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 and are conducted along the Sandpiper Trail at the Refuge.

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

2010 Shorebird Sightings

Date: April 28, 2010
Total shorebirds observed: 61,310
Species	Approx. # seen
Black-bellied Plover	10
Semipalmated Plover	750
Dunlin	19,500
Western Sandpiper	36,000
Least Sandpiper	0
Red Knot	0
Dowitcher spp.	0
Greater Yellowlegs	2
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.	5,000
Caspain Tern	4
Peregrine Falcon	2
Bald Eagle	0
Comments: Tide was high in the marsh. Great views of birds and fabulous peregrine falcon activity.

Date: Sunday, April 25, 2010
Total shorebirds observed: 20,228
Species	Approx. # seen
Black-bellied Plover	30
Semipalmated Plover	185
Dunlin	3000
Western Sandpiper	7000
Least Sandpiper	0
Red Knot	0
Dowitcher spp.	6
Greater Yellowlegs	7
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.	10,000
Caspain Tern	0
Peregrine Falcon	2
Bald Eagle	3
Comments: 8.9 foot tide in Bowerman Basin. Great day for viewing birds!

Date: Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Total shorebirds observed: 20,236
Species	Approx. # seen
Black-bellied Plover	24
Semi-palmated Plover	200
Dunlin	4666
Western Sandpiper	2333
Dowitcher spp.	5
Yellowlegs spp.	6
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.	13000
Least Sandpiper	2
Bald Eagle	5
Merlin	1
Comments: First count of the season.  The large clouds of birds observed on Mini-Moon Island indicate the spring shorebird migration has definitely started, maybe a bit earlier this year.  Most birds stayed on the island and did not come into the basin.   Weather conditions were very good:  ~55°, no rain, cloudy, easterly winds 5-15mph,  best high tide level was ~8.7 which brought shorebirds near the boardwalk salt marsh.

Date:
Total shorebirds observed:
Species	Approx. # seen
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Dunlin
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Red Knot
Dowitcher spp.
Whimbrel
Yellowlegs spp.
Black Turnstone
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.
Caspain Tern
Peregrine Falcon
Merlin
Bald Eagle
Comments:

Date:
Total shorebirds observed:
Species	Approx. # seen
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Dunlin
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Dowitcher spp.
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.
Caspain Tern
Peregrine Falcon
Merlin
Bald Eagle
Comments:

Date:
Total shorebirds observed:
Species	Approx. # seen
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Dunlin
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Red Knot
Dowitcher spp.
Ruddy Turnstone
Yellowlegs spp.
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.
Caspain Tern
Peregrine Falcon
Merlin
Bald Eagle
Comments:

Date:
Total shorebirds observed:
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Dunlin
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Red Knot
Dowitcher spp.
Greater Yellowlegs
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.
Caspian Tern
Gadwall
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Comments:

Date:
Total shorebirds observed:
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Dunlin
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Red Knot
Dowitcher spp.
Greater Yellowlegs
Whimbrel
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.
Caspian Tern
Merlin
Bald Eagle
Peregrine Falcon
Comments:

Date:
Total shorebirds observed:
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Dunlin
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Red Knot
Dowitcher spp.
Greater Yellowlegs
Mini-Moon Island Unidentified spp.
Caspian Tern
Peregrine Falcon
Merlin
Bald Eagle
Comments: