Tweeters,

This afternoon I was able to get a couple of hours in at the Hoquium STP. I arrive at the site at around 300 or 315pm and stayed until about 515pm. A birder I did not recognize was at the Chestnut Collared Longspur site studying the bird when I arrived. The bird was in the bare area under the fence adjacent to the road sign indicating the turn. It flew to the gravel road adjacent to the ponds when a log truck went by, and spent the rest of the time working the road/ wheel tracks and adjacent short grass areas. This was probably until about 400pm when the sun broke through and local bird activity increased.



At this point we moved down to the area around the entrance to the refuge building. On the pond/ STP side of the road, Joel Brady-Power re-located the Clay Colored Sparrow that was hanging out associated with a flock of Golden-crowned Sparrows. Finally, with much improved weather and increased bird activity, I worked the roadside and fenceline along the entrance road back toward Hoquium High School (Paulson Road). About 1/2way down the road there was a mixed flock, feeding in the schrubs and weedy vegetation on the inside of the fence to the old log yard. Several Goldfinches, a couple of Northern Flickers, yellow-rumps, chickadees, Song and Golden-crowned Sparrows we relocated the Orchard Oriole and a second Clay-colored Sparrow. The exact location was near the two conifer trees (western red cedar and douglas fir), between the 3rd and 4th fire hydrants coming from the Ocean Shores highway. By the way, the Oriole was remarkably yellow/ bright I thought. Most sub adult and winter birds I have seen (Mexico), have seemed more greenish to me and not quite as bright; a very nice looking bird.



Quite a finish to a day that started out pretty stormy and rather ugly weather-wise. This area is hot right now; who knows what else might be around. Thanks to Brad, Doug, Igor and all who have posted up.



Good luck and good birding.

Bill Shelmerdine, Olympia

mailto: georn1 at hotmail.com

_________________________________________________________________
Windows 7: It helps you do more. Explore Windows 7.
http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_evergreen3:102009