Tweets,

Dow Lambert photographed an immaculate male Snowy Plover about 2.5 miles out Dungeness Spit, yesterday, 4/21/12. This is the first Snowy Plover I know about at Dungeness since one bird was reported by USFWS biologist Pam Sanguinetti on May 11, 1996. Anybody know of other more recent sightings in Clallam? Dow got two great photos of his bird, which he posted online at:

http://www.mastdog.com/DowMar/Birding/Images/SnowyPlover_6674.jpg

http://www.mastdog.com/DowMar/Birding/Images/SnowyPlover_6694.jpg

Also, the two Emperor Geese (Emperor Chen and Empress Canagica) were still present at Dungeness Bay this afternoon (4/22/12), roosting on the east side of Graveyard Spit with DC Cormorants and large pink-legged gulls. Sue Chickman, the original finder of these geese on Dec 31, 2011, is sticking her neck out and predicting the Emperors will leave May 1st.

The Early Spring Birding by Ear class from the Dungeness River Audubon Center found an incubating Hutton's Vireo on a nest, thanks to the sharp eyes of Terry Martin. The nest was about 7 feet above the ground in an Oceanspray, covered on the outside entirely with Usnea lichen (Methuselah's beard?), just like much of the surrounding bushes and trees, so it was very hard to locate. The vireo's tail, face, and hooked bill occasionally peeked over the side of the nest for our viewing pleasure. We also heard singing Cassin's Vireo in the vicinity, and saw several Hermit Thrushes, likely new migrants, along with many other early spring species, heard and seen. Male Sooty Grouse hooted around us, including one sitting in full view on a low branch of a Douglas-fir snag for everyone to see and hear. The next round of Birding by Ear classes at the Center will be in late spring, June 21 or June 23.

Bob Boekelheide
Sequim
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