Today, I birded the game range at Ocean Shores for about 4 hours. I covered the whole salicornia marsh area and kept an eye on the water closer to the beach. I did not see any Buff-Breasted Sandpipers, golden plovers, or a Ruff today. There were six Baird's Sandpipers, one Short-billed Dowitcher, a couple Greater Yellowlegs, and lots of Least and Western Sandpipers. Some of the Westerns are starting to go into basic plumage. Also, 2 Purple Martins flew over the game range for a few minutes. American Pipits seemed to be all over the place as well.

In the water near the end of the jetty rocks, there were 3 Harlequin Ducks present. The Ocean Shores STP had the usual shovelers and Heermann's Gulls present with a surprise Black-legged Kittiwake bathing with the gulls. I later saw the same bird resting on the jetty just west of the STP.

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



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