Tweeters,

On Saturday, Tina and I made the run down to Mima Mounds in Thurston County to see if the bluebirds were still hanging around. We had a couple of Western Bluebirds at different points on the south loop and finally found a single male Mountain Bluebird perched on an old white sign at the end of the gun club. We spent about three hours walking the trails to find these guys. A surprise bonus was a hooting sooty grouse in the doug fir forest from the south end of the paved trail.

On Sunday, we headed north to chase things in Whatcom county. We dipped on our target Greater White-fronted Goose; but, had a surprise find of 4 male and 2 female Mountain Bluebirds near the corner of Douglas and Lake Terrell Roads. There was a flock of American Pipits in the same field.

At Neptune Beach, we found two Rhino Auklets. These are harder to find in Whatcom than one would think. After a nice lunch at the re-opened Inn at Semihamo, we headed over to the Blaine Marine Park and caught the Marbled Godwit on the incoming tide. 11 Whimbrel were in the same area. We got good views of the Godwit and Whimbrel from a little point just beyond the Orca statue.

Good Birding,

Rick

Rick Taylor
Everett, WA