This morning, 7/9, I covered the Beach Route for the monthly Discovery Park
bird census. It was relatively quiet, but there were a few notable birds.



In a flock of about 60 GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS feeding in a tide rip, there
were at least 3 HEERMANN'S GULLS. This is by far the earliest I have ever
seen Heermann's Gulls on the census.



On the North Beach, there was a tiny flock of shorebirds, comprising 2
KILLDEER, 4 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 1 WESTERN SANDPIPER, and 1 SHORT-BILLED
DOWITCHER. There was a larger bird far down the beach that might have been
the WHIMBREL seen recently by other birders, but all of the shorebirds birds
were flushed repeatedly by walkers and I couldn't relocate it.



I had my closest-ever look at MARBLED MURRELETS when a pair surfaced right
in front of me, just off of West Point at the lighthouse.



I also saw 1 BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER and 1 BAND-TAILED PIGEON in the
trees to the north of the lighthouse. Though these species are common in
Discovery Park, I have been doing the Beach Route with Dan Harville since
2009, and this is the first time I have seen either one down there at the
beach.



Rachel Lawson

Seattle

rwlawson at q.com <mailto:rwlawson at q.com>