Dianna Moore and I led a very small field trip out at the Grays Harbor NWR at Bowerman Basin in Hoquiam yesterday afternoon. We stumbled upon 6 Pectoral Sandpipers that were hanging out by one of the wet ditches near the hangars on the walk out. The Pectorals soon moved out to the mudflats allowing great views. Also, on the mudflats were a few more shorebirds. Mainly Black-bellied Plovers, 4 Black Turnstones, 19 Long-billed Dowitchers, and one lone Dunlin. Ducks were abundant with American Wigeon dominating the water's edge with about 2000 of them with smaller amounts of Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, and a couple Gadwall mixed in.

Raptors seen include 2 Bald Eagles, one Northern Harrier, one Red-tailed Hawk, and a Merlin.

On the Hoquiam STP pond, both Scaup are present in good numbers with Surf Scoters and Northern Shoveler being the next abundant. I did find one Bonaparte's Gull swimming on the pond as well.

Tim O'Brien
Elma, WA
mailto: kertim7179 at yahoo.com



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