Taking advantage of another day off, I headed out this morning for Ocean Shores. Weather conditions were not so good for the drive with black ice in Hoquiam and a snow covered highway between Grass Creek and the Humptulips River. Once I made it to Ocean Shores, it wasn't too bad with a few showers. A quick drive by the Ocean Shores golf course produced a flock of 19 Greater White-fronted Geese.

I started off at the Point Brown jetty where I found 5 Black Turnstones and 2 Rock Sandpipers. There was at least one female Black Scoter in the channel next to the jetty as well. Next, a stop at the Ocean Shores STP produced the juvenile Glaucous Gull that has been reported recently. Also, here I watched a Peregrine Falcon with a very full crop make a few unsucessful passes at the birds on or around the ponds. Dunlin, Western Sandpiper, and at least one Least Sandpiper were working the edges of the ponds.

Next, I walked out behind the Ocean Shores STP to the game range. On the way out, I found a couple Black-bellied Plovers, two Black Turnstones, and several Dunlin on the water's edge. The game range hosted a large flock of mainly Dunlin with a few scattered ducks. One Western Grebe was swimming in one of the ponds too.

On Lake Minard, which I viewed from behind the big concrete water tower, I found one Common Loon with a few other ducks. Next, I stopped at the marina parking area. From here, I spotted a lone Brandt's Comorant in water between the marina and Damon Point. Also from here, I viewed at least 18 Brant out by Damon Point as well. Surf and White-winged Scoters were present as well. A juvenile Bald Eagle was perched on a piling inside the marina with several Double-crested Comorants on other pilings.

Seeing the waves cross over the portion of Damon Point just past the old parking area was amazing. Since it was high tide while I was there, I had to be pleased with just walking out Damon Point to where the water was crossing. A few gulls were loafing here so I scoped them out and found mainly Western Gulls. Lots of gulls were further out on the point so the Slaty-backed Gull could still be around.

A check of the fishing dock near the Discovery Inn produced, much to my surprise, a Sora out in the open! I have never actually seen one (only heard them) so I had to run for my camera. It was walking on top of some dead cattails and allowed some awesome looks.

A stop by Dianna Moore's yard gave me a very vocal Anna's Hummingbird and lots and lots of Pine Siskins and American Goldfinches. She has quite the active yard full of feeders.

On the way back home, I checked the Hoquiam STP pond, where I found at least 3 Ruddy Ducks, one Long-tailed Duck, and two Canvasback. While viewing the Grays Harbor NWR from the kiosk at the parking area, a Peregrine Falcon zoomed just overhead out to the mudflats where I watched it be joined by another Peregrine. One of them made a kill and then dropped the kill so the other falcon could catch it. And this all happened in the air!

I have put one picture of the Sora and one picture of the water crossing Damon Point on my Pbase site : www.pbase.com/kertim7179 both are in the Ocean Shores Birds gallery.

What a day!

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



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