WOW! I have come to know the lines "only when deprived of it, one can truly appreciate it once it finally arrives" very well. Living in Montana, we don't have ocean birds or ocean birding. The berid moments I have been on the coast have been the best times of my 17 years of life. Florida in February of 08, new Hampshire last July and now here.

I would like to thank Dave and Diane Norman for letting my family stay with them this weekend.

Now for the BIRDS!!!

This morning at the Norman's feeders I there is a pair of ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS hanging around! A yearbird for me.

Its really strange to me to see Glaucous-winged Gulls and Mew Gulls all over town. They are very rare in MT.

At Des Moines marina there was a flock of SURF and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS! Very cool birds. Only seen WW twice before and Surf once.

A Glaucous-winged x Western Gull hybrid at the pier was a nice find.

Along the rocks was a group of cormorants, and one BRANDT'S CORMORANT!!!!! Lifer!!! That was so cool!

At saltwater state park I looked for Golden-crowned Sparrows but found a winter wren and a song sparrow. On the water was more of the same. Still no alcids or black scoter. Two very kind ladies with birding gear showed up and we chatted. I apologize, but I can't remember your names. As I was leaving, we spot a small bird flying by on the water. A PIGEON GUILLEMOT!!!! Lifer number 2!!!!!!!

Nothing much at point Browns light house, but another LIFER!!! A PELAGIC CORMORANT!!!! They look so cool!!

The log booms at Commencement Bay were full of birds! Right away I got another lifer, one that was in my top three most wanted for this trip. BLACK TURNSTONE!!!!! There was one on the closer log to the left of the main boom. On the main boom was maybe 6 HARBOR SEALS!! I know you guys are them all the time, but they can't accidentally get blown off course and wind up in MT. This was a big thing for the whole family. Also there was hundreds of Bonaparte's and Mew Gulls. Also many Glaucous-winged Gulls. A number of Brandt's and DC Cormorants were also present. At that same pullout, I had a single BUSHTIT!!!!!! Lifer number 5 for the day!! In the bushes right close it showed off. I hope to see more in the morning before I leave.

Also I must see my Golden-crowned Sparrows. Besides that miss and the black scoter, it was a fantastic day!!!

When I get home, I will post on my blog all the good pictures I got.

www.covillbirder.blogspot.com

Thanks to all those who emailed me with directions and hints on where to go. It was a BIG help! I love coastal birding. You have a special place here.

Good Luck Birding
Josh
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