Hello Tweets,

This afternoon we checked a few locations from Bottle Beach to Westport in Grays Harbor Co. with great conditions compared to yesterday. We began our trip by enjoying great views of the subadult WHITE-TAILED KITE along S.R.105 at Bottle Beach that was previously reported on the 2nd of February by Rod Gilbert. The bird was very cooperative during our visit at 12pm,where it perched on small snag in an open field just north of the highway immediately east of the Bottle Beach parking access. The bird remained on this sang for quite awhile offering superb views with photographs too. The bird eventually flew from it's snag and circled the immediate area before landing in a nearby evergreen tree. We left the bird at 1:30pm atop the same tree,which was very visible from the highway. We returned to the location at 3pm,where the bird was again observed atop the small snag in the pen field before it decided to fly and hunt over the open field for several minutes. The bird didn't catch an prey during this time,but just kept "kiting" over the field before it decided to land on a distant evergreen tree bordering Bottle Beach.

After watching the White-tailed Kite during the original observation we drove along Ocosta Third Street(accessed off of S.R.105 immediately south of Bottle Beach),where highlights from the wetland area included a female CINNAMON TEAL observed amongst a large flock of Mallards and 3 Northern Pintails. This flock of waterfowl were all observed in the flooded area immediately east of Ocosta Third Street just as you climb the hill into a housing area. A single calling Virginia Rail was present from the wetland area immediately north of Atlantic Avenue. Further south of the wetland in the small housing area a small flock of passerines produced notable species such as 1 Hutton's Vireo, 1 Brown Creeper, 2 Townsend's Warblers, and 7 Red Crossbills. Further west of Bottle Beach an adult Peregrine Falcon perched on a tower above the Bay City bridge again like yesterday's sighting along S.R.105 at the mouth of the Elk River.

Our visit to Westport was quite productive,where were first able to relocate the winter plumaged adult HARRIS' SPARROW at the same location as yesterday accessed from the end of East Elizabeth Avenue. After parking at the end of this road we again walked past a red and white barricade then along a rocky dike for approximately 40 yards to a extensive clearing. The Harris' Sparrow was only briefly observed this afternoon at 2pm amongst a small flock of Golden-crowned Sparrows,where it was finally photographed. The bird perched within a large deciduous bush along the edges of the cleared area and was very visible from a fair distance by it's larger size compared to several nearby Golden-crowned and Song Sparrows. The bird remained in the bush for a few minutes before dropping down into thick cover and could not be relocated,despite a fair amount of "pishing". It was a pleasure to see the Harris' Sparrow again and it seems possible the bird may overwinter at this brushy location. Also noted from this location included a flock of 80 Black-bellied Plovers observed resting on offshore pilings in South Bay,as well as the nearby shoreline below the brushy area. Amongst the Black-bellied Plovers were 5 Black Turnstones, 7 Dunlin and a single WESTERN SANDPIPER. A single adult NORTHERN SHRIKE hunted over open areas north from end of Elizabeth Ave.,while a pair of Purple Finches foraged in trees near where the Harris' Sparrow was observed.

We have placed 2 photos of the Harris' Sparrow onto our website,which can be accessed from the following link: http://www.pbase.com/godwit/recent_photos/

A nice,calm visit to the nearby Westport Marina produced similar species than yesterday's visit including the 1st winter plumaged GLAUCOUS GULL and an Eared Grebe,but other species of note this afternoon included 7 Red-necked Grebes and 8 "Black"Brant observed in Grays Harbor north of the marina area. A large gathering of 80 Least Sandpipers congregated along the rocky edges of the marina area below Float 20.

Our only other species of note for the day included 4 Tundra Swans present amongst a large flock of Trumpeter Swans observed along the south side of Hwy.12 just east of Satsop followed by 4 Am.Kestrels observed along Hwy.12 between Brady and Elma. All in all a nice day with 9 added species to our 2007 Grays Harbor Co. year list!


Good birding,

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