Hello Tweeters,
I took another trip again to finding something good on Shorebirds.It was
late in the afternoon since high tide was at 4.23 PM.I took the new
"Public Beach Access "from Marine View Drive.On the small pond to the
right (this could be a place where there could be a RARE SHOREBIRD
be found.All what I had where a Lesser Yellowlegs,and three Killdeer.As I
came to the Wetland I noticed the large Group of Gulls,and in the Islands
there where Western Sandpipers not so many ,an both species of Yellowlegs.I
noticed that all Western Sandpipers was still in breeding Plumage with
heavily spotted and streaked on sides.The tide was coming in and the birds
where kind of flying from places to places,when I taught looked different
the streaks on the sides where going further down on sides,but as I looked
at this bird,my Mind remember the trip to Nova Scotia where our tour leader
pointed the White -rumped Sandpipers out to us ,seeing the most migration of
Semipalmated Sandpiper occur,and mixed with White Rumped
Sandpipers on Mary's Point N.B
I didn't have to study this bird longer,since all birds what where there on
Shorebirds flew off.It seems to me that this bird looked different from the
others.Going to my car I looked at Dennis Paulsons & "The Shorebird Guide "
by Michael O'Brien &Richard Crossley.
It was still early 5.00 PM and decided looking for the group of Shorebirds
on the other wetlands behind the Sewage Ponds.But I came out with absolutely
had no Shorebirds at all ,that is going also on the outer beaches.After
being completely worn out I decided to give up the chase and enjoying my
stay in Ocean Shores,
Next morning I Was out on the Wetland at 6.00 AM,the Tide was high at 4:46
AM
It was hard to believe that the Wetland was full of Shorebirds manly all
Western Sandpipers in full breeding plumage,My guess there where over
Two thousand's easy of Shorebirds, with about maybe 50 Least and some
Semipalmated Plovers and 8 Long-billed Dowitchers with 20 Greater Yellowlegs
and 3 Lesser Yellowlegs.
I bided from 6.00 am to after 10.30 Am.Looking all the many Western who all
had the streaked sides,some more than others,I earnestly can not say that I
had a White -rumped Sandpiper,looking also at the plumage's,(I can not come
and find a photo of a White Rumped Sandpiper who had some of the bright red
plumage of the Western Sandpiper. One can really imagine to turning
something in to a real rarities.
Here are the birds I saw on this trip
Western Sandpipers all in bright breeding plumage 2000,(Oyehut Game Range)
Least Sandpipers 50 birds (Oyehut Game Range )
Semipalmated Plovers 12 birds (Oyehut Game Range)
Long-billed Dowitchers 8 birds (Oyehut Game Range)
Greater Yellowlegs 20 birds, (Oyehut Game Range)
Canada Geese 50 birds in 2 groups flying over
Male Northern Harrier 1 bird flying around several times Oyehut Game Range
Savannah Sparrows in Dune Grass 7 birds Oyehut Game Range
Rec. Center & Harbor Pointe Retirement Community walking to the water(same
side as Bills Spit
MARBLED GODWIT 228 BIRDS (counted) and Short billed Dowitchers 4 birds
Bald Eagle 1 bird perching on driftwood in water
Adult flying Coopers Hawk 1 bird vicinity Rec Center.(this bird been seeing
there often)
White crowned Sparrow adult with 4 Juvenile birds
Caspian Terns 25 birds & 6 immature California Gulls (Damon Point
Surf Birds 8 birds & Black Turnstone 6 birds Point Brown Jetty
Kingfisher on Game Range from the sewage ponds 1 Bird

Bowerman Basin
Lesser Scaups 2 males and 3 females.( males where in eclipse plumage )
female Hooded Merganser 1 bird
The pond where full of juvenile Mallard Ducks 20 birds (light beige)

Tokeland was completely deserted ,the tide was way out.Least Sandpiper 1
bird
Few miles out of Tokeland driving to Raymond on the left side Cedar River?
52 Juvenile &6 adult Mallards

>From Tokeland to Raymond 5 Turkey Vulture &1 Red-tailed Hawk,

Raymond Sewage Ponds
2 Spotted Sandpipers ( there always there)
11 Adult female Mallard Ducks
Ken Knittle and Patrick many times found some great birds there.

Its time for Shorebirds viewing on the Ocean!!!!!!!!!
I had a great 2 days,had some excitement over maybe found a White rumped
Sandpiper,But be realistic,and way out the odds.

Cheers Ruth Sullivan