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.

2009 Shorebird Sightings

Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Total shorebirds observed: 2,962
Species	Approx. # seen
Black-bellied Plover	10
Semi-palmated Plover	250
Dunlin	500
Western Sandpiper	0
Dowitcher spp.	0
Yellowlegs spp.	2
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.	2000
Caspain Tern	12
Bald Eagle	1
Peregrine Falcon	1
Merlin	1
Comments: This is the first count of the year. Semi-palmated plovers have started migrating into Grays Harbor. Other species most likely are birds that have wintered over on the Washington Coast. Mini-Moon Island birds were probably Dunlin.

Date: Friday, April 24, 2009
Total shorebirds observed: 10,077
Species	Approx. # seen
Black-bellied Plover	40
Semipalmated Plover	253
Dunlin	875
Western Sandpiper	875
Least Sandpiper	30
Red Knot	2
Dowitcher spp.	2
Greater Yellowlegs	0
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.	8,000
Caspain Tern	7
Peregrine Falcon	3
Bald Eagle	2
Comments: There were fabulous evasive flights by flocks of shorebirds to avoid peregrine falcon attacks. Ducks included 660 northern pintail and 540 waterfowl spp. (birds too far away to identify).

Date: Saturday, April 25, 2009
Total shorebirds observed: 38,030
Species	Approx. # seen
Black-bellied Plover	22
Semipalmated Plover	497
Dunlin	3,500
Western Sandpiper	4000
Least Sandpiper	8
Red Knot	0
Dowitcher spp.	2
Whimbrel	0
Yellowlegs spp.	0
Black Turnstone	1
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.	30,000
Caspain Tern	10
Peregrine Falcon	1
Merlin	1
Bald Eagle	1
Comments: 1500 Cackling Geese and 925 Greater White-fronted Geese seen flying over. An additional 3800 unknown species of geese seen flying over. The geese came in waves all day long. 1200 pintail and 150 gadwall seen on the Refuge.

Date: Sunday, April 26, 2009
Total shorebirds observed: 43,649
Species	Approx. # seen
Black-bellied Plover	41
Semipalmated Plover	600
Dunlin	3,500
Western Sandpiper	4,500
Least Sandpiper	4
Dowitcher spp.	4
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.	35,000
Caspain Tern	5
Peregrine Falcon	4
Merlin	1
Bald Eagle	2
Comments:

Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Total shorebirds observed: 25,299
Species	Approx. # seen
Black-bellied Plover	6
Semipalmated Plover	561
Dunlin	16,250
Western Sandpiper	8,750
Least Sandpiper	23
Red Knot	0
Dowitcher spp.	4
Ruddy Turnstone	0
Yellowlegs spp.	5
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.	10,000
Caspain Tern	37
Peregrine Falcon	2
Merlin	0
Bald Eagle	2
Comments:

Date: Thursday, April 30, 2009
Total shorebirds observed: 23,730
Black-bellied Plover	0
Semipalmated Plover	721
Dunlin	5,000
Western Sandpiper	3,000
Least Sandpiper	9
Red Knot	0
Dowitcher spp.	0
Greater Yellowlegs	0
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.	15,000
Caspian Tern	2
Gadwall	2
Mallard	0
Northern Pintail	0
Comments:

Date: Saturday, May 2, 2009
Total shorebirds observed: 24,197
Black-bellied Plover	27
Semipalmated Plover	96
Dunlin	4,800
Western Sandpiper	19,200
Least Sandpiper	39
Red Knot	21
Dowitcher spp.	9
Greater Yellowlegs	4
Whimbrel	1
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.	10,000
Caspian Tern	11
Merlin	0
Bald Eagle	1
Peregrine Falcon	2
Comments:

Date: Sunday, May 3, 2009
Total shorebirds observed: 45,205
Black-bellied Plover	5
Semipalmated Plover	175
Dunlin	10,000
Western Sandpiper	15,000
Least Sandpiper	11
Red Knot	9
Dowitcher spp.	1
Greater Yellowlegs	4
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.	20,000
Caspian Tern	6
Peregrine Falcon	1
Merlin	0
Bald Eagle	4
Comments: