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April 29, 2008

Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties with Marv Breece

Six of us left Seattle at 4:30AM yesterday (04.29.08) to bird a few selected locations of the Washington coast including Gray's Harbor and Willapa Bay.

The weather for the day was pleasant for the most part.  We experienced a shower or two and strong winds in a few places (Tokeland, for one).

We arrived at Bottle Beach about 40 minutes before high tide.  Among the few small flocks of SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS were 4 RED KNOTS.  There were about 20 or so SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, and small numbers of LEAST and WESTERN SANDPIPERS.  We saw a few CASPIAN TERNS.  A very dark MERLIN was perched along the trail.  There were too many BRANT to count, and we saw large number of these birds on the water and on the move all day.  The trail was dotted with COMMON YELLOWTHROATS as well as YELLOW-RUMPED and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS.

Ocosta 3rd Street was the next stop where we enjoyed TREE, CLIFF, VIOLET-GREEN, BARN and NORTHERN ROUGH WINGED SWALLOWS.  Also WILSON'S SNIPE.

At the Westport Marina a flock of 69 BROWN PELICANS flew overhead.  We didn't see some of the rock shorebirds that we had hoped for, but did manage to view a flock of BLACK TURNSTONES and SURFBIRDS at the Westport Jetty.

At Grayland, it didn't take long for the NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD to make itself known.  It's wide variety of phrases entertained us until we departed.  The bird disappeared briefly as a COOPER'S HAWK flew through the neighborhood.

At Tokeland we found a few lingering MARBLED GODWITS and WHIMBRELS.  There were a few LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS in the marina.  Their vocalizations helped to seal the ID.  We got permission to enter the private camping area and access the area outside of the marina.  Here we found more shorebirds, ducks and geese.  A flock of 250-300 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE lifted off as we approached.  Among the GREEN-WINGED TEALS was  a male of the eurasian variety.  A pair of RUDDY TURNSTONES flew by overhead.  We also heard PURPLE MARTINS.

At North cove, we drove down Smith-Anderson Rd.  Just before the 1st cross street, there was a male WESTERN BLUEBIRD perched on a fence in front of a house.

During a brief stop at John's River, we observed GREATER YELLOWLEGS, a couple of SPOTTED SANDPIPERS and a HERMIT THRUSH.

Next we visited Brady Loop.  Another Merlin.  This time, a female Taiga.  Also BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, SORA and two WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS.

We had a fine group of folks, and all eyes contributed to the day, as our species count came to 101 birds.

It was a good day.