Subject: [Tweeters] Birding at Ocean Shores
Date: Jun 13 16:58:54 2007
From: wheelermombi at comcast.net - wheelermombi at comcast.net


Greetings Tweeters,

I birded the Ocean Shores area today from around 10:00 to 2:30. The weather was pleasant by and large, although 10 to 15 minute long squalls blew through a few times (usually when I was far from the car). My first stop was the Jetty. On the rocks were several Black-legged Kittiwakes, Western Gulls with some Glaucus-winged hybrids (I think) as well, 1 Heermann's Gull in breeding plumage with a strikingly white head and neck in contrast to the red bill and brown body, 1 Common Murre (it was the first time that I have seen one out of the water; I really like the way that its posture is upright), 2 Pigeon Guillemots, 1 Brown Pelican, 20+ Pelagic Cormorants, and a couple of Double-crested Cormorants. Near the port-a-potties by the parking area was an adult Killdeer with a very cute chick in tow. In the water, quite far out, were large rafts of Common Murres with several smaller groupings in closer. Four male Harlequin Ducks were also in the water.

I accessed the Game Range via Tonquin Ave. The area was loaded with passerines. These included Savannah, White-crowned, and Song Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco, American Goldfinch, at least two Orange-crowned Warblers (I managed to see one of them), Dark-eyed Juncos, several calling Swainson's Thrushes, Spotted Towhee as well as Ring-necked Pheasant (a very vocal male), Great Blue Heron, and Mallard. I spotted a flock of 8 Brown Pelicans over the water in the direction of Damon Point.

Damon Point itself was very quiet (not counting the construction sounds by the bridge that is being rebuilt). Other than some of the already mentioned passerines, I also saw 6 or so Caspian Terns and about the same amount of Surf Scoters. I only went as far as the pond (walking through the sand with a broken toe really sucks!).

Good birding,

Lonnie Somer