Greetings All,
Spent the past weekend on the coast in Pacific County. We camped at Cape Disappointment State Park. Although this was not primarily a birding trip, there were some notable sightings that I will post to ebird. On Saturday we went halibut fishing which took us about 26.5 miles offshore in Pacific County. Sunday I birded briefly from about 1130 to 1230 around the state park entrance, visitor center, and boat ramp only. Highlights included a Manx Shearwater 5.8 miles offshore. Interestingly this was the first shearwater encountered, and we did not get into concentrations of Sooties until about 12 miles offshore. The first Black-footed Albatross were noted at 24.5 miles out, and Fork-tailed Storm Petrels were only found on the halibut grounds beyond 26.5 miles. Surprizingly, no Northern Fulmar were encountered as at least one other report has noted.

On shore on the 13th I was pleasantly surprized to see a Yellow-billed Loon in the channel at the State Park boat ramp. This was a basic plumage/ immature in worn plumage and presumably the same bird that wintered in the Ilwaco boat basin. Other notable birds in the state park included first of season (at least for me) Swainsons Thrush, and Olive-sided Flycatcher. It was truely a great weekend on the coast .
Cheers and good birding
Bill Shelmerdine, Olympia
georn1 at hotmail.com