Subject: [Tweeters] BHAS Hardcore Birder Field Trip
Date: Nov 6 14:01:23 2016
From: Phil Kelley - scrubjay323 at gmail.com


Tweets,

Yesterday I led a Black Hills Audubon Society Field Trip from Olympia to
Port Townsend via the Hood Canal Bridge and points in between.

5 of us started in rain at 7:00 AM at the Martin Way park and Ride and made
our way to Gorst where it was raining harder. Looking up the bay toward
Bremerton we spotted GREATER YELLOWLEGS, RING-BILLED and MEW GULLS,, SURF
SCOTERS, BALD EAGLES and AMERICAN WIGEON and COMMON GOLDENEYE.

Next we went to Kitsap Memorial Park where the rain abated somewhat. Here
we found COMMON and RED-THROATED LOON, HORNED GREBE, RED-BREASTED
MERGANSERS, SURF and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, MARBLED MURRELETS, and some land
birds: BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, JUNCOS, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS, and
KINGLETS.

At Salisbury Park we encountered what was the first of many BONAPARTE'S
GULLS, HOODED MERGANSERS, more MARBLER MURRELETS, and PIGEON GUILLEMOTS.

As we crossed the Hood Canal Bridge the rain stopped but the wind picked
up. At Lower Oak Bay we saw MALLARDS, AMERICAN and EURASIAN WIGEON, PINTAILS
and SHOVELERS . There was a flock of gulls sheltered inside the spit that
included a HEERMANN'S GULL among the MEW and RING-BILLS. On the jetty we
saw 8 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS. The tide was really high so we didn't find any
BLACK TURNSTONES that we often see there.

Out next stop was Mystery Bay State Park where we picked up more land
birds. ROBINS, CEDAR WAXWINGS, CHICKADEES AND KINGLETS were feasting on the
berries in a Madrona Tree. Not much on the water as it was still windy with
lots of chop.

Our best stop of the day was at Fort Flagler where we had BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVER and DUNLIN on the parade field and not much else until we got to the
campground where it was protected from the wind.

AS we drove toward the beach in the campground we spotted several flocks of
shorebirds in the grass and in the puddles near the launch site. Here we
had BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, DUNLIN, SANDERLINGS and a lone LEAST SANDPIPER.
Out on the water we saw many HARLEQUIN DUCKS and 5 LONG-TAILED DUCKS. As we
walked the beach toward the point we spotted a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. As we
scoped the gulls at the end of the point for possible shorebirds a BALD
EAGLE flew over scattering everyone. Out of the flock came a BLACK TURNSTONE
heading down the beach.

As we headed back to the cars along the inside of the spit we spooked up a
SAVANAH SPARROW and saw more HARLEQUIN DUCKS and COMMON LOONS. AS we scoped
the flocks on the ground Lonnie spotted something that didn't fit that
popped over the edge toward the water. When we got them in the scope we
discovered 3 SURFBIRDS on the rocks with the BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS.

Port Hudson gave us PACIFIC LOON and RHINOCEROS AUKLET and COMMON MURRE.

Our last stop was Kai-Tai Lagoon where we found VIRGINIA RAIL, MARSH WREN,
RUDDY DUCK, LESSER SCAUP, COMMON GOLDENEYE, and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET.

For the day I had 73 species ands pleasant company. For the record I ran
into rain on the way home when I crossed the Hood Canal Bridge and had it
always the way back to Lacey. Funny how the rain stayed in Kitsap county
and never crossed the canal.

Until next time.

Phil Kelley
scrubjay323 at gmail.com
Lacey, WA
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