Another bike expedition Wed., followed by a glorious 3 hour sunny late afternoon walk on the Quinalt Tribal beach south and toward Point Grenville, at Tahola Washington. No wind no clouds no mist - gorgeous weather. NOTE: you can purchase a day use pass from the tribe on weekdays at the Quinalt Nations center just outside of Tahola, and maybe you can purchase it remotely from the web, check http://www.quinaultindiannation.com/. This is hands-down the most beautiful stretch of beach in the state... well, there is none better.

We had the scope and our bird book - and did I mention the BLACK BEAR on the beach <1 mile away!!!?!:

At a little stream as it exits to the sea (a little swampy place):
* 2 pectoral sandpipers <-- our first id of these ourselves!
* 2 dowitchers (don't know if long- or short-billed)
* 2 killdeer
* 2 ravens (circling above)

On the beach itself:
* many hundreds of brown pelicans
* 2 black oystercatchers landed on the beach (I know they reside on the offshore rocks)
* 2 bald eagles
* 5 green winged teal

Offshore at the rocks or flying:
* hundreds and hundreds of double crested cormorants on the offshore monoliths
* ~30 surf scoters
* ~24 western grebe

Plus:
* 1 peregrine falcon
* 1 black bear came down off the cliff onto the shore looking for treats on the beach... the 2 bald eagles flew off their tree to circle the bear, doubtless to see if there were any treats to share, but none alas. The bear a mile away said to us "time to go back to the car now!" plus the sun set just as we got back to the car. A perfect afternoon.

Rebecca Laszlo & Sara Intriligator
rebecca.laszlo at microsoft.com
Seattle WA