Subject: [Tweeters] south shore birding
Date: Feb 10 20:41:12 2008
From: Jeffrey Bryant - jbryant_68 at yahoo.com


After a trip to Brownsmead for a very cooperative Arctic Loon Friday, I continued up the WA coast hungry for more.
Unfortunately, I had no internet, so unknowingly drove right by South Bend's Emperor Goose, but did pick up a few noteworthy birds elsewhere between rain squalls.
Saturday, while watching the Marbled Godwits, Dunlin and (fourteen!) Willets roosting at Tokeland, I got a great birthday present. Right in the marina was a Clark's Grebe, sticking very close to one of the half-dozen or so Westerns for easy comparison. The two spent at least half an hour diving around "Gale Force," the boat moored closest to the godwits' favored pier.
After a treacherous walk about 2/3 of the way out on the Westport Jetty, I had completely struck out on rockpipers, but a thorough search of the rock groins turned up the one I least expected: a single Ruddy Turnstone, strutting on bright orange legs right near the observation platform by the turnaround and restrooms.
Oddly, this morning I hunted the full length of the Ocean Shores jetty, and checked at regular intervals along the breakwall leading down to the STP, and only managed a single Black Turnstone. Where are all the Rock Sandpipers this winter???
Planned a hike out Damon Point to round out the day, but discovered that sometime since my last visit in October, it has become Damon Island, at least at high tide. The road and the first parking area by the restrooms have been obliterated, as has the sandbar between that area and the marina, which used to be a good spot to check for long-legged shorebirds on rising tide. Bill's Spit, as far as I could tell at nearly high tide, has also disappeared. Even the sometimes-great spots for storm-weathering birds along the golf course were shorebird-free. If anyone knows a good new spot for curlews, please share!
All else was as usual.

Jeff Bryant
Seattle


---------------------------------
Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.