For those of us who read Tweeters at www.birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/TWET.html the body of Matt's message did not come through, so I'm re-posting it here, hopefully:


Yesterday, I led a WOS trip with 14 participants to Mason Co. We explored many
different corners of the county, starting in the north and working our way around the
Hood Canal and down to the south. Despite intermittent showers, and some windy conditions that made scoping the Hood Canal difficult, we had a fun day and saw around 84 species. Our first stop was on the Tahuya Peninsula, along Tahuya-Blacksmith Rd.. Despite having luck many times in the past, we could not rouse any Mountain Quail. We did have our first of many many Red Crossbills, some singing Purple Finch, and a bright singing male Audubon's Yellow-rumped Warbler. On the way to and from this stop, we saw our first Turkey Vulture of the day-- overall we probably had 3-4 throughout the day.

At Belfair State Park we made our first of several stops along the Hood Canal, picking up many of the saltwater birds such as Surf Scoter, Greater Scaup, Horned and
Red-necked Grebe. As we were preparing to leave, a Peregrine Falcon came zooming in, causing us to pile out of the car while it circled.

Next stop was a walk through Theler Wetlands. Here, in addition to picking up more dabbling ducks, we had point-blank looks at Red Crossbill along the trail, along with Rufous Hummingbird, Golden-crowned and Fox Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Downy Woodpecker, Mourning Doves, and our first glimpses of Swallows.

Just south of Union, we stopped to scope the Hood Canal and added: Redhead [a pair has been in this spot for a couple months, well out on the water], Red-throated Loon, Brant, White-winged Scoter. In Hoodsport, we watched a pair of vocalizing Pigeon Guillemot, and saw our only Western Gull of the trip.

Potlatch State Park produced several of the 'regulars' it is consistently good for: Eared Grebes [some in bright breeding plumage], Harlequin Ducks, Common Loon, and a large flock of Western Grebes. Just south of the park we had 2 Eurasian Wigeon males in a big flock of American Wigeon.

We drove through the Skokomish River Valley, picking up our first big flocks of Violet-Green and Tree Swallows, a Hooded Merganser, Northern Harrier , Brewer's Blackbird. At the Eels Creek Hatchery, we glimpsed Wood Ducks but dipped on the resident Green Heron. Up in the mountains, along FR 2340, we stopped at High Bridge to enjoy the great views into the gorge -- not much in the way of birds, but pretty stunning looks at the scenery here [Winter Wren was the only addition for the day]. Before leaving the valley ,we stopped at George Adams Fish Hatchery and watched a pair of American Dippers, probably/perhaps bringing food to a nest up under the bridge. The last car leaving also got to enjoy looks at a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers from here.
With rain increasing in frequency, our next stop was Little Egypt Rd., off the Shelton-Matlock Rd. Virginia Rails were very vocal in response to our tape here, but little else was stirring in the squall. We headed down Highland Rd. to the Panhandle Lake Rd. intersection where we watched a gorgeous pair of Western Bluebirds flit around for a bit. A Hairy Woodpecker pair was pretty vocal at this stop too. In Shelton, at 9th and Cota, we called in a pair of Western Scrub-Jays -- they looked to be gathering nesting material as we watched. Final stop was Kennedy Creek estuary, where the tide was way out. We found a couple good-sized flocks of Dunlin, but somehow dipped on Black-bellied Plovers, almost a 'gimme' here. Just before leaving, our last species of the day, a Hutton's Vireo started singing away. Lots of signs of spring , as the day's species list begins its tilt towards passerines.....

Best,
Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA
-Evan Houston, Seattle, WA