Hello Tweets,

Steve Caldwell and I did an approximate 24 hour last minute trip to the coast, beginning yesterday at the Ocean Shores sewage treatment plant and game range in the late morning. We were hoping to get 20 shorebirds, but settled for 17. The best birds, in order: were at the Bowerman (Paulson Street) settling pond (Wilson's and Red-necked Phalaropes--in proximity with several in breeding plumage for good comparisons), Bottle Beach last evening at high tide (400-500 Red Knots...and Western Sandpipers literally foraging around our feet...1 Red Knot was left there at 10:30 this morning), at the Tokeland marina at high tide this morning (80-90 Marbeled Godwits foraging in the mowed area and in peoples' back yards, along with 15-20 Whimbrels, plus 3 Willets on pilings. Around 7 a.m. this morning we headed for the sand spit across the street from the Tokeland Hotel (20-30 Red Knots plus 25 Common Terns and our only Least Sandpipers...in the spruce trees nearby, Red Crossbills and on the ground, a Chipping Sparrow). After stopping at Midway Beach pond (1 immature male Yellow-headed Blackbird, 3 Blue-winded Teal), we arrived late this morning at the Westport jetty (with no rock pipers at all, but hundreds of Common Terns). From there we headed to the Brady Loop (1 Western Scrub Jay on Monte Brady Rd. just off Hwy. 8 and several Olive-sided Flycatchers further into the loop). We were keen to try Rock Candy Mt. before heading home but were disappointed that the access off Hwy 8 is completely blocked. Total: 106 species.

Enjoy the weather,

Brien Meilleur

Lake Forest Park, WA

brienm at live.com

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