Yesterday afternoon I headed to the outer coast to take advantage of a rather marginal razor clam tide. But who among us can pass through Grays Harbor County without checking out at least a few birds. I made the quick drive through Brady Loop Road from east to west, only spending 30 min en-route. There were many Trumpeter and only a couple of Tundra Swans along the way. The real activity was all along the west end, with large numbers of water fowl. It is a good location to check out a variety of Cackling and Canada Geese forms right now...



In the pond along the west end, there was a well marked male Eurasian type Green-winged Teal. This was a first for me and a very long time coming. Also in the area was at least one Eurasian Wigeon among the very large wigeon flocks.



On the outer coast there was a Glaucous Gull on the beach at the beach access just north of Pacific Beach (Analyde Gap Rd.). The plumage was an uncommon type for WA, and I took it to be a 3rd cycle bird. When I first sighted this bird, I had to take a second look to make sure it was not an Iceland type. The bird had a very pale gray mantle, white primaries, yellow eye, and a longish pink-toned bill that lacked depth at the goneys. The bill was mostly black on the outer 1/3rd, with a pale tip. The head was somewhat rounded and it was not a particularly large individual.



Good birding and happy holidays,

Bill Shelmerdine

Olympia WA