Subject: [Tweeters] Saturday April 25 - Grays Harbor -Ocean Shores sightings
Date: Apr 26 08:48:12 2009
From: Tim O'Brien - kertim7179 at yahoo.com



Yesterday, I helped lead the Ocean Shores fieldtrip and here is some of our notable sightings:

Point Brown Jetty

As stated already, the jetty was crawling with people, but we did manage to have fleeting glimpses of a couple rock birds. One WANDERING TATTLER was out near the end of the jetty with a few BLACK TURNSTONES. Also, at the Jetty, we had a group of BROWN PELICANS fly by heading north. The pelicans totaled about 20 birds. SANDERLINGS, WESTERN SANDPIPERS, DUNLIN, and one SEMIPALMATED PLOVER were on the beach here as well.

Ocean Shores STP

We saw the 4 CACKLING GEESE and a few GREEN-WINGED TEAL in the pond closest to the entrance. Also, a single NORTHERN SHOVELER was in the pond. On the grass surrounding the pond, we had one KILLDEER, one LEAST SANDPIPER, and several SAVANNAH SPARROWS and a couple singing WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS nearby. On the roof of the office, there were several gulls with one immature GLAUCOUS GULL present.

Ocean Shores Marina

Once again, there were shorebirds packed into the rocks of the north jetty wall in the marina. They included MARBLED GODWIT, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, and DUNLIN. In the marina, we had close looks at a very crisp breeding plumaged COMMON LOON. Out in the bay from here, we saw both SURF and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, BUFFLEHEAD, one PACIFIC LOON, and BRANT. CACKLING GEESE were moving north overhead also.

Bill's Spit

We had a great show at Bill's Spit! Shorebirds seen here included one RED KNOT, MARBLED GODWIT, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, DUNLIN, WESTERN SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, one WHIMBREL, and one RUDDY TURNSTONE. Gulls here included several MEW, WESTERN, BONAPARTE'S, and at least one CALIFORNIA GULL. The spectacle of the day happened when a PEREGRINE FALCON came flying in and attempted a strike. It was not sucessful, but it sure did put the shorebirds up into defensive posture allowing us a great look at their acrobatic flying.

After the trip, several of us went out the Hoquiam STP area and found the female TUFTED DUCK. Thanks Ruth for pointing it out! Also, we briefly checked the trees lining the road near the intersection of Paulson and Airport Way. We were only able to come up with a few SONG SPARROWS and two singing COMMON YELLOWTHROATS.

Shorebirds are definitely on the increase in Grays Harbor since this past Wednesday. I suspect even greater numbers will be seen in the first two weeks of May when the Red Knots tend to peak out in numbers. So get on out to Grays Harbor when you can and please report what you see!

Good birding,

Tim O'Brien
Cheney, WA
mailto: kertim7179 at yahoo dot com