Jon Anderson wrote:

>I am hoping (for personal interest as well as for =
>'professional' interest) that the Coastal observers among us can keep =
>the list posted on the status of murres moving along the coast into the =
>Strait of Juan de Fuca and around the San Juans.

I had promised earlier to post the results of the Victoria Natural History
Society's ferry/bus trips to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park, so
I'll start with a note on Common Murres in Juan de Fuca Strait.

Many of them! Without doubt, the most abundant bird in the Strait right now,
as observed from the ferry "Coho", Victoria to Port Angeles and return on
July 13 and again on July 14. An acurate count was not kept, but I estimate
that 1000 plus were seen during each crossing. Most were flying east toward
the San Juan/Gulf Islands (a tidal movement, perhaps?), although others were
swimming (and presumably feeding) all across the Strait. Virtually all were
adults...I saw only one or two birds that I thought perhaps were "chicks",
but even they were probably early molting adults.

Other highlights in the Juan de Fuca portion of the trip were a single
Northern Fulmar (July 14, US side of the strait, a light phase bird),
4 Cassin's Auklets (US side), 4 Caspian Terns and 8 Purple Martins (Victoria
harbour entrance - where nest boxes have been placed for the latter species),
plus the expected California, Glaucous-winged, and Heermann's gulls, many
Rhinoceros Auklets, and a few Pigeon Guillemots and Marbled Murrelets. No
sea ducks, loons, grebes or phalaropes as yet. Interesting were 2 Cliff
Swallows and a Violet-green Swallow flying south in mid channel and a Rufous
hummer flying north; all were 6-8 miles from the nearest land.

We picked the hotest day of the year at Hurricane Hill (85 to 88 F) and
were there at mid day, so few birds were seen or heard. The total was at
least 14 species, including American Kestrel, Northern Flicker, Rufous
Hummingbird, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Mountain
Chickadee(? reported to me - what other chickadee might be up that high?),
Gray Jay, Steller's Jay, American Robin, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped
Warbler, Chipping Sparrow(?), Dark-eyed Junco and Red Crossbill. Nothing out
of the ordinary here.

It was too hot to bird over great distances, and time was limited, so that
aspect of our trip was somewhat disappointing. Nevertheless, the alpine
flowers were at their peak and, in spite of the mosquitoes, everyone enjoyed
the experience. Another group will be going over next Sunday, likely in
cooler weather.

Our thanks to the parks service. It is a magnificent area. We will return
again next year and stay a little longer.

And I still want to know if there are any White-tailed Ptarmigan in the
park...?

Bryan Gates, Victoria
Victoria Rare Bird Alert (604) 592-3381