Temp in the 40s, sunny, Wind WSW 10-15 mph
As usual, the first thing we do is check the Seal Drive feeder. There was nothing new, but the seed was low, so we pulled in and reseeded it. Then we continued on the road that circles behind the feeder location back towards the main road. As we turned the corner, a flock of longspurs flushed. Not unusual, but one had a big white rump! Thankfully, the flock landed in the next driveway and we got good looks at them. There were TWO Bramblings with them!
This was a Year Bird, as we missed the one that was seen by others on our spring trip.
After checking some usual spots, we headed up to Clam Lagoon, where we had arranged to meet Bob and Steve to walk the flats. When we told them about the Bramblings, they headed back to town to look for them (unfortunately, they did not succeed). So I walked the flats alone.
I had four Pectoral Sandpipers (2 flushed, 2 did not) and the Marsh Sandpiper.
Also out on the flats was a flock of eight Sanderlings.
When we got around to the Seawall, there were another two-dozen Sanderlings sitting on Cormorant Rocks.
Also at the Seawall, the Red-necked Grebe numbers jumped from 3 the past week to more than two-dozen!
Short-tailed Shearwaters were passing by out at the horizon and we had one Laysan Albatross as well.
We are seeing more Greater Scaup and Northern Pintails. Not sure if some are migrating already or they are just concentrating more where we are birding.
Finally, here is a picture of one of the Song Sparrows that always follows/leads me out as I walk out on the Clam Lagoon Peninsula.
This brings our Trip List to 53 and our Year List to 83.
Bob and Steve leave tomorrow.
Today’s eBird checklist is at: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S60097036?share=true