Good Morning,
Quick post to let folks know the outer coast is a good place to go exploring right now. Shorebird migration (mostly adults) has picked up and White Pelicans seem to be around in a number of locations. Monday, July 13, I spent a few hours at Bottle Beach from 0600 to 0800. Tides were optimal for shorebird viewing and there were plenty of birds around. Most surprising was a couple of groups of White Pelicans. I recorded 91 in two groups, both were quite distant towards the middle of the harbor, a rather dissatisfying scope show. One group was on the water close enough to count individual birds (27), the second group of at least 66 birds (and probably many more) was hauled out on one of the sand islands and a loooong way out. This seems to be a banner year for White Pelicans, with birds sighted recently in Pacific, Grays Harbor, and Thurston Counties at least. What's up with that?

Still I had stopped in at Bottle Beach to check out the shorebirds and was not disappointed. A good variety of species and good numbers were around. I counted 12 species including: Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plover, Marbled Godwit, Whimbrel, Short-billed (mostly) and Long-billed Dowitchers, Red Knot, Ruddy Turnstone, Greater Yellowlegs, Dunlin (1), Western and Least Sandpipers. No Semi-sands of Baird's today. Most birds are adults and in fine alternate plumage. One Red Knot appeared to be an adult in full basic plumage (possible and early Juvenile?) By contrast to the inner beaches, the outer beaches also have good numbers of birds passing through, but a much more homogeneous species mix. In my searches I found 90%+ were just two species, Semipalmated Plover and Western Sandpipers. A few Sanderlings and a single Snowy Plover at Midway Beach rounded out the beach party.
Good times to be on the coast.
Cheers and good birding.
Bill Shelmerdine

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