Hello Tweets,

This weekend we enjoyed a very rewarding time participating on the 12th annual Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival by helping lead 2 great field trips on the 27th and 28th of April. The weather both days was good with weather on the 27th being the most variable with scattered rain showers,which did not hamper birding at all. Saturday's weather was nice and mostly sunny all day with coastal winds.

Before attending our field trip on the 27th we encountered a few notable sightings in the Elma-Brady beginning with a WESTERN KINGBIRD observed in open fields along Hwy.12 near Elma. A quick morning visit 8:30am along Brady Loop Rd. included an adult male "Taiga" Merlin, the lingering 2 Barnacle Geese with 1,000+ Greater White-fronted Geese(Foster Rd.), and an adult male BULLOCK'S ORIOLE.

Our Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival field trip on the 27th were led by 4 leaders including us, Ken Knittle and Jim Pruske)on the 27th hosted a total of 40 participants with 95 species,as we birded areas from the Hoquiam STP to Tokeland. Our main highlights during this trip included very large numbers of northbound migrating Greater White-fronted Geese consisting of approximately 5,000+ birds at scattered locations including the Hoquiam STP(500 birds),Bottle Beach(1,500 birds), Westport(1,000 birds),and Midway Beach Rd.(2,000 birds). Our visit to Bottle during the morning incoming tide yielded great scope views of Red Knots for all our group,where 17 birds were tallied. Additionally, our group were treated to nice views of an adult RED-NECKED PHALAROPE along the shoreline amongst a flock of Short-billed Dowitchers. 2 close fly-by LONG-BILLED CURLEWS were also nice for our group,as they continued west along the shoreline towards Bay City and our only Sanderling of the day was also noted. A single adult Mew Gull was also present along the shoreline at Bottle Beach amongst a flock of Ring-billed Gulls and Caspian Terns. Overall shorebird numbers during our visit weren't impressive and numbers could have increased during the outgoing tide the same day. At Westport offshore viewing was very limited due to rather poor weather with the only highlights being a single Red-necked Grebe, 1 Red-throated Loon,and 13 Brown Pelican with both species noted from the Westport Marina. Further south our group was treated to good,but brief views of the elusive NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD in the residential area just south of Grayland's Beachcomber Market and Deli along S.R.105. The bird was also heard calling several times before flying off into a concealed area.

At Tokeland we began at the Tokeland Marina,where a small gathering of Marbled Godwits with Short-billed Dowitchers and 5-6 Long-billed Dowitchers gathered on the old dock along with 2 Willets. Nearby, our first Whimbrel of the day was noted flying and calling loudly just south of the marina complex. A 2 Horned Grebes and a Common Tern was observed by a few observers south of the marina in Willapa Bay. 2 Merlins were also present near the Tokeland Marina. Before leaving the Tokeland area we made a short stop along 7th Street near the Bayshore RV Park,where we scoped the tip of Graveyard Spit. Here, we observed a large flock of 400+ Marbled Godwits along with more usual shorebird species. Additionally, 7 Whimbrel and 5 adult Mew Gulls were noted here. On our return back to Bowerman Basin we stopped along Ocosta Third Street,where the lingering male REDHEAD and 4 Wood Ducks were noted in the wetland immediately south of Atlantic Ave. In the wetland areas north of Atlantic Ave. 2 Sora and a Virginia Rail were calling and heard only along with our only Northern Rough-winged Swallow that briefly flew by. A single female Cinnamon Teal was also noted,as it flushed up from this location. Our last stop of the day was made at the Johns River WRA,where we noted a nice grazing gathering of 60+ Roosevelt Elk in the grassy area south of the parking area. Nearby, our only Osprey of the day hunted over the Johns River.

*****After Friday's field trip we enjoyed a nice presentation by Paul Bannick,who had a great program with many photos taken by him throughout western North America. He delighted and left us all breathless with his great photography including several owl species in action! After the program we were all treated to great homemade bakery from local people helping out or participating on the Shorebird Festival.******



Our day on the 28th began nicely with bright,sunny skies that remained all day for our group . We were joined by Sam Woods,as we all led 5 other participants on a field trip to Westport and other nearby areas. Our trip began again at Bottle Beach during the morning incoming tide with seemingly better shorebird viewing than the previous day. Unlike yesterday we arrived at Bottle Beach when the mudflats were father offshore and shorebirds were allowed to move in at a less steady pace allowing great viewing. Here, we observed good numbers of Short-billed Dowitchers, Western Sandpipers and Dunlins that lined the shoreline. A closer examination of these flocks revealed small numbers of Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plovers and Least Sandpipers. Here, we also tallied 70 RED KNOTS, 2 Ruddy Turnstones a single Black Turnstone and a lone Marbled Godwit.

Next, at the Westport Marina we walked to the end of Float 21 and located a first-winter plumaged GLAUCOUS GULL and 2 Herring Gulls that rested on the protected pier immediately north of Float 21. Nearby, we tallied 30 Brown Pelicans rested further away along the same protected pier,as well as small numbers of Pigeon Guillemots in the water below. On the other side of the Westport Marina near Float 20 our group was treated to all 3 of Washington's regular cormorant species,but few other species in Grays Harbor. Our only large flock of Greater White-fronted Geese flew north overhead with 125+ birds, as well as 2 Marbled Godwits flying low to an unknown location. A nice visit to Westhaven State Park produced 13 migrating SANDHILL CRANES that were detected high above Westport,as they drifted north towards Ocean Shores. Our first check was made above Half Moon Bay,where our group all scoped the bay and shoreline. Here, our group located a nice flock of mixed shorebirds that contained at least one Red Knots amongst more common species. Our small group then walked out and scoped the inside portion of the base of the Westport Jetty. Here, we located a flock of "rockbirds" that consisted of 5 ROCK SANDPIPERS(including 3 birds in breeding plumage), 6 Surfbirds, and 30+ Black Turnstones. On the beach below as we scope from above were 5 Marbled Godwits and a small mixed flock of Semipalmated Plovers,Sanderlings, and Dunlin. We then walked a short distance to the north side of the jetty bordering Grays Harbor,where we located our only Red-throated Loon of the day followed by 5 Bonaparte's Gulls. As we left Westhaven State Park 4 Turkey Vultures soared low over the vast Shore Pine forest south of the park.

After birding Westport we checked a few location on our way back to Hoquiam. We began with a visit along Ocosta Third Street,then ending he day at the Johns River WRA. The latter location offered the most beneficial conditions with a nice walk made along the paved trail to the freshwater wetland,then back to the parking area. Here, the main highlight were 2 EURASIAN WIGEON amongst more common waterfowl species. 45 Greater White-fronted Geese and a mixed flock of both Cackling and Canada Geese rested in the wetland,as well as a small numbers of Greater Yellowlegs, 1 Semipalmated Plover, 1 Long-billed Dowitcher. Good numbers of both Western and Least Sandpipers were observed in the wetland too,as well as along the shores of he nearby Johns River. Other species at the Johns River WRA included all 3 species of mergansers(including 1 male Red-breasted Merganser along the Johns River, and 1 Osprey.


We ended the day alone by birding the lush riparian area immediately north of the Hoquiam STP specifically for passerines. Highlights noted from the Hoquiam STP itself included 4 Bonaparte's Gulls and a male Cinnamon Teal. The riparian habitat was very wet,but hosted good numbers of Orange-crowned Warblers and a few other species. Our most significant highlights included 1 WARBLING VIREO and 12 Lincoln's Sparrows(including a few singing birds). Good numbers of Golden-crowned Sparrows and Savannah Sparrows were also noted from this location,as well as along nearby Paulson Rd.



A great "shorebirding" weekend!



Good birding,

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