Hi Tweets,

George Neavoll and I had an enjoyable day birding near the Port Townsend area. It was my first time there and I really was intrigued by the charming town and birds. For this trip report, I promise no grouse activity or photos :)

We started at Oak Bay County Park and it was slow birding except for the many Northern Pintails but we managed to find one THAYER'S GULL, and two WHITE THROATED SPARROWS in the Zonos flock.

Fort Flager State Park produced a flock of 100 BLACK BELLIED PLOVERS, several dozen DUNLINS, with one single BLACK TURNSTONE. A pair of regal BALD EAGLE were also in the area.

A quick stop at Pt. Hudson, produced a large flock of 200 plus BLACK TURNSTONE and a pair of SURFBIRDS. With some careful scanning, I found one ROCK SANDPIPER along the mixed flock. It was uncooperative but evenually we got to study all the diagnostic field marks and its much smaller size was apparent. A single BONAPARTE'S GULL was also in the area.

Meeting the amicable Bob Whitney at Port Wilson made our trip worthwhile and memorable. He was so nice and helpful! During the two hours we were there, we saw several ANCIENT and MARBLED MURRELETS, one RHINOCEROS AUKLET, one LONG TAILED DUCK, four BLACK BRANTS, three RED BREASTED MERGANSERS. Several HARLEQUIN DUCKS were in the distance along with a nice flock of SANDERINGS that were close in. PIGEON GUILLEMOTS were abundant.

Waiting for the YELLOW BILLED LOON really tested my patience, but Bob advised it will show up out of nowhere usually before 3 PM.

I did my little Hocus-Pocus and at 2:50 PM, the bird miraculously appeared almost on cue out of blue. We had good looks of the actively feeding loon in the slate blue water.

Not a shabby day at all and George got three new lifers!!

Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon)