Hi Tweets



Eastside Audubon took a trip to the Ocean Shores area today. The rain to the
north of the meeting area had stopped by the time we met and we first saw
blue sky (a small patch) just south of Tacoma. The first part of the trip
was cloudy and cool, and we saw a few AMERICAN CROWs. Going thru Tacoma
there were several gulls, but none close enough to identify.




We made a coffee and restroom stop at the Haggin market in West Olympia and
picked up BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, CEDAR WAXWING. Outside
of Montesano a COMMON RAVEN flew over the highway.



Going thru Hoquiam a WESTERN SCRUB -JAY flew across the road. We searched
diligently on Paulson Rd. for the Red-shouldered Hawk but it was elsewhere.
Scanning the treatment ponds we saw MALLARD, GADWALL, NORTHERN SHOVELER,
NORTHERN PINTAIL, and GREEN-WINGED TEAL and CANADA GOOSE. The western pond
had lots of the above ducks and several shorebirds around the edges,
including KILLDEER, LEAST SANDPIPER, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, and PECTORAL
SANDPIPER. The eastern pond contained many of the same duck species and in
addition GREATER SCAUP, RING-BILLED, CALIFORNIA and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLs,
an AMERICAN COOT and CASPIAN TERN. Three LESSER YELLOWLEGS flew over
calling. On the south side of the pond we had a nice LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER
and a STILT SANDPIPER side by side and a most respectable distance, allowing
a good long study. A GREAT BLUE HERON was on the mud flats in the Grays
Harbor channel. BARN SWALLOWs were overhead and SAVANNAH and SONG SPARROWs
were working the edges of the grass. Two AMERICAN PIPITS were on the edge of
the eastern pond. A nice collection of birds to start the day.



Next out to Ocean Shores with general clearing and very nice weather, but
almost no birds on the beaches other than the gulls already seen. We did
have one nice group of SANDERLINGs running along the edge of the water.



The Jetty lacked any rocky shorebirds as viewed from shore, but the offshore
area had COMMON MURRE, SOOTY SHEARWATER, a single WESTERN GREBE, several
flocks of SURF SCOTERs flew by and one group of WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS. We
went up on the jetty and could see PIGEON GUILLEMOT and RHINOCEROS AUKLET
and had BLACK TURNSTONE. Several BRANDT'S CORMORANTs flew by and a few
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTs. A single PELAGIC CORMORANT was in the channel.
The end of the jetty had HEERMANN'S GULLs and a single WESTERN GULL.



We stopped at the Interpretive Center for lunch, and the feeders were empty
so no birds. But, a EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE was in the top of one of nearby
trees. Just as we left the feeder were filled, but we needed to get over to
the Game Range. The Game Range was somewhat disappointing due to the
extremely high tide - there was almost no exposed mud. A flock of WESTERN
SANDPIPERs was working the area over. A NORTHERN HARRIER circled overhead.
Really interesting was a group of 17 RED-THROATED LOONs in the bay and a
single COMMON LOON (still in breeding plumage). A couple of RED-NECKED
GREBEs and a single HORNED GREBE were in the bay. Lots of DOUBLE-CRESTED
CORMORANTs feeding and a couple of SURF SCOTERs. We should have gotten to
the Range about 2-3 hours earlier.



On the way out a quick stop at Ocean City State Park added PACIFIC WREN.



For the day we had 65 species and a wonderful time.



Good Birding,



Brian H. Bell

Woodinville WA

Mail to bell asoc at iso media dot com



At many spots along the way we had AMERICAN CROW, ROCK PIGEON, and other
birds seen included TURKEY VULTURE, RED-TAILED HAWK, NORTHERN FLICKER,
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, AMERICAN ROBIN, EUROPEAN STARLING, and HOUSE
SPARROW.