Leading my last WOS fieldtrip today, we started the day at Bottle Beach and were greeted by many shorebirds in the canal and out on the mudflats. The canal hosted about 15 Greater Yellowlegs. Out on the mudflats, the birds were a bit far out so we had to walk out in the mud a bit. We had Western and Least sandpipers with one lone Short-billed Dowitcher. Also, there were probably about 50 Black-bellied Plovers in various states of plumage. One American Golden-Plover was present as well. A Marbled Godwit flock was on the waterline to the east so we tried to get close enough to scope it thoroughly, but a Peregrine Falcon came in and tried to strike one of the various ducks that were about which ended up with the falcon empty-handed and the godwits off to somewhere else in the harbor. Also, on the beach this morning were 25 Greater White-fronted Geese.

Westport was very windy and most of the good birds were seen inside the marina from the fishing pier. We had at least 25 Black Turnstones amidst the rocks at the base of the pilings in many different spots. Also, one Wandering Tattler and one Spotted Sandpiper. We also watched an immature gull try to swallow a whole starfish. Last time I saw it, the starfish was about half-way down the gulls mouth. Also, from the fishing pier I caught sight of two shorebirds flying slowly westward in the channel and then they landed in the water. It didn't take long to get the scopes on them and they were Red-necked Phalaropes. I was surprised to see them.

My trip went up the Wynoochee Valley yesterday and yielded some good birds for the county. On the A-Line about 9 miles up the valley road, we saw one Sooty Grouse sitting on a stump. Also, further up in a clearcut off the gravel road about half way to the lake we found 2 Western Bluebirds and 6 Gray Jays.

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



---------------------------------
Don't let your dream ride pass you by. Make it a reality with Yahoo! Autos.