Some highlights from a birding trip to Sequim / Port Angeles with Russell
Rogers yesterday (12Feb96) included:

YELLOW-BILLED LOON -- John Wayne Marina, on Sequim Bay, ~2 mi. east of
Sequim, as previously reported. It was rather far, ~300 meters to the
southeast of the rock break water around the marina and observed from
1530-1600hrs. On sunny days, the light is best in the afternoon. We couldn't
find it in the morning, poor light no doubt a contributing problem. If the
bird happens to be in or near the boat harbor entrance, light wouldn't ever
be a problem. None-the-less, it is still quite obvious and different looking
from the scattered common and Pacific loons in the area. Look for the bird
with the 'very long' straight-edged (culmen) ivory to pale yellowish bill.
Head and bill are usually tilted upwards. Nice to compare directly with the
common loons there. Of course it could have been a little more accomodating
and been in close as it has for some observers. We saw the bird at low tide,
although I doubt if that matters. The common loons in the inner boat harbor
were entertaining to watch as they swam and caught small fish in the clear
waters, even picking one out of the rocks just below the surface along the
shoreline

ROCK SANDPIPER and WILLET -- Two Rock Sandpipers and one Willet at Ediz Hook,
Port Angeles, on the bayside pebble /cobble beach along the road at the
unmanned guard house just before you get to the Coast Guard Station. Nice
close looks and mixed with black and ruddy turnstones, sanderling, dunlin,
western sandpiper, and one whimbrel.

GLAUCOUS GULL -- two birds (one tan first winter bird and one second winter
chalky white individual) with the large gull flock at the mouth of the Elwa
River, ~5 miles west of Port Angeles.


Richard Rowlett <pagodroma at aol.com>
Bellevue, WA, USA