By Bruce Fischer

Capistrano has its Cliff Swallows, the Serengeti has its wildebeest, and Hoquiam has its Western Sandpipers. Migration spectacles around the world astound viewers of all kinds and Hoquiam's Shorebird migration is just as amazing as any of them.

In late April every year, hundreds of thousands of Western Sandpipers descend on Bowerman Basin to recharge for their trip north to breed. My first visit to this spectacle was about 6 years ago. Driving down from Seattle I was skeptical about the numbers I'd been hearing. But pulling into the airport and getting out of the car I could already see there were indeed thousands and thousands of shorebirds. We walked as far as we could in what seemed like 6-inch deep mud, enjoying the spectacle through every clearing we could find. It was a sight I haven't forgotten and look forward to witnessing each year. Luckily, we now have a great mud-free trail and boardwalk to enjoy the birds so there's no longer any excuse for someone not to come.

Western Sandpipers are small (6-7 inches) sandpipers with a fairly long, slightly drooped bill and dark legs. During the spring migration most birds are in breeding plumage and their rusty crown is a good indicator of their identity. Winter and Juvenile plumage is a little more difficult when you can't compare their size to other shorebirds. Along with their dark legs, and long droopy bill other distinguishing field marks are their gray backs and pale breast.

After stopping here in the spring the Western Sandpipers continue up the coast to breed in the Arctic tundra along the coast of Alaska and Siberia. Then in June the adults start their southbound migration and the juveniles somehow know to follow starting in August. A few hundred Western Sandpipers winter in Grays Harbor but the vast majority of them winter between the Southern United States and Northern South America.

Any time of year, especially July-September, Western Sandpipers can be found at the Game Range in Ocean Shores during the rising tide. But for the spring migration no spot is better than Bowerman Basin at high tide. Stop by the Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival to get an up close look at these amazing birds and talk to experienced birders about them and the other shorebirds found here. Weather permitting I will be checking out Bowerman Basin most days at high tide during the migration. If you see someone with a spotting scope and two toddlers make sure you stop by and say "Hi".