Hello Tweets,

Today Tim O'Brien joined us as we birded from Ocean Shores to Tokeland with much of the long day spent on foot hiking at several locations. Our day's weather was quite temperamental with calm conditions turning to drizzle and constant rain at Ocean Shores,then the remainder of the day quite nice from Bottle Beach to Tokeland. Our day began at Damon Point with a calm morning walk out to Catala Spit and back. Our first good species of the day began with 3 alternate plumaged PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVERS just west of the tip of Damon Point,as we continued south towards Catala Spit we encountered a nice flock of 8 Baird's Sandpipers foraging with a Western Sandpiper along the upper beach. We ended up locating 3 other Baird's sandpiper at other locations at Damon Point. Continuing on an adult dark-morph POMARINE JAEGER flew by,as it continued towards the mouth of Grays Harbor. On our way back we obtained very brief views of a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER as it flew by us,which we were unsuccessful in ever relocating. Other notable sightings made at Damon Point included a 4 Red-throated Loons, a single Pacific Loon, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, 11 Marbled Godwits and 10+ "Streaked" Horned Larks(including both adults and hatch year birds). Our first 2 large flocks of migrating Northern Pintails of the day were also present from this location.

Next, we walked behind the Ocean Shores STP where we checked the Oyhut Wildlife Area as the drizzle began. Here, we were able to locate 2 cooperative BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS foraging together near the "old" Snowy Plover nesting area. A single SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, 3 Black Turnstones and a single Red-necked Phalarope were also present near this same location along with a few other more common shorebird species. Good numbers of Barn Swallows were also present along with 2 Cliff Swallows and a lone Tree Swallow.

After birding the Oyhut WA we drove to Bill's Spit were conditions were still quite drizzly,but good numbers of "peeps" gather near the inner portion of spit. We were also able to locate 12 Black-bellied Plovers and 4 Ruddy Turnstones.

Next, we walked the outer beaches between Driftwood Street beach access to Butter Clam Street beach access. Highlights began with 5 PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVERS near the Driftwood Street beach access,but further north and as conditions became very wet we located a large,but scattered flock of Black-bellied Plovers north of Marine View Drive beach access. We estimated 380+ birds,but upon further examination a few other species were located including the following: 4 Surfbirds, 2 Ruddy Turnstones, 2 Dunlin, and 40+ Short-billed Dowitchers. Additionally, a flock of 6 Common Terns was also noted as we walked the outer beaches along with several flocks of migrating waterfowl consisting of Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, and Northern Shovelers.

After birding Ocean Shores we headed towards Tokeland with a few stops made on the way. We began with a quick stop at the Hoquiam STP,where a CLARK'S GREBE was photographed at fairly close range at this very unexpected location! As we scoped the main pond 45+ Red-necked Phalaropes were tallied followed by the lingering Bufflehead that continues with a small flock of Lesser Scaup and a single Greater Scaup.

We then drove west and made a short,but nice stop at Bottle Beach that produced 2 Red Knots amongst a flock of 70+ Black-bellied Plovers. Good numbers of waterfowl, were noted here too including Northern Pintail and Northern Shovelers. In addition 2 loudly calling Whimbrel flew overhead just as we were ready to depart.

We arrived at the Tokeland Marina at 3pm during outgoing tide and the large Marbled Godwit flock was foraging along the shoreline inside the marina. We were happy to locate a single BAR-TAILED GODWIT that was observed by other birders earlier in the day. A portion of the large shorebird flock eventually lifted and flew north over the jetty,where they continued to forage but offered dismal views. Other shorebirds at this location included 12 Willets, 1 Whimbrel, 12 Black Turnstones , 13 Short-billed Dowitchers and 3 Long-billed Dowitchers. A flock of 22 migrating GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew overhead,as they continued south over the busy marina,which were our firsts for the season along the outer coast. As were ready to leave the marina we located a group of 6 Purple Martins perched atop a distant snag near the marina with 2 additional birds flying around. Upon closer examination the perched birds all revealed to be hatch-year birds while both adult birds flew around the area. The young Purple Martins are highly suspected to be from the old tire nestsite at the marina,so were very pleased to see them hatched and out of the nest!

>From Tokeland we continued north to Midway Beach Rd.,where we ran into several birders that enjoyed the 3 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER that continue at this location. The birds were present foraging in a low wet area a short walk distance north of the end of the road along the upper beach. It is here we ran into Scott Downes who announced to us he observed a single RUFF at 9:45am from the flooded area south of the road that eventually flew southeast with 3 Lesser Yellowlegs. He and other birders were unable to relocate the bird throughout the day,but the bird could still be somewhere in the immediate area. We wanted to report the sighting in case other birders were interested in this report,as birders continue to look for the Buff-breasted Sandpipers. Other highlights from Midway Beach Rd. included a very cooperative Pectoral Sandpiper, a juvenile Spotted Sandpiper, 2 Red-necked Phalaropes and a single hatch year "Streaked"Horned Lark.

We ended the day with a walk made at the Johns River WRA,where the wetland area was nearly void of shorebirds except for 4 Greater Yellowlegs and a few Killdeer. A large flock of Green-winged Teal were present in the wetland area along with a single Wood Duck and a Hooded Merganser. All in all it was a nice day at the coast along with running into several birds at Ocean Shores, Bottle Beach and Midway Beach Rd.


Good birding,

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