Hello Tweets,

We participated during the 2007 WOS Conference at Aberdeen by helping lead 5 field trips to selected areas with an overall good participation from many people. The dates during this year's conference was September 14th through September 17th. The weather during the conference was nice with the exception of a nearly all day of rain on the 16th,which was actually one of our best days as far as birding!

It was nice receiving all the compliments we did during all of the field trips,as well as helping people find birds and just seeing many participants we normally don't see in the field!

We will list the highlights during all of our personal field trips including the locations those species were noted on the following dates:



September 14th,2007(Chehalis River Valley) 67 species with 9 participants

This field trip included areas around Elma and Brady including clear-cut areas above Newman Creek, Vance Creek Co. Park, Wenzel Slough Rd., Brady Loop Rd. and an extension made to the Oakville area via Hwy.12

Highlights included:

1 Am.Bittern, 3 Virginia Rails, 1 Willow Flycatcher, 3 Warbling Vireos and 3 Black-throated Gray Warblers at the Chehalis Wildlife Area
1 Green Heron at Vance Creek Co. Park near Elma
Sandhill Cranes at 2 locations consisting of 3 flocks including our first flock flying southeast from Vance Creek Co. Park and 2 flocks of 5 and 7 birds along Brady Loop Rd.
1 Am.Kestrel along Elma Gate Rd. with 3 additional birds noted along Brady Loop Rd.
2-3 Sooty Grouse, and 1 Red-breasted Sapsucker among other species observed along the upper portions of FR A2800
2 CHIPPING SPARROWS along Blockhouse Rd. near Oakville


Owling along Quinault Ridge Rd. 7 participants with 1 owl species

1 Northern Pygmy owl(heard only by a few observers)
1 unidentified owl species heard




September 15th,2007(Grayland to Raymond) 96 species with 12 participants

This field trip included several known areas including Midway Beach Rd., North Cove, Grayland, Tokeland and the Raymond Airport area(including the Raymond STP)


Highlights included the following at selected locations:

Warrenton-Cannery Rd. and vicinity

20 SANDHILL CRANES observed flying southeast over Grayland
3 Anna's Hummingbirds
1 Swainson's Thrush

Midway Beach Rd.

good numbers of Sooty Shearwaters flying offshore
20 Snowy Plovers
2 Semipalmated Plovers
2 Baird's Sandpipers
3 Pectoral Sandpipers
9 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS(our best and closest views of this species during the conference!)
1 Am.Pipit
1 "Sooty"Fox Sparrow
1 Lincoln's Sparrow
1 Lapland Longspur(a life bird for several participants even if views of this elusive bird were very limited)

Raymond STP

1 Dusky Canada Goose
7 Gadwall
1 Spotted Sandpiper
3 Lincoln's Sparrows
2 Golden-crowned Sparrows

Tokeland and vicinity

3 Red-throated Loons
8 Red-necked Grebes
15 Willets
1 Spotted Sandpiper
700+ Marbled Godwits
5 Short-billed Dowitchers
2 Long-billed Dowitchers
1 Bonaparte's Gull
1 Common Tern
1 NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD(this elusive bird was spotted by Louise Rutter,then located by the rest of our group in a brush area north of the Tokeland Marina)




September 16th,2007(Grays Harbor South Bay and Westport) 70 species with 14 participants

This field trip included areas such as the Johns River WRA, Bottle Beach, Ocosta Third Street and the general Westport area)

Highlights included the following at selected locations:


Westport Marina and vicinity

8 Red-throated Loons
5 Red-necked Grebes
1 "Black"Brant
1 Semipalmated Plover
1 Wandering Tattler
10+ Whimbrel
1 Ruddy Turnstone
12 Baird's Sandpipers
2 Mew Gulls
1 2nd cycle GLAUCOUS GULL(previously reported by Tim O'Brien)
1 Black-legged Kittiwake(a nice bird that offered good views as it flew close to shore near the Westport Marina)
1 Peregrine Falcon
15+ Bushtits
1 "Sooty"Fox Sparrow
1 Lincoln's Sparrow

Johns River WRA

14 Greater Yellowlegs
3 Lesser Yellowlegs
3 Spotted Sandpipers
30+ Am.Pipits
7+ Purple Finches


Bottle Beach

60+ Black-bellied Plovers
1 AM.GOLDEN PLOVER(superb scope views of this bird,as it foraged with Black-bellied Plovers)
30+ Semipalmated Plovers
2 Ruddy Turnstones
6 Black Turnstones
3 Red Knots
3 Sanderlings
85+ Western Sandpipers
200+ Least Sandpipers
3 Dunlin
1 RUFF(brief views of this bird,as it first flew in from the north with a flock of 10 Semipalmated Plovers,then dropped alone into a canal before flying off again to an unknown location)
4 Short-billed Dowitchers
70+ dowitcher species(observed in flight with a few Long-billed Dowitchers heard calling)
1 BLACK SWIFT
3 PURPLE MARTINS
1 Golden-crowned Sparrow
1 Lincoln's Sparrow

1 Green Heron along Ocosta Third Street

4 Great Egrets at Bay City

Mammal highlights during this field trip included 3-4 Harbor Porpoises observed from various locations in Grays Harbor at Westport




September 17th,2007(Ocean Shores South) 80 species with 13 participants

This field trip included the Ocean Shores STP, Ocean Shores Jetty, the entire Oyhut Wildlife Area, the outer beaches north of the Ocean Shores Jetty, and Damon Point


Highlights included species at the following locations:


Oyhut Wildlife Area(including access from Tonquin Ave.)

8 Red-throated Loons
2 Red-breasted Mergansers
1 Turkey Vulture
5+ Northern Harriers
1 Sharp-shinned Hawk
1 Cooper's Hawk
1 Merlin
1 Peregrine Falcon
1 Black-bellied Plover
3 AM.GOLDEN PLOVERS with 7 PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVERS(this flock offered great,close views and comparisons between both species)
1 Whimbrel
3 Baird's Sandpipers
10 Pectoral Sandpipers
2 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS
2 Dunlin(with small numbers of Western and Least Sandpipers)
1 Short-billed Dowitcher
3 Wilson's Snipe
1 Red-necked Phalarope
4 "Streaked"Horned Larks
85+ Am.Pipits
1 Pacific-slope Flycatcher


Ocean Shores STP

2 BLUE-WINGED TEAL(observed amongst other waterfowl here included small numbers of Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Northern Shovelers, Gadwall, and Am.Wigeon)


Damon Point

2 Harlequin Ducks
2 Hooded Mergansers
1 Herring Gull
3 Caspian Terns
5 Am.Pipits


outer beaches north of the Ocean Shores Jetty

small numbers of Sooty Shearwaters
1 Common Tern


Mammal highlights during this field trip included: 2 Rivers Otters swimming in a canal at the Oyhut Wildlife Area



A very nice convention this year with many more highlights found on other field trips too!



Good birding,

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