 Cassin's Auklet right off the bat, but then nothing until I
was about ready to leave at 10:30. A basic-plumaged HORNED PUFFIN appeared
in my scope, in flight with a Rhino Auklet, at a great distance although not
too great to clearly see what it was. Very happy, I headed back to my car
(finding a Western Red-backed Salamander on the way...) and back to Neah
Bay. There was a large concentration of raptors over Neah Bay. I observed
for about 30 minutes and counted 48 Turkey Vultures, 22 Bald Eagles, 18
Red-tailed Hawks, 2 Peregrine Falcons, and 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk. Most of
these rose on the obviously strong thermals until they were nearly
invisible, then drifted over the straits. The rest stayed low and meandered
east along the coastline. This is a great place to watch migration.
After that, I headed south and birded a number of places along the coast. At
Kalaloch 2 Gray Whales and a Whimbrel were the only notable things.

I stopped by Brady Loop Road on the way home, and found a 1W Glaucous Gull
and a Caspian Tern.

Of interest, I saw Pine Siskins more often in the last two days than I have
anywhere in the last year or more.

Some photos can be seen here: www.flickr.com/photos/potoo

That's about all!

thanks,
Charlie Wright
Bonney Lake, Washington