Hi Tweets,



Saturday morning Wendy and I hit I-5 about 3 hours later than planned and
hydroplaned south to look for the Arctic Loon reported by Mike Patterson and
re-found by other worthies including Tim O'Brian. When we reached the area
it took us all of about 20 minutes to locate the authentic bird after trying
to turn Red-throateds into the desired species.



All the loons were there except for the Yellow-billed. What a great place
to hold a winter loon clinic. After the high-fives, (the Arctic was a lifer
for Wendy) we headed through Astoria and over that great bridge to return up
the back way through Naselle-but not before stopping at the "Dismal Nitch"
rest stop-toward South Bend and the Emperor Geese reported by Charlie
Wright. We dipped on them and the kites, it was getting late and we
detoured to Tokeland to witness sunset, (ha ha, there was no sun all day) on
the Marbled Godwits who were enjoying a minus tide in the oyster beds.



After chowing down on mouth-watering razor clams at Duffie's in Aberdeen and
lots of coffee to keep the peepers open, we tooled home in the dark
rain-swept highways and byways singing Beatles tunes at the top of our
lungs. We arrived 12 hours after we set out. You might say we twitched,
ticked, nitched, dipped and gorged. It was a good day.



Thanks to all of the good people who post on tweeters, Alan Roedell,
Seattle roedell at speakeasy.net