Subject: [Tweeters] =?windows-1252?q?Ocean_Shores_Friday=3A_Say=92s_Phoeb?=
Date: Apr 23 06:53:01 2011
From: bill shelmerdine - georn1 at hotmail.com




Greetings Tweeters,
Yesterday, April 22, I spent some time along the coast in Grays Harbor County. Highlights included Say?s Phoebe (SaPh) at the game range, seen along the north side of the pond from the Tonquin Road access. I searched the Game Range with no luck for the Mountain Bluebird reported earlier by Keith Brady, but this was more than adequate compensation for my efforts. Seems like a pretty late date for westside SaPh.

I also walked about ? way out on Damon Point. The female King Eider continues in the area and was hanging out with a small group of Surf Scoters about a ? mile up the point. It was near the furthest group of pilings out on the point. As far as shorebirds go? I was there at the wrong time. Diversity was marginal, but the flats in the bay were a long way out and had lots of activity. Still in the distance I could make out Marbled Godwits and Short-billed Dowitchers. I estimated about 800 godwits with more in the shimmering distance. Other regular/ expected species were around, but only in small numbers. The pond at Tonquin had very few shorebirds, but perhaps it was simply the wrong tide.

Cheers and good birding,
Bill Shelmerdine, Olympia
mailto: georn1 at hotmail.com