No lifers?? Oh my god! How will I survive?

Temps in the 40s, mostly overcast, occasional drizzle, wind SSW 15-20 mph

I checked Sweeper Channel first thing this morning, but the tide was so high that the only shorebird was a Dunlin at the creek’s mouth.

So I headed north, hoping to get the Falcated Duck at Clam Lagoon for photo ops. Aaron’s group had seen it closer to shore in the early morning.

As I passed the Landing Lights, I saw several shorebirds on the road. I quickly identified two of them as Siberian Sand-Plovers. The other one, I couldn’t make out and they soon flew away.

When I returned to the house later and reviewed my photos, I saw that it was a Temminck’s Stint (which Aaron’s group had there yesterday).

As I passed the Marsh, a Wood Sandpiper flew up from the side of the road and posed.

This is one of those “Wood Sandpiper years.” They are everywhere!

The tide was obviously high at Clam Lagoon, so few birds were out on the water (not sure why?). Especially the Falcated, which was staying out on the open water, rather than on the flats.

A typical sight on the lagoon are Sea Otters trying to enjoy their meals without interference…

I continued along Clam Lagoon, then over to the Andrew Lake Recreation Center.

No birds of note, but I did get the annual mandatory rainbow photo!

As I neared the Blue Building Feeder, a Gyrfalcon flew by in pursuit of a Rock Ptarmigan. They disappeared over the hill, so I didn’t see the outcome.

Other birds I picked up today around Clam Lagoon included American Green-winged Teal, Kittlitz’s Murrelet, Ancient Murrelet, Pacific Loon, and Arctic Tern.

On the way back to town, I had a flock of shorebirds at the Landing Lights Beach, including 9 Red-necked Stints, Dunlins, Rock Sandpipers, and Sanderlings.

I then went down to Sweeper Channel (since the tide had ebbed). Nothing new, but a really nice photo-op of a Red-necked Stint.

Aaron was supposed to go on a boat trip today, but it was cancelled. So he agreed to meet me at the Breaches to try the new road.

I met him up there and we put our vehicles in 4-wheel drive and plowed through. We made it, but it didn’t feel like I was going to…

The road from the breaches to the Seawall was clear, but the road on top of the Seawall was littered with debris. Mostly logs, and other floatable stuff.

I cleared it off as I drove down the road (just enough to let vehicles through).

I continued down to Lake Shirley. I parked at a distance so as not to flush the ducks that were there. Besides the Greater Scaup and Eurasian Wigeon were 3 Tufted Ducks!

I turned around (so I wouldn’t flush them) and went back to Aaron’s group and alerted them.

I headed back home, checking hotspots as I did. Nothing new.

The trip list is 50.

You can see the entire list at https://ebird.org/tripreport/525344?welcome=true

This is a decent number considering no Seawall birding. I didn’t spend much time there today, as it was late in the day and I was waning. Tomorrow, I hope to do some serious birding there.