Hello Tweets,

This afternoon we spent just a few hours birding at Ocean Shores covering the Oyhut Wildlife Area and Damon Point with great weather and birds too! It was an exciting day also since we had thoughts of possibly finding a great bird too,which paid off! Our main highlights was an adult STILT SANDPIPER initially found by Ruth Sullivan at the Oyhut Wildlife Area(accessed behind the Ocean Shores STP)at 1:30pm. This bird was detected amongst a large group of other shorebirds,but spending the most time with a flock of Long-billed Dowitchers. The bird during the initial observation was photographed,then relocated and photographed again at the same location at 3:30pm,where we both were treated to excellent views of this nice shorebird. The bird was very active and often foraged by itself too before returning to a group of Long-billed Dowitchers. The Stilt Sandpiper was a truly unexpected sighting considering the date and our first ever in full breeding plumage! The same location also produced good numbers of other shorebirds too including a single SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER.

A list of other species noted at this location included the following:

2 Red-throated Loons
8 "BLACK"BRANT
1 immature Peregrine Falcon
12 Greater Yellowlegs
750+ Western Sandpipers
130+ Least Sandpipers
32 Long-billed Dowitchers
27 Red-necked Phalaropes

Nearby, the Ocean Shores STP produced a family of Gadwall and Northern Shovelers along with one adult Spotted Sandpiper.

At Damon Point an extensive walk was made around the entire perimeter to Catala Spit and back to the parking lot. Although birding conditions were far less as productive than at the Oyhut WA several good species were located. The most significant highlight was an immature FRANKLIN'S GULL observed in North Bay amongst a small flock of California and Heermann's Gulls behind a local fishing boat,as viewed from the north side of Damon Point. 3 "BLACK"BRANT loafed on the sandy shore of a spit along the north side of Damon Point along with a single female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. An additional pair of Red-breasted Mergansers were observed resting along the north shoreline of Catala Spit. A walk along the eastern edge of Damon Point heading towards Catala Spit produced a single DUNLIN,but no other shorebirds. At Catala Spit itself 2 flocks of Western Sandpipers containing 800+ birds were tallied,as they rested nervously sandy areas with plenty of driftwood. 2 Black-bellied Plovers and 45 Semipalmated Plovers were also noted in this same area. 2 Long-billed Dowitchers and a single Greater Yellowlegs called overhead,as they flew eastward. On the return walk back to the parking lot by crossing more dune areas up to 8 "Streaked"Horned Larks were noted. In the muddy areas just beyond the parking area a gathering of shorebirds congregated with various gulls and Caspian Terns. This flock contained 28 Marbled Godwits, 9 Whimbrel, and 27 Short-billed Dowitchers. A total of 6 Red-throated Loons were also encountered a various locations during our visit to Damon Point. Raptor highlights at Damon Point included a Turkey Vulture and a single Northern Harrier.

Several deceased birds were noted along the south side of Damon Point including a single Great Blue Heron, one Northern Fulmar and one Common Murre.

A earlier visit to the Hoquiam STP produced highlights such as 60 Red-necked Phalaropes, a Bufflehead and an immature Cooper's Hawk.



Good birding,

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