Hi Tweeters,

I joined Andy Stepniewski for a quick rarity chase to the coast this
past weekend. Highlights included Bar-tailed Godwit and Tropical
Kingbird at Tokeland, Wilson's Plovers and Snowy Plovers at Grayland
State Park, and Common Eider at Westport and some of the more amazing
and ferocious weather I have ever birded in. Look at my Common Eider
photos to see some of it.

At Tokeland Sunday there was a Clark's Grebe and a probable hybrid
Western X Clark's Grebe at the marina.

Sunday morning we were at Bottle Beach for the most spectacular
shorebird experience of my life. There were thousands of shorebirds
(Black-bellied Plovers, a dozen Greater Yellowlegs, at least 750
Marbled Godwits, 20 Red Knots, Sanderlings, Western and Least
Sandpipers, several thousand Dunlin, and Short-billed and Long-billed
Dowitchers. Also on the beach was one minima Cackling Goose Off the
beach there were thousands of American Wigeons, several Eurasian
Wigeons, several hybrid wigeons, and nearly a thousand Northern
Pintails. Farther out on the water were White-winged and Surf
Scoters. A Merlin cruised by, scattering some of the shorebirds.

Photos of the highlights are in the new photos folder on my website:

http://www.granstrand.net/gallery/newphotos

I have only gotten two entries in the gull identification contest so I
am sweetening the pot: The winner will receive a jar of my
world-famous (at least at our house) hot pepper jelly. (Made with
jalapenos and a variety of other hot peppers.) I don't mind saying it
is delicious! I use it on my turkey sandwiches. Please don't feel
intimidated about entering. I don't know the IDs of all of the
photos, either. At the discretion of the judge (me), some entrants
might be considered too experienced to qualify for the prize (i.e.:
members of the birds records committee and possibly a few others).
That is a short list, though. (In case you missed the announcement
e-mail, there is a folder of gull photos on my website that I have
challenged people to identify:
http://www.granstrand.net/gallery/album44)

Denny Granstrand

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Denny Granstrand
Yakima, WA
dgranstrand AT gmail.com
Denny Granstrand's bird photos can be seen at:
www.granstrand.net/gallery/