Just to add to Carl's post -- this morning, before heading to Ocean Shores, I followed up on his message and made my first ever trip to Griffiths-Priday -- sure enough, about 9 Elegant Terns were hanging out on the beach at 7:00am, a bit south of the creek mouth.

Thanks, Carl!

Ocean Shores follow-up: I was lucky to see the Smith's Longspur and the Lesser Sand-Plover early as well -- a longer search from 10:30 - 1:30 in the Tonquin Access area during high tide turned up no LSAP. I left by 2:00, so hopefully later lingerers will have had some luck.


Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA


Begin forwarded message:

> From: Carl Haynie <hayncarl at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Tweeters] Griffiths-Priday SP Elegant Terns
> Date: September 2, 2013 1:07:39 PM PDT
> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>
> Hi Tweets,
>
> I mentioned this yesterday via Tweeters Alerts, but for those still looking for ELEGANT TERN along the WA coast, you might try Griffiths-Priday SP near the town of Copalis Beach located some 10 miles north of Ocean Shores.
>
> Yesterday, between 2 and 4 pm, there were 4 birds in and around where Connor Creek empties into the sea. This is just north of the signs marking the southern boundary of the Copalis Spit Natural Area (where driving on the beach is off limits).
>
> There were thousands of gulls present, mostly California Gulls with lesser numbers of Caspian Terns. This is always a favorite locale for gulls and terns (my wife and I have surveyed this area once a month for COASST for about the last 4 years). Connor Creek is shallow here, provides a nice freshwater bathing site for the birds, and experiences little human disturbance.
>
> Carl Haynie
> Sammamish, WA
> hayncarl at gmail dot com
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