Hi All,

George Gerdts, Jamie Acker, and my brother Dan and I set off Friday
morning for some shore-birding prior to our scheduled Saturday pelagic
trip out of Westport. We had an incredible start to our morning with
about the first shorebird of the day being the RED-NECKED STINT amongst
about 40 or so peeps in the north pond at the Ocean Shores STP. I'm glad
a few others were able to get into the facility before the gates closed
later that afternoon. I don't think one could see this bird without
access into the facility. Thanks Ian for getting the word out on
tweeters. I personally miss not having the use of the birdbox but I
guess this would be the next best way to pass the word for rare bird
sightings.

Although the RED-NECKED STINT (RNST) was a bit "faded" and in slightly
worn plumage, it was immediately discernible from the nearby Western
Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers. I think the most enjoyable task we had
was to note details about it in order to separate it from a possible
Little Stint (LIST). I say enjoyable because thankfully it allowed great
study and did not fly out of there with the other half of the peep flock
that took off shortly after our initial viewing. I believe the following
features would eliminate LIST and support RNST ( Dennis Paulson's
Shorebirds of North America was a great reference for us);
1) Structurally it appeared similar to a Semipalmated Sandpiper but with
longer wings and it was not "pot-bellied" as would be the case with LIST.
2) Although the rufous was a bit faded it was in all the "right places"
- face, throat and upper breast. LIST would show white throat and
breast. Dark spots surrounded the rufous breast and were not within the
rufous as they would be with LIST.
3) Upper parts were remarkably similar to nearby Westerns with rufous
edgings restricted to a few scapulars. LIST's would likely be quite
bright above with more extensive rufous and distinct mantle lines.
4) The tertials on the RNST were edged white and did not show rufous
edgings as would be the case with LIST.
The stint also exhibited a distinct dark loral line but I'm not quite
sure if this mark is significant to RNST over LIST.

After our success in the STP we walked a bit east for some great viewing
of the female KING EIDER in the bay. One female BLACK SCOTER joined the
scoter flock. We did not see any Long-tailed Ducks. A brief stop at the
jetty yielded a couple Wandering Tattlers, one Surfbird and one Black
Turnstone. A fly-by TUFTED PUFFIN was observed by Jamie and George.
Apparently Dan and I were too busy in our unsuccessful attempt at
finding a Manx Shearwater amongst the thousands of Sooties in the area.

After a brief visit to the Hoquiam STP at midday we headed toward the
south side of Grays Harbor. It's always important for birders to take in
the joys, sites, and smells of wastewater plants - you never know what
good bird might be lurking about. A lone Long-billed Dowitcher and the
continuing male Canvasback were highlights here. Tom Aversa, Ryan
Merrill and I had it back on Thursday July 16 so it has been around for
a while.

Other highlights from our efforts later Friday included:
SNOWY PLOVER - Two adults at Midway Beach at our second visit in the
evening.

LONG-BILLED CURLEW- one juvenile spotted by George amongst the Whimbrels
(100+-), Marbled Godwits (30 +_), Willets (5), and dowitchers on the
Tokeland rock jetty. It was interesting for us to study a LBCU in
juvenile plumage.

RUDDY TURNSTONES - seven at Bottle Beach two + hours before the 4:00
high tide. Boy, you don't want to miss the timing on a visit here.

SHORT-BILLED and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS - Midway Beach provided great
comparison study of both dowitcher species with roughly 25 birds
containing slightly more LBDO's than SBDO's. In light of the recent
discussion of dowitchers at the Fill (with great points supplied by
Dennis), this might be a great place for birders to work through this
identification challenge. Only after numerous lessons from my buddy
Steve Mlodinow and close scrutiny on my own over the last few years have
I begun to feel confident in deciphering the two amongst these returning
adults. It's not impossible.

WILSON'S PHALAROPE - A male that continues at Midway Beach. I'm not sure
how long it has been present here but I know it showed signs of
defending either nest or young a week previous when Tom, Ryan and I
visited the previous Thursday.

On Saturday we enjoyed a bit foggy, a bit rough at times, but overall a
nice trip out on the ocean with the Westport Seabirds crew of captain
Phil Anderson and his wife Chris, along with leaders Scott Mills, Bruce
Labar, and Bill Shelmerdine. Although we didn't stumble upon that
hopeful mega rarity, we had great study of most of the expected seabirds
including about normal expected numbers of Black-footed Albatross,
Northern Fulmar, Fork-tailed & Leach's Storm-Petrels, and Cassin's
Auklets. Sooty Shearwaters and Pink-footed Shearwaters were in abundance
with above normal numbers. Four South Polar Skuas, one imm. Parasitic
Jaeger, and one Sabine's Gull added to the mix. I'm sure the web site
will fill in some of the details that I have missed. I did get a bit of
a "look" from a couple of the leaders when I pronounced that the most
noteworthy bird of the trip was a 2nd cycle GLAUCOUS GULL seen in the
harbor just prior to docking. These dude truly love their pelagic birds!
Unlike all the worn, almost completely white, black-billed 1st-yr.
Gaucous-winged Gulls that are present now, this bird was in
fresh-looking plumage, exhibited the strongly bi-colored bill and had a
slightly pale eye. As of 2004 there is only one previous summer
Washington record of a bird in June back in 1991.

Good luck and good birding....... and may that RNST hang around a bit
longer for a re-opening of the STP.

Brad Waggoner
Bainbridge Island, Washington
mailto:wagtail at sounddsl.com