Hi Tweets

8 folks from Eastside Audubon explored Grays Harbor and Pacific counties yesterday. We started out running out to Bottle Beach under cloudy skies to catch it before high tide. We arrived about 9 AM with the tide still incoming. Marv Breece was already there scanning the shorebirds and gulls on the beach. We had a nice selection of shorebirds including approximately 60-70 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS (we searched diligently for any Goldens but none there), perhaps 100 WESTERN SANDPIPERS scurrying around in their own flock, and 40 or so DUNLIN. A group of 26 dowitchers included 12 SHORT-BILLED and 14 LONG-BILLED. By carefully working over the birds we finally managed to pick out 1 LEAST and 1 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER in with the other peeps, and 1 RED KNOT hanging out with the Black-bellieds. There were 1 KILLDEER and 3 or 4 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS also present, and 3 MARBLED GODWITS and a WHIMBREL. The gulls horde, about 60 birds in all included RING-BILLED (maybe 20), CALIFORNIA (about 25), and WESTERN (perhaps 15). A few GREEN-WINGED TEAL flew over and a large flock of NORTHERN PINTAIL (35+). On the way in we saw BARN SWALLOW, a WILSON'S WARBLER, a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, CEDAR WAXWINGs, SPOTTED TOWHEE, an ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, a BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, SONG SPARROW, a FOX SPARROW and a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. After scanning the birds on the beach for about 45 minutes a misty rain blew in just as we were getting ready to move elsewhere. On the way out there were 3 AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.

We went straight down to Tokeland anticipating sorting thru the Marbled Godwit flock. In several years of birding at Tokeland this was the first time that we had NO birds present, with the exception of the small flock of 9 WILLETs all clustered together and snoozing. Not only were there no Godwits, there were no gulls, nor any other birds present out on the bay. We stopped at Graveyard Spit off 7th Ave, and had many gulls including as many as 100 RING-BILLED, about 75 CALIFORNIA, 30 WESTERN and many GLAUCOUS-WINGED. There were about 15 CASPIAN TERNs, and 5 GREAT BLUE HERONs and 7 BROWN PELICANS. Again there were NO Godwits.

We drove up to the overlook at North Cove and enjoyed scanning the multiplicity of gulls while we ate lunch. We had the same mix of gulls as seen previously, only with many more immatures mixed in with the addition of HEERMANN'S GULLs. There were 9 BROWN PELICANs. As we looked over the ocean we picked out 3 or 4 RED-THROATED LOONs, a single PACIFIC LOON, and a COMMON LOON. There was a single WESTERN GREBE, several (maybe 8) COMMON MURRES, a PIGEON GUILLEMOT, some DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT and 4 PELAGIC CORMORANTs on a buoy offshore. A couple of lines of Cormorants went by offshore (too far for certain i.d.), as well as a couple lines of SURF SCOTERS.

At Midway Beach the wind picked up and there wasn't much to be seen. A probably SAVANNAH SPARROW flew off, a NORTHERN HARRIER was working the uplands over and a STELLER'S JAY flew by. As we walked back out we ran across Marv again and saw the last of two BAIRD'S SANDPIPERs fly off. In talking with Marv he told us he had a good selection of birds at the Game Range on Sunday.

So off to Ocean Shores we went - it was now sunny and pleasant. At the Tonquin access at the Game Range we quickly got onto 3 PECTORAL SANDPIPERs and a STILT SANDPIPER, both birds being new for some of the folks. Among a group of ducks that included MALLARD, NORTHERN SHOVELER there were several Dowitchers just distant enough that we couldn't get a positive i.d. A NORTHERN HARRIER was over the Range. As we moved down the beach I saw an AMERICAN KESTREL. Just north of the Damon Pt area we looked over the scoter flock. We had about 25+ WHITE-WINGED SCOTERs working the area just inside the old rock line with one male BLACK SCOTER, a couple of SURF SCOTERS and tucked in with them the KING (queen) EIDER). Lots more Surf Scoters were outside the rocks, and more distantly were several RED-THROATED LOONs, a couple of COMMON LOONs and about 8 WESTERN GREBEs.

We next went around to the North Jetty with a low tide and were able to walk quite a ways out. Almost immediately we saw two SURFBIRDs sitting on a rock. The surf and spray made it difficult to see the end of the jetty. Up on the jetty and scanning the channel there were two WESTERN GREBEs and a single COMMON MURRE close by. Thru the spotting scope and a loooooong way out were some Shearwater species. A SURF SCOTER was on the beach above the surf line. As we were getting ready to leave we saw some shorebirds relatively nearby with a couple of gulls. Turned out to be 9 BLACK TURNSTONEs and a single WANDERING TATTLER. This was the first time I have had a Tattler hang around and give us more that a very brief look.

A quick restroom stop at Ocean City State Park yielded CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, and a high PEREGRINE FALCON.

We stopped by the Hoquiam Sewer Ponds on the way home. There were many (perhaps 40 NORTHERN SHOVELER, a few GADWALL, 4 MALLARDs, a female HOODED MERGANSER, and a female CANVASBACK. The Canvasback jumped up on a log with some of the Mallards and when the Hoodie tried to join them she was driven off. There were also 8 RED-NECKED PHALAROPEs on the pond, joined by a MERLIN that came in and made an abortive attack on them.

Elsewhere during the day we saw CANADA GOOSE, TURKEY VULTURE, RED-TAILED HAWK, ROCK PIGEON, AMERICAN CROW, COMMON RAVEN, AMERICAN ROBIN (1), EUROPEAN STARLING, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, BREWERS BLACKBIRD and HOUSE SPARROW.

We had a long day with good friends and saw lots (77 species) of birds.

It was a good day!

Brian H. Bell
Woodinville WA
mail to bell asoc at isomedia dot com