BirdForum

During our blast through Washington State, mostly in the teeth of a gale and horizontal rain, we had time to stop wader watching when we had seen the birds we had been after. (Details on Wader Quest blog.)

At the end of the day we were birding an island in the Ocean Shores region along the coast and we came across a total of 8 Snowy Owls. These birds are high on any birder's most wanted bird list, but we were treated to not just high numbers of them, we also got close looks at them...

Rick and Elis

At Crandon Beach we met Robin Diaz a local bander (ringer). She told us a fascinating story about one of the wintering Piping Plovers who had earned the name Rocky. A peculiar name for a plover as it conjures up tough, pugilistic pictures in the mind and Piping Plovers are soft, round, cuddly creatures. But it was not because of an ebullient nature that this bird had earned its handle.
http://www.waderquest.org/2012/12/ro...ng-plover.html

Rick and Elis

We had only two short days in Washington. Our main target was Rock Sandpiper, but we also wanted to get other rock-dwelling waders under the belt too if we could. Thanks to Knut Hansen we did, the weather and tide (again) worked against us on the first day although we did get Black Turnstone and Surfbird plus some unexpected Grey Phalaropes, but the second day dawned bright and still and the Rock Sandpiper was quickly found.

http://www.waderquest.org/2012/12/su...alifornia.html

Rick and Elis

We had the good fortune and immense pleasure to be invited to a get-together of the San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO).
They are a group of birders with varying involvement in birding but their enthusiasm is overwhelming as is their generosity of spirit and friendliness. There were around 35 people at the event and a sumptuous buffet was laid on which was delicious.
http://www.waderquest.org/2012/12/talk-to-sdfo.html

Rick and Elis

Slightly disappointed that we were unable to get any photographs of the Snowy Plover we saw at the Salton Sea, Elis and I set out to look for them along the beach at Border Field State Park right on the Mexican Border.


http://www.waderquest.org/

Rick and Elis