Jeff Jendro and I today birded from South Bend north to Westport and then ended the day on the Brady Loop. Our primary target was the pair of Emperor Geese reported south of South Bend. He arrived just at first light and no geese were present in the fields. However, as time passed flocks of Canada and Cackling Geese started to arrive. We watched one flock land that had 15 Snow Geese in it. No Emperor Geese were spotted this morning.

In the newer wetlands just south of South Bend on the east side of the highway, there was a great assortment of ducks including at least 6 Ruddy Ducks. We spotted a Peregrine on a tree-top just above the ponds as well.

On Airport Road, near the Raymond airport we found a small pond that hosted a male Redhead duck. This pond was on the east side of Airport Road and appeared to be man-made with an earthen dam. The fields around the airport hosted more geese flocks with an additional two more Snow Geese found. No White-tailed Kites were seen.

In Tokeland at the marina, Marbled Godwits were assembled on the mudflats with more still out in the bay as the tide was rising. Approximately, 15 Willets were present and one Long-billed Curlew was seen flying over the marina. A large, but distant raft of Brant was out in the bay with approximately 300 birds present.

The Westport Marina was busy with boat activity. We didn't find any shorebirds on the rocks of the marina, but did get great looks at Pelagic Comorant, Red-necked Grebe, Common Loon, and two female Red-breasted Mergansers.

Ocosta Third Street had just a few ducks on the pond and the road was closed due to water damage. We didn't explore Bottle Beach because it was high tide and a work crew was burning brush there. I was impressed with the new parking lot that has been put in.

At the Bishop Athletic Fields just outside of Aberdeen, there were about 30 Least Sandpipers with a few Killdeer working the fields.

We ran into Ruth Sullivan on the Brady Loop with the swans. She reported no Bewick's Swan seen so we just moved on as the weather was quickly getting wet and darkness was setting in.

Good birding,

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