NEWS - Page 10 of 10 - The Polynesian Resort

Bring Your Binoculars: Birding is exceptional in Ocean Shores

October 9, 2015 Erik Cole One comment

Bird watching in Ocean Shores is good any time of year. But it is exceptionally interesting now as migrating shorebirds pass through the Central Washington coast.

The diverse habitat on the peninsula is exceptional. Nowhere else in Washington do so many diverse habitats co-exist–open salt water, ocean beaches, tidal salt marshes, freshwater ponds, deciduous and conifers woods, rock jetties and open fields. For that reason, over 300 species of shore birds and sea birds co-exist.

A snowy owl spotted in Ocean Shores.

Washington State’s birds belong to 18 orders—or large groupings of related families and species. Easy to identify online, visit BirdWeb (a site of the Seattle Audubon Society) where you can search for a specific bird by entering its name or look for birds according to their groupings.

Be sure to bring binoculars with you when you plan an autumn escape to The Polynesian Resort. Look up and around and you’ll be amazed at what you’ll see!

Note: Washington’s state bird is the Will Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis), designated in 1951. It’s also known as the American goldfinch of will canary that live on a diet of mainly seeds.

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Grab Your Mates for the Huge Irish Music Fest in Ocean Shores

October 2, 2015 Erik Cole Leave a comment

Irish Music Festival in Ocean Shores,WA

The 12th year of the Galway Bay Irish Music Festival, celebrating Irish songs, ballads, players and bands that will be flooding Ocean Shores, WA with music and fun for five days this October.

Grab your mates—Irish or not–and book a roomy suite now at The Polynesian Resort for this five day festival celebrating the music, ballads and energy of Ireland. You don’t want to miss a minute of the music and fun.

The Festival begins the evening of Wednesday, October 21st, 2015 and lasts until Sunday, October 25th, 2015. An eclectic mix of Irish bands, choirs and dancers hailing from throughout the United States, Canada and, of course, Ireland will be rounding out this year’s entertainment.

With thirty acts on 10 stages, its not just Danny Boy, anymore! Performances are held

Performances the Ocean Shores Convention Center are family friendly. Over 21 shows are held at the Galway Irish Pub. A complete schedule of performances are listed here.

This year’s headline Seán+Keane rs include Sean Kean, from County Galway, described as the`greatest musical find of the 90’s by `The London Independent.’ He is a singer and multi-instrumentalist of skill, acclaim and flair.

With blazing bag pips, mighty drums and the power of a rock bank, international performers CELTICA will also perform, taking audiences by storm with their high energy music, fire juggling and instruments with flamethrowers. An event not to be missed.

Celtia with blazing bagpipes, drums and flaming instruments.

Celtica with blazing bagpipes, drums and flaming instruments.

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Ever wonder about the vessels off the Washington coast?

October 2, 2015 Erik Cole Leave a comment

Orca calfs are not tracked on Ship Finder but ocean vessels are.

Ever been curious about the ships and yachts off the Central Washington coast and around Puget Sound?

Port pilots, dockworkers, ship spotters, and maritime enthusiasts rely on Ship Finder, an app that identifies commercial vessels and pleasure craft.

You can view the information online or on your smart phone. Track a friend on a ship or boat, or just learn more about the vessels at sea.

ship finder

The Ship Finder App can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. The App works by picking up ship feeds used by commercial and pleasure vessels to transmit their name, position and status. The radio transmissions are sent to internet servers and uploaded onto live data coverage maps. It’s a fun way to see all the traffic on the water.

If you have ever been curious about the ships from around the world or the yachts from afar that travel off the coast of Washington, and Harbor and Puget Sound, this is how you can learn more.

The Polynesian Resort in Ocean Shores offers ocean front suites are great for spotting vessels at sea.

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Razor clam digging OK’d for May 2-3

April 28, 2015 Erik Cole Leave a comment

Copalis Beach, also known as Ocean Shores.

Olympia – Clam diggers got a green light to proceed with a two-day razor clam dig starting May 2 at Copalis and Mocrocks Beaches, in Ocean Shores.

The Polynesian Resort in Ocean Shores has long been a favorite of retreat for fans of razor clam digging.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved the digs after marine toxin tests showed the clams on those beaches are safe to eat. All of the digs are scheduled on morning tides. No digging will be allowed on any beach after noon.

The upcoming dig is scheduled on the following dates, beaches, and low tides:

May 2, Saturday; 6:23 a.m., 0.2 feet; Mocrocks (Ocean Shores)
May 3, Sunday; 6:59 a.m., -0.3 feet; Mocrocks (Ocean Shores)

WDFW has also proposed additional digs in May, pending the results of future marine toxin tests.

All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable 2015-16 fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach. Licenses, ranging from a three-day razor clam license to an annual combination fishing license, are available on WDFW’s website at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.go and from license vendors around the state.

During all upcoming digs, state wildlife managers urge clam diggers to avoid disturbing snowy plovers and streaked horned larks. Both species nest in the soft, dry sand at Leadbetter Point on the Long Beach Peninsula, and on a section of Twin Harbors beach.

The snowy plover is a small bird with gray wings and a white breast. The lark is a small bird with a pale yellow breast and brown back. Male larks have a black mask, breast band and “horns.”

To protect these birds, the department asks that clam diggers avoid the dunes and areas of the beach with soft, dry sand. When driving to a clam-digging area, diggers should enter the beach only at designated access points and stay on the hard-packed sand near or below the high tide line.

Tentative upcoming digs

Proposed digs are tentatively scheduled on the following dates.

May 7, Thursday; 9:30 a.m., -0.8 feet;
May 8, Friday; 10:14 a.m., -0.7 feet;
May 9, Saturday; 11:03 a.m., -0.4 feet;
May 10, Sunday; 11:58 a.m., -0.1 feet; ,

May 15, Friday; 4:58 a.m., -0.2 feet;
May 16, Saturday; 5:50 a.m., -0.9 feet;
May 17, Sunday; 6:38 a.m., -1.5 feet; ,

May 22, Friday; 10:18 a.m., -0.8 feet;
May 23, Saturday; 11:03 a.m., -0.2 feet;
May 24, Sunday; 11:51 a.m., 0.3 feet;

Clam digging in Ocean Shores, WA

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Deadline April 20 to submit work for Ocean Shores Art Show

April 17, 2015 Erik Cole Leave a comment

The deadline to submit work for the annual Fine Arts, Photography & Electronic Media Show is Monday, April 20 for the event scheduled for April 24-26 at the Ocean Shores Convention Center.

Hand-delivered work accepted at the Ocean Shores Convention Center on both Sunday (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) and Monday (10 a.m.-2 p.m.)

“Many of our guests love to attend the event, and as artists, are inspired by the natural beauty of the area,” according to Tate Johnson, general manager of The Polynesian Resort, in Ocean Shores.

The show begins on Friday April 24, with a special artist reception Friday evening starting at 6:30 p.m. The theme will be “Beach Time,” and artists will be on hand to perform a “Quick Draw” at 7pm, creating finished pieces that will be up for bid that evening.

The Associated Arts of Ocean Shores will split the proceeds, raising funds to support the Outreach High School Scholarship for 2015 and the purchase of art supplies for North Beach High School Art Program.

If you’d like to attend and have a chance to meet many of the award-winning fine art, photography, electronic media and 3D artists, contact Chris Chappon by email at chrisc747@live.com or by phone (360) 289-5655.