Today was an amazing day! My intention this morning was to do a survey for Red Knots at Grass Creek, but when I got there the tide had already flooded that area so I moved on to Ocean Shores. Bill's Spit was loaded with shorebirds and I was there for the falling tide. Of course, the highlight was the Ruff at the Ocean Shores STP. I ended up near 90 species for the day. Here's the notables:

Chehalis Wildlife Area (Schouweiler Rd. wetland): American Bittern (heard)

Humptulips River boat launch (off of Hwy 109) : Wilson's Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Hermit Thrush

Burrows Road: Northern Rough-winged Swallow - First of year for me...finally!

Ocean Shores Golf Course behind police station (the tide was still high): Marbled Godwit, Whimbrel, Black-bellied Plover, Dunlin, Western and Least Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher

Ocean Shores Marina: Common Loon, Ring-necked Pheasant (in brushy area)

Bill's Spit: Ruddy Turnstone - 7 birds, Black Turnstone - 2 birds, Long-billed Curlew - 1 single, Red Knot - 14 (no bands), Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Marbled Godwit, Dunlin, Western Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher

Damon Point: Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Greater Yellowlegs, Western Grebe

Ocean Shores STP: Ruff - 1 female, Wilson's Snipe, Killdeer

Gray Gables (Hwy 109): Turkey Vulture - 1

Several big flocks of Cackling and Greater White-fronted Geese flew over non-stop while at Ocean Shores. There wasn't many times when no geese were in the air somewhere.

A note on the tide this morning - High tide was scheduled for around 8:30am and I would say it was fully in 2 hours early. Strong west winds and the rain from yesterday I'm sure had something to do with it. I'm taking a break tomorrow!

See ya at the Shorebird Festival!

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


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