Tweets,
Combined some family time and some birding time on the north olympic peninsula over an extended weekend. Just got back to Yakima this evening. Overall it was fairly routine, except for the highlight of a Manx Shearwater on July 25 near Tatoosh Island (viewed from Cape flattery), details in a little bit.

On the 25th of July I did a seawatch from Cape Flattery from 2:30-4:15. Lots of Common Murres, Rhino Auklets, and about 25 Tufted Puffin. Several flocks of Red-necked Phalarope flying by and two large flights of White-winged Scoter flying south. No shearwaters except a couple far out until 4:00 when a notable flight (~70) of Sooty Shearwaters flew by the island heading south. Loosely mixed in with them was a single MANX SHEARWATER. A long awaited state bird for me (#411).

Various stops along the coast produced more alcids, including another 15+ puffins at La Push. There were quite a few good flights of Surf Scoter and White-winged Scoter going southbound.

Yesterday evening we stopped at Pty. Brown jetty in Ocean Shores just before sunset. Several Brown Pelicans were flying around the jetty. No shorebirds on the jetty except for two Wandering Tattlers. There was a nice group of shorebirds that landed at the base of the jetty right at sunset which included about 30 each of Western and Least Sandpiper and 3 Semi-palmated Plovers.

Great weather over the extended weekend. No Elegant terns seen, but certainly enjoyed the breeding alcids and the long-awaited Manx.

Scott Downes
downess at charter.net
Yakima WA