Hello Tweeters,
I led Fieldtrip for the Black Hills Audubon yesterday to Grays Harbor
County.
We met at Mud Bay at 7.00 Am and returned at 6.30 PM.The weather turned out
better as forecast predicted,so do to the forecast
we had some cancellation , and with 5 birders and 2 cars it was a great trip
with 69 species counted, with many in the hundreds of birds,a huge group of
300 Northern Pintails,from the many count of A. Wigeon ,1 Eurasian Wigeon,5
TrumpeterSwan's,And over 100 Glaucous winged Gulls and our first of many
Mew Gulls ,and our first of the 7 Red-tailed Hawk of the day,and many Tree &
Violet Swallows,and our first of so many Marsh Wrens do to the wet
vegetation 8 birds for the day
We started at Satsop,taken the Wenzel Slew Road from Vance Creek,where we
had our most birds of the day since the fields was all flooded.
Next Brady Loop Road from the North side,Or first bird was 5 Eurasian
Collared Doves in some one's yard.This is almost the same place where
Patrick and I found the first sighting years ago.Right across from there we
had a nice bright adult Rough-legged Hawk, the man who lived in the house
,came out with his Binoculars to find out what kind of Hawk he been seeing
for the longest time, what made him extremely happy!!!!Further down the road
we counted 60 Trumpeter Swans, with ,7 White -fronted Goose mixed.further
down the road we had 300 A.Wigeon &150 Dunlin,
Further down the close to Foster Creek Road there where 200& counted,
Dusky Canada ( occidentalis) SOLID GROUP.
The last of this beauties I saw years ago, around Woodland .And it seems
that this subspecies are seldom found.Jim Pruske took some photos ,some in
flight ,for me this was THE BIRD OF THE DAY!!!!!!!!
After the Goose who all where flying of ,we had a nice male Pileated
Woodpecker with a,,we coming to the place where always in migration are high
count of Robin every where.
Off to Bottle Beach where we supposed to be at 10.00 AM do to a super high
tide at 1.00 PM AS A 9.8 FEET
We was OK, but the water coming in fast,we had enough time to count the
Shorebirds ,on the way out where the bridge is ,we heard a Virginia Rail
calling . Over 1000 Dunlin & 65 Black-bellied Plovers,our only Great blue
Heron and many Marsh Wrens in the parking lot. Close to Patrick,s bench we
had some great looks of the Orange -crown Warblers (all Myrtle )
We had no response calling for the Virginia Rail on Acosta Rd.
Next to Westport,on the way we had 2 more Red-tailed Hawk.The water was
high,we had 0 Shorebirds ,but many Common Loon
With all in different plumage,but high count on White -winged Scoters 25,
some Surf-Scoters Again Mew Gulls ,Western Gulls & some Horned Grebes
The water was so high in Tokeland, NO Marbled Godwit,and since the tide
staying high this bird flying to an Island for a while.We did see 14
Whimbrel &3 Willet, 4 Red -breasted Merganser,Western Grebes ,40 Brant Geese
& Common Goldeneye.
Midway Beach was deserted,we had plenty Raven, Bewick's Wren & A.Coot..
We closed the tripp in John River,but did not hiked, we added a Killdeer,
Kingfisher .1 Varied Thrush. A Highlight where the 21 Elk,there usual coming
out in the late afternoon.

Our last birds where the 2 Coopers Hawks ,make the turn by Twin Harbor
State Park.One bird was a full Adult,who we had excellent looks off.
We all enjoyed the trip every person getting so tired of all the rain we
are having, but even so we are all much better off than some other
places,and than going birdying it is GREAT!!!!!!!!

Cheers Ruth Sullivan
Tacoma,WA