Olympic Peninsula ID's please

[tuchp]

Hello, This past Sept. we took a camping trip along the west coast of the Olympic Peninsula. Shorebirds are new territory for me and even with three field guides I have been unable to make positive ID's for some of my pictures. Please help!!! Hopefully the quality is not too bad - I zoomed and cropped some to try and make it easier. I am not a photographer, only take pictures to remember what I have seen. Picture #1 was taken at Grayland. There was a sign on the beach saying that this was a nesting sight for Snowy Plovers, but going by my field guides that is not what these are. Picture #2 was taken at Cape Flattery. I believe these Cormorants to be Pelagic since they seemed quite small, black and sleek. The one on the right seems like it may have red on the face. (wishful thinking perhaps) Picture #3 was taken at Kalaloch. I am not sure if it is a Curlew or aWhimbrel. Picture #4 was taken at the Whidbey Island ferry dock. I haven't the slightest clue what it is. Picture #5 was taken at the Port Townsend ferry dock. I think these are Turnstones - there were a lot of them poking and prodding between the rocks making quite a lot of chatter.
As a side note - My highlights were, huge numbers of brown Pelicans and a large number of Heermanns Gulls in Westport.
I thank you for any help with these pictures. --Pat

[Gord]

Hi Pat! Welcome back from your trip. Great you saw lots of good stuff. Brown Pelicans are pretty cool and Heermann's Gulls are incredible looking gulls.

Ill make a try at your photos.

The top one looks to be Western Sandpipers (the small ones) and Sanderling (the big guys).

Next, I agree on the Pelagic Cormorants. I see the one with more red on the face too! I think they vary a little bit though but wow if it was a little more exotic! ;D

The shorter bill and strong stripes on face and head make me think Whimbrel too.

Seabirds are not my strength but Im going with Pigeon Guillemot juvenile. Marbled Murrelet crossed my mind briefly but the body is wrong and the bill too big for one.

Finally those guys scrambling around on the rocks are indeed turnstones, and in this case are Black Turnstones. Very accurate description of the noise they are always making!

[tuchp]

Much appreciated Gord.
After reading the posts here, I have started to keep a life list. First of all it was 'catch-up', now it's always 'new' birds. These are all going to be firsts for me!

This may not be the area for this but I have purchased the 'Birder's Life List and Diary' from the Cornell Lab. This book is perfect for me to keep track with. Also, purchased one for each of my grandchildren. This has really helped them get started. They only count birds that they can identify themselves without help.

Thank-you again,
Pat

[Gord]

Congrats on your firsts! I is lots of fun to record what you see and Im glad that not only you are doing it, but the grandchildren too! That's just great! My oldest is close to getting into it now as well I think.

Look forward to hearing about more exciting sightings for you!