Subject: [Tweeters] Ocean Shores to Tokeland birding 7-18-07
Date: Jul 18 21:17:36 2007
From: Ruth and/or Patrick Sullivan - godwit513 at msn.com


Hello Tweets,

Today we endured a very wet day birding from Ocean Shores to Tokeland with an overall good assortment of species,despite the weather. We encountered several highlights,but our main efforts were trained for shorebirds. We began at the Ocean Shores STP,where we located good numbers of "peeps" and Long-billed Dowitchers from all three ponds. In addition a female Gadwall with 8 juvenile birds was present,which we had not seen in previous visits. The female Northern Shoveler with 9 juvenile birds continues at the southwest pond. Next, we made a visit to the Ocean Shores Jetty,where conditions were extremely calm with a brief period of no rain. Good numbers of gulls and Brown Pelicans gathered on half of the jetty,which included many Heermann's Gulls and 8 Black-legged Kittiwakes. Offshore viewing was limited,but ample as a MANX SHEARWATER made a brief flyby as it continued westward out towards the ocean from the entrance of Grays Harbor. This was the only shearwater present during our visit and Common Murre numbers were surprisingly low too with a lone bird standing upright along the shoreline that offered close views. A lone Western Grebe was also noted while scanning Grays Harbor south of the jetty. 3 "rockbird" species added to our day's shorebird list including 2 WANDERING TATTLERS, 1 SURFBIRD and 5 Black Turnstones. As we left the Ocean Shores Jetty a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE called low overhead,as it continued towards the Ocean Shores STP.

As the good birding continued we decided to try our efforts by walking a good portion of the Oyhut Wildlife Area(accessed behind the Ocean Shores STP). Due to the tide conditions extensive amounts of mudflats were exposed making the hike to Damon Point easy. Although no rarities were encountered here, we did locate good numbers of common shorebird species including both Western and Least Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, 1 Black-bellied Plover, both dowitchers and 15 Greater Yellowlegs. A good scoping of the inner cove area produced a large gathering of scoters,which included both White-winged and Surf Scoters. A single female and male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was also present from this location along with 2 Common Loons. Along the shoreline good numbers of gulls and Caspian Terns gathered,where a single juvenile BONAPARTE'S GULL was detected. A lone Green Heron and a Northern Rough-winged Swallow were also noted from the Oyhut Wildlife Area.

A quick visit to the base of Damon Point produced 2 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS resting on a sandy spit bordering North Bay.

After birding a few other locations at Ocean Shores we worked our way to Tokeland. We began with a quick check made at the Hoquiam STP,where a scattering of ducks dotted the main pond. With a closer look we located single male BUFFLEHEAD, 4 Lesser Scaup, 6 Greater Scaup, and a female Gadwall with 5 juvenile birds. A lone Long-billed Dowitcher called loudly overhead,as small numbers of "peeps" flew overhead in an easterly direction. Our last notable species from the Hoquiam STP was single Peregrine Falcon that streaked across the sky heading towards Bowerman Basin. Nearby, we located a nice gathering of "peeps" and a single Long-billed Dowitcher along Airport Way that were feeding in a sheltered areas near the Hoquiam River.

Next, we arrived at Bottle Beach at 2:30pm during the incoming tide. We immediately located good numbers of shorebirds feeding on the mudflats in both directions,but were most concentrated as we looked to the east. Here, the most abundant shorebirds species were Western Sandpipers with an estimated 8,000+ birds observed with far lesser numbers of other species. A closer examination produced smaller numbers of 12 other shorebirds species. Our main highlight however was our personal first of the season RED KNOT in alternate plumage along with a lone DUNLIN in the same plumage that both showed up near the height of the tide. A list of other shorebird numbers during our visit include the following:

27 Black-bellied Plovers
15 Semipalmated Plovers
15 Greater Yellowlegs
40 Whimbrel
28 Marbled Godwits
1 Black Turnstone
80+ Least Sandpipers
55 Short-billed Dowitchers
14+ Long-billed Dowitchers
1 Red-necked Phalarope


Further south at the Tokeland Marina a small gathering of shorebirds lined the inner portion of the protected jetty including 2 Willets, 47 Whimbrel and 20 Short-billed Dowitchers.

As we headed back towards Aberdeen a single male PURPLE MARTIN flew over the South Shore Mall along S.R.105, which could be part of a breeding population nearby.

Our last stop of the day was made at the wetland area along Hwy.12 east of the town of Porter in Grays Harbor Co.. This location continues to look very good for shorebirds and produced several species during our short evening visit. Our main highlight was a single BANK SWALLOW that added to the list of 6 swallow species for this location. A calling Virginia Rail was head,but never seen in the flooded vegetation of the wetland area. The shorebirds were mostly confined to the back area with a shore walk made from the Department of Fish and Wildlife access gate,then crossing a set of railroad tracks. Here, we located 8 Greater Yellowlegs, 10 Western Sandpipers, 25 Least Sandpipers and 25 Long-billed Dowitchers. Our last species of the day was a lone Turkey Vulture soaring over Hwy.12 near North Blockhouse Rd.



Good birding,

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