Hello Tweets,

Today we birded from the Elma area to Raymond in both Grays Harbor and Pacific Cos.,but spent much of the day in the Tokeland area. The weather was great after the morning fog/clouds burned off and winds were somewhat light. The day started out nicely at the Chehalis Wildlife Area(accessed from the south end of Schouweiler Rd.)near Elma. This site is also known to some birders as the Schouweiler Rd. wetland. Here, our major highlight was an EASTERN KINGBIRD observed "flycatching" and perched atop a few snags along the southern portion of the main wetland area. This location was accessed beyond a closed yellow gate,then proceeding south along a trail that separates wetland areas. The Eastern Kingbird represents one of very few records for Grays Harbor Co.,but the habitat was very appropriate for this species due to good amounts of insects. Other notable species encountered from this location included the following:

1 Green Heron
1 TRUMPETER SWAN(an oversummering bird previously reported by Tim O'Brien and other birders)
20 Wood Ducks
1 Turkey Vulture
4 Osprey at an active nest site(including 2 adult birds and 2 juveniles)
5 Northern Rough-winged Swallows
2 Willow Flycatchers
1 Western Scrub Jay
1 Warbling Vireo


Next, we arrived at Tokeland during the incoming high tide at 9:30am. We first made a brief check along Kindred Ave. south of the Bayshore RV Park,where scattered numbers of large shorebirds foraged on the partially exposed mudflats. Here, we tallied 74 Whimbrel and 52 Marbled Godwits along wit 160+ Short-billed Dowitchers that foraged on the immediate shoreline. Upon further searching we located 3 RUDDY TURNSTONES and 7 Black-bellied Plovers(including one bird in full,crisp breeding plumage). We drove south to the Tokeland Marina,where very few shorebirds were noted except for 9 Willets. Between both locations we were unable to relocate the Bar-tailed Godwit,which could likely have migrated on. A good deal of time at the Tokeland Marina also produced nice views of 6 Purple Martins including an adult male and an adult female visiting the old tire on several occasions. We watched as the adult male would entered the tire,then the adult female would leave which went on many times during our visit. We believe this pair is breeding in the old tire and were feeding the young even if we did not hear them. In addition 2 immature males entered both of the new Purple Martin nest boxes,so it is possible they could still breed in them this summer. Also from Tokeland Marina we watched as WDFW crews sprayed Spartina along the shores of Willapa Bay with the help of their noisy airboats.

At 11:30am upon checking the shorebird activity from 7th Avenue near the end of Graveyard Spit we located a YELLOW-BILLED LOON swimming just offshore the southern most tip of the spit. The bird swam north along the shoreline,as it constantly tucked it's head into the water,but never dove. It continued this behavior for 15 minutes before we lost sight of it,as it continued north. It is somewhat likely that this bird could be the same individual bird than we located from the Westport Jetty back on the 30th of June. This is only speculation,but the bird did appear in a similar plumage. Anyhow, a great summer sighting for this location!

Other noteworthy sightings made from Tokeland included the following:

3 Greater Yellowlegs
6 Turkey Vultures
1 Mourning Dove
4 Olive-sided Flycatchers
1 Willow Flycatcher
1 Hutton's Vireo
3 Purple Finches

At Midway Beach Rd. the flooded areas near the end of the road had returned,but the only shorebirds present were 12 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES. 2 Hairy Woodpeckers flew over the road along the "greenbelt" near the housing area,as well as 2 Turkey Vultures flying overhead.

In the Raymond area we primarily checked the Raymond STP,where two broods of Gadwall were again noted along with 3 adult females. 8 Turkey Vultures were observed along S.R.105 between Raymond and the mouth of the Cedar River.


Mammal highlights of the day included a River Otter observed along the trail at the Chehalis Wildlife Area. Deceased mammals included a Townsend's Vole and a Mink both observed along Hwy. 8 between McCleary and Elma.



Good birding,

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