Registration Information | Field Trips | Speakers | Accommodations | Meals | Schedule
19th Annual Conference of the Washington
Ornithological Society
Aberdeen, WA September 14-17, 2007
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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 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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