|
 The 19th Annual Conference of the
Washington Ornithological Society will be centered at the Guest House
and Suites located in Aberdeen, Washington just off US Highway 12 from
Friday September 14th through Monday, September 17th, 2007. The Guest
House will serve as a base for lodging (35 rooms reserved), and
registration. Field trips will meet across the street in the Wal-Mart
parking lot. The conference will feature banquet speaker Dennis Paulson
speaking on one of his specialties, shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest
on Saturday evening. Michael Donahue will offer an introduction to
pelagic birding Friday evening. Daylight field trips, led by local and
experienced birders, will be conducted on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and
Monday and leave at 6:30 AM; owling trips will be conducted on Friday
evening and leave at 7:00 PM; pelagic trips are offered Saturday, Sunday
and Monday from Westport departing from Westport at 6:30 AM.
The Aberdeen/Hoquiam area has
numerous lodging options along US12 and US101 and all the way around
Grays Harbor to Westport and Ocean Shores. Motel accommodations,
campgrounds, and RV parks continue up and down the coast. Aberdeen is
accessible from southbound I5 at Olympia via US101 and west on SR8 to
US12. From northbound I-5 take US12 north of Centralia all the way into
town. From the Olympic Peninsula take US101.
The 2007 Conference is timed to
maximize opportunities for migrating shorebirds, seabirds, and
songbirds. A large selection of trips are being offered; space is
limited to 25 on each pelagic trip, 12 individuals in 3 autos for each
daylight trip and 6 in 2 autos for each owling adventure—so be
forewarned—register early!!! Regarding the REGISTRATION FORM, be sure to
indicate alternative choices for trips and designate the menu item you
prefer if attending the banquet. The Conference Committee hopes you
enjoy your visit to the Grays Harbor area.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS
AUGUST 10, 2007
Registrations postmarked after August 10, 2007 will be assessed a $10
late fee.
Registration begins June 16, 2007.
Registration materials postmarked as of June 16th will be processed in
random order. Materials postmarked after June 16th will be processed on
a first-come, first-served basis. Space on field trips is limited: 12
individuals in 3 autos for daylight trips and 6 in 2 autos for owling
adventures. Pelagic boat tours have a limit of 25.
Registration at the Guest
House—Applications for registration at the door of the 19th Annual
Meeting will have no guarantee of participation in field trips or of the
banquet meal. Additionally, there will be a $10.00 late fee.
Cancellations received on or before
August 10th will receive a refund, less a $10.00 processing fee.
Additionally, cancellations received after August 10th will not receive
a refund for the banquet meal.
Lodging or campground fees are not
included in Conference fees. Please refer to the information provided
under ACCOMMODATIONS and make your own arrangements.
FIELD TRIPS
In order to optimize the birding
experience for participants, car-pooling will be utilized for all field
trips. WOS will reimburse field trip drivers who carry
at least three people in addition to themselves
at the current federal government mileage rate. Unless noted in the
description, all daylight land-based field trips will depart from the
Wal-Mart parking lot (located across the street from the Guest House Inn
& Suites) at 6:30 AM and both Friday evening owling trips will depart
from the same location at 7:00 PM. The Westport Pelagic trips will not
have a designated field trip leader (spotters are provided on the
vessel), so participants will make their own arrangements to get to the
designated float location at the Westport marina (or depart from the
Wal-Mart parking lot at 5:45 AM in self-made carpools).
Trips and trip leaders may be
subject to change. Please refer to the WOS website, www.wos.org, for
updates. If you possess a National Parks pass, a National Wildlife
Refuge pass, a Federal Duck Stamp, a WDFW pass, and/or Golden Age pass,
please bring it/them. Also, if you have an FRS radio, please bring
it/them. Most trip descriptions and information, to some degree, follow
those described in Hal Opperman’s, “A Birder’s Guide to Washington” and
Bob Morse’s, “A Birder’s Guide to Coastal Washington”.
 OCEAN SHORES
NORTH—The coastal resort town
of Ocean Shores hosts some of the best birding locations on the West
Coast, with more species per location than possibly anywhere else in the
state of Washington (close to 300 species of birds have been observed
here). Ocean Shores is a thin six mile long peninsula laced with 23
miles of canals and lakes, bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean and
the south and east by the waters of Grays Harbor. The reason for the
large variety of birds is its location along the coast and its wide
range of habitats: long sandy beaches, tidal salt marshes, rock jetty,
extensive mudflats, sand dunes, fresh water ponds, woodlots, a golf
course, marina, and even a sewage treatment plant. No where else in
Washington State do all these habitats coexist in one small place. Ocean
Shores is also an excellent location for unusual and rare birds in
Washington. It is one of the best locations in the lower forty-eight
states to find Pacific golden-plover. Mottled petrel, Manx shearwater,
Eurasian dotterel, bristle-thighed curlew, ivory gull, least tern,
eastern yellow wagtail, and McKay’s bunting have each put in an
appearance. Ocean Shores is exciting birding at any time of year, but
fall is particularly good when migrating shorebirds pass through. They
do not appear in the vast numbers of the spring migration that sees more
shorebirds winging through Grays Harbor on their way to their nesting
grounds in the arctic; but fall does provide a better variety at Ocean
Shores.
The Ocean Shores North field trip
will include possible stops at Bill’s Spit, Chinook Park, the Ocean
Shores Golf Course, Cyber Lake, Ocean City Sate Park, and Burrow’s Road.
The best birding site on the Grays Harbor North Bay, north of the marina
is Bill’s Spit. Geese, ducks, curlews, godwits, small sandpipers, and
gulls congregate here, especially one to two hours before or after high
tide. Bill’s Spit and Tokeland are probably the two most reliable places
in the Lower 48 for Bar-tailed Godwit in the fall. Chinook Park,
accessed along Duck Lake Drive (north of Bill’s Spit) provides an
opportunity to view a variety of waterfowl, as well as fall migrating
passerines (red crossbill) in nearby woodlands. If undisturbed by
golfers, any of the grassy expanses of the Ocean Shores Golf Course may
host flocks of Canada and occasional greater white-fronted and snow
geese, ducks and shorebirds. Flocks of American wigeon, with an
occasional Eurasian wigeon, winter here. Buff-breasted sandpiper may
rest here during fall storms. Solitary and sharp-tailed sandpipers have
been found in the ditch along the fairways behind Linde’s Landing. Three
of the better vantage points are along Brown Point Avenue, Ocean Shores
Boulevard, and Minard Avenue south of West Chance A La Mer. Golf course
birding is best early in the morning, during high tides, or during
stormy weather. At these times, the golf course may be the best place to
find golden-plovers, godwits, and curlews. Cyber Lake is accessed from
behind the North Beach Middle and High School along SR-115, leaving
Ocean Shores. This location can be especially good for roosting
shorebirds during fall migration (greater and lesser yellowlegs, and
long-billed and short-billed dowitchers), depending on appropriate water
levels. Cyber Lake is also known for nesting olive-sided flycatcher and
red crossbill, and for fall migrating passerines. Ocean City Park, on
the west side of SR-115 just north of Ocean Shores, offers a good
selection of typical Western Washington lowland songbirds.
FR-1 Scott Morrison; SA-1 Wilson Cady; SU-1 Gina Sheridan; MO-1 Kathy
Andrich
OCEAN SHORES
SOUTH—The Ocean Shores South
field trip will include possible stops at Point Brown Jetty, Ocean
Shores Sewage Treatment Plant, Cabana Pond, Oyhut Wildlife Area, Lake
Minard, Damon Point, and the Ocean Shores Marina and Ocean Shores
Environmental Interpretive Center.
The Point Brown Jetty is best
visited in the morning to avoid the glare of the afternoon sun. From the
beach on the north side, the breakwater rocks can be scanned for
wandering tattler, black turnstone, surfbird, and early rock sandpiper.
Brandt’s, double-crested, and pelagic cormorants, mew, herring, western,
and glaucous-winged gulls can be seen. The shorebirds are often seen on
the rocks close to shore on an incoming tide. A scope is helpful.
Scanning south and west across the channel and ocean we will look for
passing birds mentioned for the ocean beach, plus cormorants,
black-legged kittiwake, Caspian tern, common murre and rhinoceros
auklet. Migrating flocks of common tern often attract a parasitic
jaeger. Patient observers have been seeing Manx shearwaters (rare) from
the jetty with increasing frequency. Harbor seals and California sea
lions are common in the waters south of the jetty. The Ocean Shores
Sewage Treatment Plant, located 0.8 mile farther along on Ocean Shores
Boulevard, as it curves to the east, has three ponds which provide
shelter during storms as well as a high-tide refuge for ducks and gulls.
Sharp-tailed sandpiper have been seen here in fall. Red-necked
phalaropes are regular in fall migration, and red phalaropes are
possible after severe storms. Lapland longspurs can usually be found
from mid-September to mid-November in the short grasses between the
fence and the jetty wall. Paths along the side fences provide access to
the tidal mudflats and marshes of the Oyhut Wildlife Area (known as the
Game Range). Pectoral and the rarer sharp-tailed sandpiper are most
often seen from mid-September to mid-October in the pickleweed marsh
east and north of the entrance paths. Stilt and buff-breasted sandpiper,
and ruff have also been observed this time of year at this location.
Damon Point (aka Catala Spit, Protection Island) is a long sand spit
extending east into Grays Harbor at the southeastern tip of Ocean
Shores. The saltwater bay on the north side normally has common loon,
western grebe, and other seabirds. In the fall, Baird’s sandpiper may be
found feeding along the kelp line. The Damon Point Road is subject to
washouts by winter storms and high tides, so we may have to walk the 1.3
miles to the tip. A long, narrow pond attracts a variety of waterfowl
and its edges host shorebirds at high tide. This is a good place to
check for American and Pacific golden-plovers, Baird’s and buff-breasted
sandpipers in fall. At the Ocean Shores Marina, located along Marine
View Drive just north of the base of Damon Point, it is possible to get
close-range looks at loons (three records for yellow-billed ), grebes,
cormorants, turnstones, gulls, and sometimes common murre and other
alcids. Birds may seek protection here from winter storms. The Scot’s
broom thickets around the intersection of Discovery Avenue and Point
Brown Avenue, a couple of hundred yards north, are one of the best spots
in the state to find palm warbler in the fall and winter.FR-2 GENE HUNN; SA-2 Charlie Wright; SU-2 Matt Bartels; MO-2 Patrick &
Ruth Sullivan
POINT GRENVILLE—Point
Grenville is a unique area for Grays Harbor County with seabird colonies
and a scenic rocky coastline of cliffs that harbors black oystercatchers
and peregrine falcons. This area provides great vantage points from
which to observe seabirds over the open ocean. Point Grenville is
located south of Taholah with its entrance at MP 37,7 on SR 109. Access
to the paved, one-lane road is restricted by a locked gate. Point
Grenville is on Quinault Tribal Lands and we have made arrangements to
gain access. Once through the gate, we follow the paved road to the spot
where dilapidated buildings of the former Coast Guard station stand.
During its use by the military, the area around the buildings was
cleared and lawns planted. The facility was abandoned in the late
1970’s, and the fields have reverted to tall grass interspersed with
shrubby thickets. Sooty grouse nest in the narrow corridor of mixed
coniferous and broadleaf forest habitat along the entrance road. Migrant
songbirds use the California wax-myrtle, other bushes, and forest edges.
The sooty
fox sparrow has its southernmost known nesting location here, and is
most abundant in the winter in bushes to the southwest of the buildings.
Walking north from the buildings, then west on a dirt track across an
open field will lead us to an overlook facing west. In the past, tufted
puffin have nested in the bluff just below the cliff face across from
the offshore sea-stack. Pigeon guillemots nest in the rock cliffs to the
north and pelagic cormorant on the whitewashed, open cliff ledges to the
south. On the off-shore rock formations, glaucous-winged and western
gulls (and the more common hybrids of these two species) nest in the
grassy areas near the top. Peregrine falcons may be visible on these
rocks or hunting nearby. A second viewing area requires a short walk to
the south side of the point. From the old buildings , we follow a dirt
road to the southwest. Where it appears to end, a small trail leads
through thickets of alder, huckleberry, and salal to a steep overlook.
Black oystercatchers are often seen below, on the rocky shoreline.
Cormorants, gulls, and puffins nest on the second islet to the south.
The waters below often have loons, western grebes, surf and white-winged
scoters, and common murre.FR-3 Tim O’Brien; SA-3 Scott Downes & Bob Morse; SU-3 Ken Knittle
LAKE QUINALT—Lake
Quinault, a four-mile-long freshwater lake fed by the Quinault River and
other mountain streams, lies in the southwest corner of Olympic National
Park. The adjoining dense conifers, lush broadleaf forests, and lakeside
shrubby thickets provide a number of opportunities to sample the birds
of this part of the Olympic Peninsula. Much of the better birding is
along the south shore. The Quinault Rain Forest Nature Trail, located
along the Quinault South Shore Road, is a walk through magnificent
old-growth temperate rain forest with its rich association of ferns,
lichens, mosses, and vine maples. Colossal specimens of Douglas-fir,
western red cedar, western hemlock, and Sitka spruce dominate the trail
and the gorge; you may see American dippers in the cascades. The
Quinault National Recreation Trail System, which starts across the road
from the Lake Quinault Lodge (built in 1926 in the heyday of the
national-park style with its rustic lobby and expansive grounds
overlooking the lake) offers a series of hiking trails through the
towering coniferous forests. Birds of these habitats include sooty
grouse, northern saw-whet and spotted owls, hairy and pileated
woodpeckers, Steller’s jay, common raven, chestnut-backed chickadee,
red-breasted nuthatch, brown creeper, winter wren, golden-crowned
kinglet, varied thrush, Townsend’s warbler, and dark-eyed junco.
Checking around the lodge, other lakeside buildings, gardens, and along
the shoreline trail through broadleaf forests and shrubby thickets, you
may find red-breasted sapsucker, downy woodpecker, northern flicker,
olive-sided and Pacific-slope flycatcher, Hutton’s and warbling vireos,
swallows, American dipper (in streams entering the lake), Swainson’s
thrush, orange-crowned, yellow, black-throated gray, and Wilson’s
warblers, common yellowthroat, western tanager, song and white-crowned
sparrows, and black-headed grosbeak. The lake hosts common loon, hooded
and common mergansers, and occasional marbled murrelets, which nest in
the old-growth trees in the hills. Around the lake, we will check for
osprey nests in snags and bald eagles.SA-4 Kraig Kemper; SU-4 Wilson Cady
ABERDEEN/HOQUIAM
AREA—This field trip will
feature a walk along the Sandpiper Trail to the Grays Harbor National
Wildlife Refuge shorebird-viewing areas on Bowerman Basin with its 1,500
acres of salt marshes and mudflats. The Grays Harbor estuary is one of
eight sites in North America to be designated a Western Hemisphere
Shorebird Reserve Network site of hemispheric importance. The extensive
mudflats and the high concentration of invertebrates they support
provide a rich resource for the hundreds of thousands of shorebirds that
stop here to feed and rest before continuing their 7,000-mile journey
from South America to their nesting grounds in the Arctic. The peak of
spring migration occurs in late April and early May. The annual Grays
Harbor Shorebird Festival is timed to coincide with the peak of spring
migration. The most prevalent species are western sandpiper, dunlin, and
short-billed dowitcher. Black-bellied and semipalmated plovers, greater
yellowlegs, red knot and least sandpiper are usually present but in
smaller numbers. Merlins and peregrine falcons regularly hunt here,
providing a fascinating spectacle as the shorebirds maneuver to elude
them. In fall, migrating shorebirds and waterfowl (watch for greater
white-fronted goose and Eurasian wigeon) are present in lesser numbers.
American white pelican, snowy egret, snow and Ross’s geese, and sandhill
crane have put in appearances in the salt marsh here. Upon leaving the
Grays Harbor NWR, we will check the north side of the Hoquiam Sewage
Treatment Plant for grebes, ducks, phalaropes (red-necked during fall
migration), gulls (glaucous and Franklin’s), and other waterfowl. On the
south side of the lagoon, the Chehalis River mudflats host ducks,
shorebirds, gulls, and terns. Walking the grassy areas just to the south
of the sewage lagoon we will check for sparrows and the occasional
Lapland and chestnut-collared longspur (latter, one record). Palm
warblers have been seen here as well. Time and tides permitting, other
stops may include the “K” Street dike along the river and locations
within Aberdeen.FR-5 Ken Knittle; MO-5 Michael Hobbs
GRAYS HARBOR
SOUTH BAY AND WESTPORT—At the
intersection with US-101 and SR-105 in Aberdeen, this field trip heads
south toward Westport, crossing the high bridge over the Chehalis River
and features stops at the Johns River Wildlife Area, Bottle Beach State
Park, Ocosta Third Street, the Westport Marina, and Westport Jetty. Time
permitting, additional stops can be made at the Twin Harbors State Park
for fall migrating passerines, and returning to Aberdeen, a stop at the
athletic fields along SR-105 to check for fall migrating geese (greater
white-fronted possible). Just after the bridge, where the two highways
divide, we stay right on SR-105 toward Westport. To bird the Johns River
Wildlife Area it is necessary to continue southwest on SR-105, turning
left onto Johns River Road just after the Johns River bridge. Bearing
left at the fork, left at a stop sign, and right down the hill 200 yards
brings us to a parking area. Habitats here consist of open farmlands,
and fresh- and saltwater marshes, adjoining the Johns River. A half-mile
walk along the paved river-dike path to a blind should produce ducks,
hawks, and occasionally a short-eared owl (at dawn). The trail continues
unpaved for another mile or so past the blind; shorebirds can be
observed at high tide in a wetland from the end of the paved trail if
water levels are good. Continuing west on SR-105, a stop will be made in
2.3 miles at Bottle Beach State Park on the Grays Harbor South Bay
located to the right, opposite Ocosta Third Street. Shorebird viewing
(including Pacific and American golden plovers, ruddy turnstone, red
knot, buff-breasted sandpiper, and ruff) can be quite good in fall
migration, especially an hour and a half on either side of high tide.
The mudflats here are some of the last on the estuary to be covered by
the incoming tide. An effort can be made to check the shrubby thickets
bordering the trail and beach for fall migrating passerines. Across
SR-105, checking the wetlands along Ocosta Third Street could produce
additional waterfowl and shorebirds. Continuing west on SR-105 , Brady’s
Oysters at the west end of the Elk River bridge is worth a stop to scan
the river for loons, grebes, ducks, and if the tide is out , shorebirds.
Great egret is regular in the fall. One mile further west, we will turn
right and travel north on Montesano Street into Westport, the
charter-boat fishing capital of the Pacific Northwest. At the Westport
Marina, from the observation platform next to the public restrooms at
the end of Neddie Rose Drive, common loon, red-necked and western
grebes, cormorants, surf and white-winged scoters, gulls, and
black-legged kittiwake can be seen. Parasitic jaeger have been seen
here, chasing kittiwakes and common tern during fall migration. When
strong winds blow in from the ocean, black turnstones, surfbirds, and
rock sandpipers - normally out on the jetty – may seek protection on the
leeward side of the rock groins to the west of the viewing platform.
Wandering tattler is also present in fall. The nearby walkway next to
the Harbor Resort leads to the docks of the Westport Marina and, at the
end, to a fishing pier, which offers good views of grebes, cormorants,
and gulls. The pier pilings sometimes host black turnstone and
surfbirds. The Westport Marina can be good for roosting flocks of large
shorebirds, including marbled godwit, especially from Float #21.
Hudsonian and bar-tailed godwit have been observed among the more
numerous marbled godwit at this location in fall migration. The Westport
Jetty offers similar birding possibilities to the Ocean Shores jetty
across the channel. It too is best visited in the morning to avoid the
glare of the afternoon sun. The base of the jetty is accessible from
Westhaven State Park.FR-6 Ryan Merrill; SA-6 Tim O'Brien; SU-6 Patrick & Ruth Sullivan; MO-6
Tim O’Brien
GRAYLAND TO
RAYMOND—This field trip
itinerary begins south of Westport in Grayland and follows SR-105 to the
Raymond area, featuring stops at Midway Beach, North Cove, Tokeland
Marina and Graveyard Spit, the Raymond Airport, and the City of Raymond
Waste Water Treatment Plant. Near the Beachcomer Market & Deli in the
coastal town of Grayland, a stop can be made to check for a returning
northern mockingbird. Continuing south on SR-105 into Pacific County, a
stop will be made at Midway Beach to check for snowy plover, Lapland
longspur, and “streaked” horned lark amongst the shorebirds, gulls, and
terns. The North Cove area is worth a stop for observing shorebirds,
gulls and terns along the beach, as well as loons, grebes, cormorants
and seabirds over the open water. Tokeland, at the mouth of the Willapa
Bay south of Westport, is famous for its long-legged shorebirds such as
greater yellowlegs, willet, long-billed curlew, and bar-tailed (rare in
fall) and marbled godwit. From the sandy beach at Fisher Avenue and
Seventh Street, we can search the offshore sand spit (Graveyard Spit)
and nearby beaches for brown pelican, shorebirds, and gulls. In late
summer and fall, huge flocks of sooty shearwaters sometimes enter
Willapa Bay and can be seen from this and other vantage points.
Continuing into Tokeland, taking a right at Emerson Avenue and following
a short dirt road to its end at Toke Point, we can scan the beach,
rocks, and pilings for cormorants, willet, black turnstone,
glaucous-winged and western gulls. From the Public Fishing Pier, we will
check the bay for seabirds. Stretching west from here, along Front Lane,
the Tokeland Marina - and especially the long rock breakwater beyond the
marina – are a favored high-tide godwit roost from late August through
the winter. Very often one or more bar-taileds can be picked out among
the 200-500 marbleds. Though much rarer, Hudsonian godwit has been seen
here, too. Many rare land bird vagrants have appeared in Tokeland, among
them white-winged dove, tropical kingbird, northern parula,
black-and-white warbler, lark bunting, chestnut-collared longspur, and
hooded oriole. Time permitting, we can walk the short, dead-end
residential streets to see what is present. Returning to SR-105, we
continue east along the north shore of Willapa Bay with its mudflats,
salt marshes, and adjoining coniferous and broadleaf forests. The Cedar
and North Rivers and the bay can be checked for migrating greater
white-fronted and snow geese. The mouth of the North River can be a good
spot for migrating shorebirds on a rising and falling tide. Turning west
on Airport Road to the Raymond Airport (officially, Willapa Harbor
Airport), the floodplain at the mouth of the Willapa River can be
checked. Occasionally, large elk herds graze nearby. The fields and
small freshwater ponds and sloughs along SR-105 near the airport support
many wintering ducks and raptors. Roosting shorebirds at high tide, and
palm warbler in dense brush are possible in fall. In the past,
white-tailed kites nested here and were often seen on the tops of
evergreen trees near the runway. Continuing east on SR-105 toward
Raymond (just past MP 1) the City of Raymond Waste Water Treatment Plant
is on the right and is a good spot to check for ducks, shorebirds, and
gulls. Western scrub-jays are possible in the residential areas in the
town of Raymond.FR-7 Charlie Wright; SA-7 Patrick & Ruth Sullivan; SU-7 BRUCE LABAR;
MO-7 Ken Knittle
CHEHELIS RIVER
VALLEY—East of Aberdeen
traveling US-12, we will explore the wooded and wetland habitats of the
Chehalis River valley from Montesano to Elma with stops in the Monte
Brady Loop Road area, along the Middle Satsop Road north of Brady, the
Chehalis Wildlife Area reached by Schouweiler Road, along the Wenzel
Slough and Keys Road Loop, and Vance Creek Park. The Monte Brady Loop
Road area is a seven mile itinerary south of US-12 that crosses open
farmlands on the flood plain of the Chehalis River, where shallow ponds
host migrating waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors. Checking the weeds,
fenceposts and fencelines, brushy patches, and thickets with large
stands of alder along the road can also yield owls, flycatchers,
warblers and sparrows. Highlights could include white-tailed kite,
American kestrel, short-eared owl, western scrub-jay, and western
meadowlark. Mt. quail have been seen in limited numbers in clear cuts
and short vegetation along the Middle Satsop Road north of Brady (as
well as along forest roads above Newman Creek). The 527-acre Chehalis
Wildlife Area is a haven for waterfowl, shorebirds, and passerines in a
mosaic of open wetland, riparian shrub, and meadow/field habitats, with
some open water. From the Schouweiler Road access gate, birding the
paths along weedy edges and thickets can usually produce a good mixture
of sparrows. Raptors hunt the fields, and American bitterns, geese, and
Virginia rails can be found in the sloughs and ponds. Green herons favor
two larger ponds reached by walking east from the access gate along a
gravel berm. Returning to US-12, we continue east two miles and take the
Third Street Elma exit, following county park and airport signs onto
Wenzel Slough Road. This ten mile loop westward from here through more
floodplain habitat is at its best in winter and early spring when fields
are flooded, but can be good in fall. From the main parking lot of the
Vance Creek County Park, birding the path across the foot-bridge,
riparian habitat and the long pond west of the parking lot can yield
grebes, waterfowl, and gulls, as well as passerines (especially in
migration). Fields near the airport, just ahead, sometimes have
shorebirds in migration. Stopping frequently anywhere along this route
to check ponds, open fields, riparian vegetation, thickets, and brushy
patches, we will keep watch for bald eagle, northern harrier, and
red-tailed hawk.FR-8 Patrick & Ruth Sullivan; SU-8 Kraig Kemper
WYNOOCHEE VALLEY—The
Wynoochee Valley extends north 35 miles along the Wynoochee River from
Montesano through farmlands and managed forests of Douglas fir, western
red cedar, and western hemlock to Wynoochee Lake and Wynoochee Falls.
The upper part of the Wynoochee Valley Road allows access to some of the
higher elevation birds. The first part of the Wynoochee Valley Road
travels by open farmlands surrounded by broadleaf trees and shrubby
thickets. There are a number of good places to stop and bird along the
road, checking the river, bordering trees, and shrubby thickets for
passerines. Continuing along the Wynoochee Valley Road, we will scan the
freshwater marshes and ponds for great blue heron, Wilson’s snipe, and a
variety of ducks. Gradually, the valley narrows and open farmlands give
way to hillsides of managed forests of Douglas fir, western red cedar,
and western hemlock. At about 18 miles, the road becomes dirt as it
enters the Olympic National Forest. Now FR 22, the road continues
through stands of coniferous woods and occasional clear cuts. From here
north, we will check for warbling vireo (along streams), and purple
finch and red crossbill in the conifers. At 35 miles, FR 22 turns left.
Continuing straight ahead on FR 2270, the road runs along the east side
of Wynoochee Lake for nine miles to Wynoochee Falls. Along this road and
at the north end near Wynoochee Falls, we will check for birds of the
higher elevation (sooty grouse, band-tailed pigeon, western screech-owl,
Hammond’s and Pacific-slope flycatchers, warbling vireo, Swainson’s,
hermit, and varied thrush, and western tanager). Returning to FR 22 , we
turn right on FR2294 toward Wynoochee Dam and after passing the outflow
of the dam we can view the river below from an outlook near the Visitor
Center. Continuing further north on FR2294, stops can be made at the
Wynoochee Lake Dam and Picnic Area into a day use site that offers lush
coniferous forests and scenic views of Wynoochee Lake and neighboring
mountains and/or the Coho Campground to search for northern pygmy-owl,
Vaux’s swift, pileated woodpecker, gray jay, white-crowned sparrow, and
black-headed grosbeak. From the campground, we will return to FR 22,
head west along FR 22 and then Donkey Creek Road about 22 miles to get
to US 101 near Humptulips. Along FR22 heading west we will search for
olive-sided and willow flycatcher, black-throated gray and Wilson’s
warblers.SA-9 Matt Bartels; SU-9 Tim O’Brien
 WESTPORT PELAGIC—Since
the mid-1960’s, the Westport Pelagic Trips have gone offshore to deep
oceanic waters, looking for seabirds unlikely to be seen from shore.
This pelagic trip to Grays Canyon leaves the Westport marina at 6:30 AM,
going approximately 30 miles offshore to the edge of the continental
shelf. The Westport trips are well-known among birders for the
reliability to view black-footed albatross, northern fulmar, fork-tailed
storm-petrel, pink-footed, Buller’s and sooty shearwaters, red-necked
and red phalaropes, pomarine, parasitic, and long-tailed jaegers,
Sabine’s gull, black-legged kittiwake, California, western, and
glaucous-winged gull, Arctic tern, common murre, pigeon guillemot,
Cassin’s and rhinoceros auklets. Laysan albatross, flesh-footed
shearwater, Leach’s storm-petrel, South Polar skua and tufted puffin are
possible this time of year. Saturday’s pelagic trip will leave from
float #8 aboard Westport Seabirds’ vessel the Monte Carlo. Sunday and
Monday’s trips will leave float #12 aboard Cachalot Tours’ vessel the
Discovery. Three expert spotters accompany each trip. Trips will return
to the Westport Marina between 3:00 and 4:00 PM unless Grays Harbor bar
conditions warrant an earlier time. Each trip is limited to 25
participants. Cost for each field trip is $110.
In the event a pelagic trip is
cancelled, participants will receive a full field trip refund and
alternative land trips will be arranged.
Refer to the
Westport Seabirds website for information on preparing for a pelagic
trips, including tips for managing seasickness,
www.westportseabirds.com
SA-PEL Westport Seabirds; SU-PEL Cachalot Tours; MO-PEL Cachalot Tours
OWLING QUINAULT
RIDGE ROAD—Evening owling at
or near Lake Quinault is offered as a likely spot for various owl
species, with the best coverage along Quinault Ridge Road. Species of
owl that will be sought can include spotted, barred, great horned,
northern pygmy, northern saw-whet, and western screech- owl.
FR-O10 Patrick Sullivan & Ken Knittle
OWLING
ELMA/MONTESANO AREA—Evening
owling in the Elma/Montesano area will be offered with similar species
as those sought for the Quinault Ridge Road, with the exception of
spotted owl. Owling areas may include the upper portion of Vance Creek
(accessed along Calder Road), along the Cloquallum-Lost Lake Road (east
of Elma), and /or along Wynoochee Road (between Hwy.12 to Wynoochee
Lake).
FR-O11 Tim O’Brien & Kraig Kemper
SPEAKERS:
Michael Donahue leads off with a
presentation Friday evening about ocean birding experiences. His talk
titled "Shearwaters, Storm-petrels, and Skuas: Pelagic Birding in
Washington Waters" will be at the Nordic Inn at 1700 S Boone St. Take
US101 south across the Chehalis River to South Aberdeen and follow SR105
about one mile to the Grays Harbor College turnoff. The talk begins at
7:00 p.m. and will include a no-host bar beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Saturday evening’s banquet speaker
will be Dennis Paulson speaking on one of his many areas of expertise,
shorebirds. Besides authoring the highly acclaimed books Shorebirds of
the Pacific Northwest and Shorebirds of North America: The Photographic
Guide, Dennis is a charter member of the WOS Bird Records Committee.
From his talk you should learn what it takes to have that rare shorebird
record accepted by the Committee. His program will follow the banquet
meal at the Armory Musem; Dennis will not put you to sleep.
ACCOMMODATIONS IN ABERDEEN:
Two Aberdeen motels, the GuestHouse
Inn and the Olympic Inn, have blocks of rooms reserved for the WOS
Conference weekend Thursday through Sunday with special rates, and many
others are available in the vicinity. Conference attendees must make
their own reservations by personally contacting either of the facilities
listed below, or other lodging. You must mention the WOS Conference room
block to obtain the special rates or block reservation considerations.
Book early before the block of rooms are gone. A sampling of other
motels is listed but is not complete and has not been evaluated for
quality.
GuestHouse
International Inn & Suites
http://www.guesthouseintl.com/property.cfm?property_id=48
701 East Heron, Aberdeen, WA 98520,
Voice: 360-537-7460, Fax: 360-537-7462
Total Rooms: 87; Suites: 12; Floors: 3; Check In Time: 3:00 PM ; Check
Out Time: Noon
Amenities include: free deluxe
continental breakfast, 25" color television with movie, sports and news
channel, VCR, AM/FM clock radio, free daily paper, coffeemaker with
coffee, dataport telephones, electronic room keys, free local calls,
hair dryer, high speed Internet access, iron and ironing board,
microwave oven, refrigerator, voice mail service, indoor heated pool.
Olympic Inn Motel
616 W Heron St (US101),
Aberdeen, WA 98520. 360-533-4200
Payment Accepted: American Express, Diner's Club, Mastercard, Visa
Amenities: Cable TV, Coffee maker, Complimentary breakfast,
Complimentary morning newspaper, Data line.
Suites: 5; Check In Time: 1:00 pm
Other Aberdeen
motels listed at one web site
include the following:
Central Park Motel, 6504 Olympic Hwy, Aberdeen, 360-533-1210
Manitou Motel, 2408 Simpson Ave, Aberdeen, 360-532-8410
Nordic Inn, 1700 S Boone St, Aberdeen, 360-533-0100
Travelodge Aberdeen, 521 W. Wishkah, Aberdeen, 360-532-5210
Wishkah Motel, 1120 E. Wishkah St, Aberdeen, 360-532-4103
MEALS:
With the 6:30 start time for field
trips and the many options available in the area, the Board decided that
only the banquet meal will be organized in advance. Price of the banquet
meal includes tax and gratuity. All other meals are left to the birder’s
choice from among local delis, markets, restaurants, etc. Both the
GuestHouse Inn and the Olympic Inn serve continental breakfast and have
microwaves and refrigerators.
Breakfast– The following restaurants open early for breakfast:
Anne
Marie’s Café, 110 South I St, Aberdeen, 98520. Located within a few
blocks of the GuestHouse Inn.
Duffy’s
Restaurant, 1605 Simpson Ave., Aberdeen 98520. This restaurant is
located a mile or so from the GuestHouse Inn.
Denny’s
Restaurant, W. Heron & Jefferson, Aberdeen, 98520. This too is located
within a mile of the GuestHouse Inn.
Sidney’s
Tropical Rainforest Rest., 512 W. Heron, Aberdeen, 98520 This is one
block from Denny’s Restaurant.
Lunch
- Some field trips might have food
stops along their routes, but it is suggested that all participants pack
a lunch and beverages the evening before.
Dinner
– Except for the banquet you are on your own to enjoy anything from fast
food to elegant dining in the Grays Harbor area. The Saturday banquet
will be at the Aberdeen Museum of History ("Armory Museum") 111 East
Third Street in Aberdeen. The location is 5 blocks north of Heron St on
North Broadway. A no-host bar will begin at 5:30 PM, followed by the
banquet meal at 6:30. A buffet meal with choice of Herb Stuffed Chicken
Breast or Vegetarian Pasta is provided by Anne Marie’s catering.
SCHEDULE
Thursday September 13:
Registration at the Guesthouse Inn and Suites 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Friday September 14:
Registration at the Guesthouse Inn and Suites 5:30 - 6:20 AM
Field trips leave from Wal-Mart parking lot 6:30 AM
Registration continues at the Guesthouse Inn and Suites 4:30
- 5:30 PM
No-host social
at the Nordic Inn 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Owling trips leave from Wal-Mart
parking lot 7:00 PM
Michael Donahue's talk on pelagic
birding in Washington - Nordic Inn 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Registration continues at the
Guesthouse Inn and Suites 8:00 - 9:00 PM
Saturday September 15:
Registration at the Guesthouse Inn
and Suites 5:30 - 6:20 AM
Carpools to pelagic trips leave
from Wal-Mart parking lot 5:45 AM
Pelagic trip leaves with Westport
Seabirds from Float #8 Westport Marina 6:30 AM
Land-based field trips leave from Wal-Mart parking lot 6:30
AM
Carpools to pelagic trips leave from Wal-Mart parking lot
6:30 AM
Pelagic trip leaves with Westport Seabirds from Float #8
Westport Marina 6:30 AM
No-host social at the Aberdeen Museum of History, 111 East
Third Street 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Banquet Dinner with keynote speaker Dennis Paulson—Armory
Museum 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Sunday September 16:
Carpools to pelagic trips leave from Wal-Mart parking lot
5:45 AM
Pelagic trip leaves with Cachalot Tours, Float #12 Westport
Marina 6:30 AM
Land-based field trips leave from Wal-Mart parking lot 6:30
AM
Monday September 17:
Carpools to pelagic trips leave from Wal-Mart parking lot
5:45 AM
Pelagic trip leaves with Cachalot Tours, Float #12 Westport
Marina 6:30 AM
Land-based field trips leave from Wal-Mart parking lot 6:30
AM
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