Subject: Port Townsend and Vicinity Report
Date: Jun 26 14:30:00 1995
From: Tracee Geernaert - Tracee at iphc.washington.edu



Tweeters;

Isabel Landsberg and I led a SAS field trip to Port Ludlow/Fort Flagler and
Diamond Point. For those noticing Port Townsend was absent from the list;
we took a vote at lunch and decided to go to Diamond Point and look for
Tufted Puffins (is that TUPU?). I can only say we were very, lucky all
around. Isabel and I scouted on Thursday and were disappointed at the
rather poor showing of birds. I guess more eyes make the difference.
Besides our ferry being cancelled the day went off without a hitch. One
surprise was the Purple Martin colony at the Port Ludlow marina. I think
they are nesting in the boxes above the piers. We saw about 25 birds. The
mudflat between Indian Island and Marrowstone Island had 6 Western
Sandpipers and 12 or so Killdeer. We also saw 3 Cooper's Hawks, one
Red-tailed Hawk and 11 adult Bald Eagles. Diamond Point did turn up 2
Tufted Puffins that were the hit of the day for the participants. They were
very close to the shore and in great plumage. Rhinocerous Auklets and
Pigeon Guillemots were plentiful. We also saw 2 Caspian Terns and a large
flock of Surf Scoters at the Oak Bay County Park.

Tracee Geernaert
tracee at iphc.washington.edu