Subject: [Tweeters] Coastal Birds
Date: Jul 27 21:04:41 2009
From: JEFFREY COHEN - kokobean2 at hotmail.com



Hi Tweeterland,

I just returned from a trip to the coast with Knut Hansen, where we hoped to find the R/N Stint, among others. On the way in we made guesses how many people would be lined up with scopes after being denied a chance to look for the bird all weekend. Imagine our surprise when we pulled in at 8:30 and found we were the first ones. About a half an hour later, 3 birders showed up. We found about 20 Western and Least Sandpipers. A few had some rufous on the head and shoulders (as mentioned by Richard Carlson) but nothing on the throat or chest. Other shorebirds seen were 2 Killdeer and 2 Long-billed Dowitchers. We then checked Damon Point for the King Eider, with similar luck. as it was close to low tide, we decided to check Midway Beach, and then check back closer to high tide.

At Midway we found the following shorebirds;

Snowy Plover-1

Long-billed Dowitcher-25+

Killdeer-2

Semipalmated Plover-6

Wilson's Phalarope-2

Greater Yellowlegs-3

There are two restricted nesting areas prominently marked with "do not enter" signage, on either side of the entrance road. These areas are closed through August 31. If you follow the perimeter you should have no problem viewing most of the area. We followed only the south area, which lies between the larger pond and the shore, where we got good looks at 1 Snowy Plover , as well as a Horned Lark.

We then returned to Ocean Shores just before closing time, where we again dipped on the Stint. We then walked out to the shore through the game range next to the sewage treatment plant, where we easily found the female King Eider swimming in the company of a pair of Surf Scoters. Also present was a single female Harlequin Duck, and about 75 more Least and Western Sandpipers.

Jeff Cohen

Gig Harbor



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