[Tweeters] Willapa Bay birds. (May 9, 2022)

[Jeff Gilligan]

The shorebird migration has been spectacular, as expected, during the last several days that I have been at my little cove on Willapa Bay.  The greatest numbers were today.

I could not count the total numbers, but they were certainly thousands of shorebirds

About 90% were Western Sandpipers, and after that, large numbers of Dunlin and Semipalmated Plovers.  

Less numerous species were:
80 Black-bellied Plovers
3 Whimbrels 
9 Greater Yellowlegs
75 Short-billed Dowitchers
 3 Red Knots
1 Red-necked Phalarope

Surprisingly, I didn’t see any Least Sandpipers, which usually are the nearest species to the deck.

Further out in the bay, there were about 70 Greater Scaup,  a few Buffleheads, and a flock of American Wigeons that was accompanied by 5 Eurasian Wigeon males, and at least 2 female Eurasian Wigeon.  

The afternoon sun light on 2 Ospreys and a fly by Bald Eagle, as well as passing Caspian Terns and Ring-billed Gulls, was very pleasant.   A Barred Owl is calling as  type. 

Jeff Gilligan
Pacific County