Hello Tweets,

Today was the third annual Neah Bay Christmas Bird Count. Despite the rain, we had a very good day! At about 10:30 AM, the 2E Sector CBC Team (consisting of myself, David Poortinga and the Waggoner brothers) found an Arctic Loon viewing the mouth of the bay from Ba'adah Loop Rd. The loon was originally located just offshore before swimming east around the greenhouse point, and was later relocated further east along the coast. This is the fifth accepted state record for Washington! Most of the CBC group was able to enjoy the bird.

Other CBC highlights included Pine Grosbeaks on Bahokus Peak and Tsoo-Yess Valley, White-winged Crossbills in Tsoo-Yess, Rock Sandpiper on Tsoo-Yess Beach, Tropical Kingbird on the beach near the playground in town, and an adult Glaucous Gull at the town creek mouth. Count week birds not seen on the count day include Clay-colored Sparrow, White-winged Dove, Common Redpoll, Northern Fulmar and Short-tailed Shearwater among other great sightings. Overall, an amazing visit as always to Neah Bay! Set the bar quite high for my first CBC.

Good birding, Joshua Glant
Mercer Island, WA