Tweeters:
Birding the OP this weekend with guests from Alabama, found a few migrants in the vicinity of Lake Quinalt, Queets and in the n.e. Olympics. We devoted Sunday morn to the search for HERMIT WARBLER. Luckily we were successful, which was a surprise, given conditions up there.
Highlights were as follows:
Cinnamon Teal 1 DRA 5/8Sooty Grouse 1 hen near Dungeness River trailhead, FS 2870, s.e. CLALLAM Co 5/8W. Wood-Pewee 3 FOS, one seen, two others heard along Queets River JEFFERSON Co 5/7Hammond's Fly 3 all heard-onlys, Queets-Quinalt area 5/7Townsend's Solitaire 4 flock along Palo Alto Rd near 90-degree turn close to Louella RS CLALLAM Co 5/8
10 warbler species for weekend, including: Yellow Warbler 2 FOS one Queets River drainage 5/7, Kitchen Dick Ponds 5/8, JEFFERSON- CLALLAMPALM WARBLER 1 singing bird (!) near entrance to DRA in YR (Myrtle) Warbler group, 5/8, CLALLAMHERMIT WARBLER 1 approx. .75 mile south of Dungeness Forks Campground along FS 2870 5/8 (this is north of usual spots near Tubal Cain Mine trailhead/upper Dungeness River trailhead; HERMIT rare and local, and at its northernmost breeding range, in s.e. CLALLAM).CHIPPING SPARROW 1 vicinity of Queets minimart, 5/7
Of other migrants, Am. ROBIN, YELLOW-RUMPED (both forms) WARBLER, WILSON'S WARBLERand GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW seemed unusually numerous. I was surprised to find aHERMIT WARBLER because conditions along 2870 were winter-like, bare, and birds seemedfew. Only 8 TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS were tallied here; however, we did not make it to the south end of the road--Note: if you travel up FS 2870 in search of HERMIT WARBLER and other n.e. CLALLAM birds, be aware that there is a gravel washout just before you reach the upper Dungeness River trail head. It is not advisable for a low-centered vehicle.
Scott AtkinsonLake Stevensmail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com