Hey Tweets...today I participated in the first Washington winter shorebird
survey sponsored by Point Reyes Bird Observatory, with Brady's Oysters as
my assigned area. There were two observation posts from which I was
directed to observe and count the shorebirds and raptors...both overlooking
the Elk River estuary where it empties into Grays Harbor. I faced east and
had the good fortune to have most of the wind blocked by some rather large
trees, so once the rain ended shortly after I arrived at 8:35am, it was
actually a great day for birding...unless you were expecting a lot of
shorebirds.

Due to too much rain, a storm surge and heavy winds pushing water eastward,
there just wasn't much mudflats, But what made of for it for me was at one
point 26 Black Turnstones turning oyster shells, and the first
vocalizations that I have heard from these birds. Second surprise was a
Snowy Owl with a bloody face (hopefully from feeding) perched on some
pieces of broken concrete at the base of Brady's barn. Third...and the best
for me personally, was what I am fairly sure was a single Northwestern
Crow! I have a lot of crow-sighting experience, having lived and carefully
nurtured my relationships with these amazing songbirds, and until today I
remained skeptical of their existence. I see all sizes of crows, so that
wasn't the turning point...it was the sounds this bird made. It was a
higher pitch of caw...and a series of caws, six I believe...like nothing I
had heard on the beach in Ocean Shores or in my own yard. Guess I had to
hear it for myself to believe it!

Other notable sightings included two immature Bald Eagles and a Red-tailed
Hawk circling one another above my head, then briefly landing to check each
other out, a single Peregrine Falcon, then a last-minute flyover of two
adult Bald Eagles, one chasing the other.

We were all surprised by the lack of exposed mud/high water levels, but
entranced by the several rainbows. Not a bad day to be out birding, but
best done from the car under normal circumstances.

Dianna Moore
Ocean Shores, Wa.
dlmoor2 at coastaccess.com
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