Below are survey reports from the Grays Harbor NWR Wildlife Biologist and Refuge Volunteers. Surveys are conducted every few days during shorebird migration. All surveys are begun just before high tide.

Note: Non-shorebird species are listed in italic font.

2008 Shorebird Sightings

Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Total shorebirds observed: 15,133
Species	Approx. # seen
Black-bellied Plover	24
Semipalmated Plover	34
Dunlin	6500
Western Sandpiper	3500
Dowitcher sp.	71
Yellowlegs spp.	4
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.	5000
Bald Eagle	2
Comments: First view of large number of migrants! They may have blown in with recent storms. Great viewing conditions 1.5 hours before and 1.5 hours after peak tide . Tide height at 8.3' grought birds up close to boardwalk viewing area. Rainy, calm weather.

Date: Thursday, April 24,2008
Total shorebirds observed: 11,242
Species	Approx. # seen
Black-bellied Plover	56
Semipalmated Plover	51
Dunlin	6056
Western Sandpiper	1069
Dowitcher spp.	10
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.	4000
Merlin	1
Bald Eagle	1
Comments: Low 'high' tide- 7.7'. Lots of mudflat visible. East end did not fill with H2O. Seems different from last year. Heavy winter storms and high sediment loads from Chehalis River Floods may be filling in east end even faster this year.

Date: Monday, April 28, 2008
Total shorebirds observed: 30,237
Species	Approx. # seen
Black-bellied Plover	17
Semipalmated Plover	200
Dunlin	12000
Western Sandpiper	8000
Least Sandpiper	1
Red Knot	1
Dowitcher spp.	4
Whimbrel	3
Yellowlegs spp.	10
Black Turnstone	1
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.	10000
Peregrine Falcon	1
Merlin	1
Bald Eagle	4
Comments: Drizzly and little wind. Greater numbers of shorebirds showing up! Low 'high' tide at 7.0'- lots of mudflat visible.

Date: Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Total shorebirds observed: 40,991
Species	Approx. # seen
Black-bellied Plover	7
Semipalmated Plover	950
Dunlin	12500
Western Sandpiper	12500
Least Sandpiper	32
Dowitcher spp.	2
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.	15000
Peregrine Falcon	2
Merlin	1
Bald Eagle	2
Comments: Greatest number of Dunlin and Westerrn Sandpiper seen this season. Also greatest number of shorebirds on Mini Moon Island.

Date: Thursday, May 1, 2008
Total shorebirds observed: 30,352
Species	Approx. # seen
Black-bellied Plover	4
Semipalmated Plover	1000
Dunlin	9700
Western Sandpiper	9600
Least Sandpiper	30
Red Knot	6
Dowitcher spp.	4
Ruddy Turnstone	4
Yellowlegs spp.	4
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.	10000
Peregrine Falcon	2
Merlin	2
Bald Eagle	2
Comments: Low 'high' tide. Didn't push birds up close to the boardwalk. Shorebirds scattered over mudflat. * Possible American Golden Plover sighting.

Date: Friday, May 2, 2008
Total shorebirds observed: 41,872- 46,872
Black-bellied Plover	36
Semipalmated Plover	785
Dunlin	9100
Western Sandpiper	16900
Least Sandpiper	35
Red Knot	1
Dowitcher spp.	10
Greater Yellowlegs	4
* Possible Red-necked Stint	1
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.	15-20000
Caspian Tern	2
Gadwall	23
Mallard	4
Northern Pintail	63
Green-winged Teal	175
American Wigeon	13
Eurasian Wigeon	1
Red-breasted Merganser	29
Snow Goose	2
Canada Goose	8
Peregrine Falcon	2
Merlin	1
Bald Eagle	2
Comments: Low tide-just doesn't fill Bowerman Basin. Very high shelf in front of boardwalk. Great show for visitors on the first day of the Shorebird Festival.

Date: Saturday, May 3, 2008
Total shorebirds observed: 23,831+
Black-bellied Plover	10
Semipalmated Plover	800
Dunlin	3900
Western Sandpiper	9100
Least Sandpiper	6
Red Knot	1
Dowitcher spp.	10
Yellowlegs spp.	1
Pacific Golden Plover	2
Red-necked Phalarope	1
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.	10000+
Caspian Tern	4
Gadwall	82
Northern Pintail	220
Green-winged Teal	350
American Wigeon	10
Gr. White-fronted Goose	308
Snow Goose	2
Canada Goose	12
Peregrine Falcon	1
Merlin	1
Bald Eagle	2
Comments: Great views of Pacific Golden Plover. No sign of rare "stint". Tide was good, though could have been a little higher--It appears that the best "Tide Height" is no longer 8.3', but now 9.0'+ to get water halfway between salt marsh plants and new mud shelf in front of boardwalk. *1 Short-tailed Weasel carefully observed Marian on the boardwalk around 4:30pm.

Date: Sunday, May 4, 2008
Total shorebirds observed: 39,924
Black-bellied Plover	8
Semipalmated Plover	900
Dunlin	8000
Western Sandpiper	16000
Least Sandpiper	2
Red Knot	2
Dowitcher spp.	10
Ruddy Turnstone	1
Pacific Golden Plover	1
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.	15000
Caspian Tern	2
Gadwall	56
Northern Pintail	225
Northern Shoveler	7
Green-winged Teal	375+
American Wigeon	12
Gr. White-fronted Goose	37
Snow Goose	2
Canada Goose	8
Peregrine Falcon	2
Bald Eagle	2
Comments: Best tide of Festival, though still low. Perhaps 9.0-9.5' would be best for viewing. *2 Short-tailed Weasels observed in willows and Marsh Wrens were very agetated in vegetation above them. Probable that the weasels were into a wren nest.

Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Total shorebirds observed: 30,352
Species	Approx. # seen
Semipalmated Plover	800
Dunlin	6900
Western Sandpiper	39100
Red Knot	12
Dowitcher spp.	2
Ruddy Turnstone	5
Pacific Golden Plover	1
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.	5000
Peregrine Falcon	2
Bald Eagle	2
Comments: Very good viewing. Good tide height at 8.8'.

Date: Thursday, May 8, 2008
Total shorebirds observed: 40,215- 45,215
Species	Approx. # seen
Semipalmated Plover	212
Dunlin	6000
Western Sandpiper	24000
Ruddy Turnstone	2
Yellowlegs spp.	1
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.	10-15000
Caspian Tern	6
Gadwall	27
Mallard	2
Green-winged Teal	23
Gr. White-fronted Goose	300
Canada Goose	32
Comments: Difficult count as many birds were flying around. Excellent viewing--great show!! NOTE: seems like a lot of birds for this late into migration.

Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Total shorebirds observed: 5,893
Species	Approx. # seen
Black-bellied Plover	2 (45 island)
Semipalmated Plover	111
Dunlin	1250
Western Sandpiper	1250
Red Knot	138
Dowitcher spp.	126
Ruddy Turnstone	5
Greater Yellowlegs	1
Red-necked Phalarope	10
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.	3000
Bald Eagle	2
Comments: Calm and dry at first, then some rain. Red Knots and Dowitchers came in late- about half an hour after high tide. Tide was quite low.