Monday (09.07.09) I started my birding day at the Hoquiam STP. The trees along the road had a fair number of warblers, but nothing unusual. ORANGE-CROWNED, WILSON'S, BLACK-THROATED GRAY, YELLOW-RUMPED, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. There was also a COOPER'S HAWK and a MERLIN. The pond was full of BARN SWALLOWS, a smattering of ducks and 2 or 3 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES.

The game range at Ocean Shores didn't produce the hoped for Buff-breasted Sandpipers or golden-plovers. During the hour or so that I was there, I saw another MERLIN, PEREGRINE FALCON, COOPER'S HAWK and 2 NORTHERN HARRIERS. The shorebirds I did see were LB DOWITCHER (5), RN PHALAROPE (30), LEAST SANDPIPER (25) and KILLDEER.

I arrived at Bottle Beach about 2 hours before high tide. Not huge numbers, but a nice collection of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, SB DOWITCHER, WEST SANDPIPER, BLACK TURNSTONE (1), DUNLIN (1), WHIMBREL (2) AND MARBLED GODWIT (3). After about 30 minutes the birds got up and left the area. Every one of them. Lots of beach left. I have seen large numbers of shorebirds wait out the high tide at Bottle Beach, and I have seen them depart early, as I did Monday.

When I arrived at Tokeland, the BAR-TAILED GODWIT was front and center, at the near edge of the hundreds of MARBLED GODWITS on the dock. One of the Marbled Godwits was quite pale.

At Midway Beach, I found no Buff-breasted Sandpipers. What I did see were RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (10), LB DOWITCHER (4), LEAST SANDPIPER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER (4) and a flyover PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER. And a young PEREGRINE FALCON chasing the shorebirds around.

I have uploaded some images of the Tokeland Bar-tailed and the pale Marbled Godwit for comparison. They may be viewed at http://www.pbase.com/marvbreece/new_images_of_washington_birds



Marv Breece
Seattle, WA
mbreece at earthlink.net