Hi Tweeters,

Saturday morning Rob Radford and I went searching for the Emporer
Geese that Charlie Wright found near South Bend. The intermittent
rain Saturday dampened us and our spirits but not as much as not
finding the Emporer Geese. It was fun, though, picking out the
different sub-species of Canada and Cackling Geese along the Highway
101 between South Bend and Bay Center. We did see one White-fronted
Goose, too.

We made a brief tour of Bay Center and headed back for another try at
the geese. Along the Bay Center Dike Road we found a Peregrine
Falcon perched in a dead tree by the water's edge. There was a
convenient pull-out just past the tree, at which I stopped. Rob was
able to get out and view the falcon with his binos. I decided to
pull farther away from the tree and try to get out, too. The falcon
flew away when the car moved.

We scoped and island that was just north of us and found one Brant,
many American Wigeons and one female Eurasian Wigeon. Also in the
area were Common Loon, female Red-breasted Merganser and Bufflehead.

Rob noticed the Peregrine Falcon had returned to the dead tree and
very soon another joined it, possibly its mate. We enjoyed fabulous
views in the scope of the male and female Peregrine Falcons for
nearly ten minutes. I was amazed that they seemed so comfortable
with us so close.

Late Sunday afternoon we stopped at the Point Brown Jetty at Ocean
Shores. There we found two Rock Sandpipers, 30 or so Surfbirds and
10 Black Turnstones.

Photos of the pair of Peregrine Falcons and some of the other birds
we saw are in the new photos folder on my website.

I thought about trying again for the Emporer Geese on the way home
this morning but the thought of a potential Ivory Gull caused me to
drive a direct route to Yakima.

Denny Granstrand
Yakima, WA



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Denny Granstrand *
* Yakima, WA *
* dgranstrand at charter.net *
* Denny's bird photos can be seen online at: *
http://granstrand.net/gallery/