Subject: [Tweeters] WA Coast Red-necked Phalarope, Red Knot, Glaucous Gull
Date: May 19 08:59:56 2008
From: Kathy Andrich - chukarbird at yahoo.com



Hi Tweeters,

Just a quick post of some highlights of the East Lake
Washington Birdathon Field Trip I lead yesterday to
Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties.

Red-necked Phalaropes--Midway Beach at least 6 and
probably more but the lighting was poor. Also one in
much better lighting at the South Bend Ponds.

Red Knot--About 12 at Bottle Beach, along with twice
as many Black-bellied Plovers and some other assorted
shorebirds. The Red Knots are always a big highlight
for this trip.
A very odd gull was here at Bottle Beach dubbed FUGU
for Funky Gull. Mostly white overall, very long
wings past the tail, molting a small patch of pale
gray into the mantle, some brownish mottling in the
tail, grayish pink legs, pinkish feet, rather thin
dark tipped bill, and dark eye.

Glaucous Gull--second year big honkin white gull
resting with the usual type gulls at Tokeland marina,
little doubt for this gulls identity. Female Purple
Martin was sticking her head out of one of the nest
boxes. A European Starling here does an amazing Bald
Eagle imitation. We were all fooled.

I might post more later but I at least wanted to get
the highlights posted in case someone still wants to
try for the Red-necked Phalaropes.

It is always great to get out to the coast and I had a
great group to bird with.

Kathy
Roosting in Kent, near Lake Meridian
(chukarbird at yahoo dot com)