Hello Tweets,

Today we birded with Jim Pruske,as we visited several locations between the Elma area to Westport. The weather remained nice all day with good conditions with increasing winds during the late afternoon. Our main highlight of the day was again the "BEWICK'S" SWAN that was present this morning at 11am at the very close to the road at the intersection of Wenzel Slough Rd . and Keys. Rd. south of Satsop. This location can be accessed south of Hwy.12 at Keys Rd,then driving south a short distance on Keys Rd. to Wenzel Slough Rd. The "Bewick's" Swan was observed amongst a small flock of both Trumpeter and Tundra Swans,where it was photographed in a large grass field just east of Keys Rd. and north of Wenzel Slough Rd. Within the same field and vicinity other flocks of Trumpeter Swans were noted,but the "Bewick's" Swan seemed to favor the company of the Tundra Swans the most.

Also within the same field as the "Bewick's" Swan and other swans was a large flock of gulls that contained three 1st winter plumaged GLAUCOUS GULLS. Further east at Vance Creek Co. Park the pair of REDHEADS were again present at the eastern most pond along with 8 Common Mergansers, 3 Pied-billed Grebes, 2 Lesser Scaup and 1 Greater Scaup. 7 Long-billed Dowitchers were also present at the same location where we noted these birds yesterday just south of the Newman Creek bridge along Wenzel Slough Rd. Our first of the season TURKEY VULTURE was also observed along Wenzel Slough Rd.,as it circled over near the town of Elma as we scoped looking northward.

A rather quick drive through a portion of the Brady Loop Rd. complex produced such highlights as 40+ "Dusky" Canada Geese, 7 Trumpeter Swans and 1 Am.Kestrel. We continued on to Bottle Beach,where the White-tailed Kite was not observed,as we rain into several other birders there that also did not see the bird today. As we scanned the skies overhead a single adult Peregrine Falcon was noted,as it soared with a single Red-tailed Hawk and a nearby immature Bald Eagle. A good scoping of North Bay from Bottle Beach during high tide yielded several "Black"Brant amongst more common waterbird species. Nearby, along Ocosta Third Street(immediately south of Atlantic Ave.)the lingering female CINNAMON TEAL was observed,as it swam loosely with small numbers of Mallards, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal and 3 Hooded Mergansers.

At Westport our main highlight included 14+ BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES observed from Westhaven State Park and the Westport Marina. These bird were scoped at a distance from mid channel of Grays Harbor at the closest range. Small numbers of Red-throated Loons were also present in Grays Harbor flying back and forth along with 4 Red-necked Grebes. 3 Peregrine Falcons were also noted from separate locations at Westport along with 86 Black-bellied Plovers(and 10 Dunlin)resting on pilings along the western portion of North Bay. Our last stop of the day was made at the Johns River WRA,where we walked the paved trail to the hunting blind then back,as it began to get fairly windy. Highlights along the trail included the following: 1 "Aleutian"Cackling Goose(amongst small numbers of Canada and Cackling Geese), 3 Common Goldeneyes, 10 Greater Yellowlegs, 6+ Tree Swallows, and 1 Western Meadowlark.

Good birding,

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