Folks,

While still in the harbor area at Bainbridge Island during George Gerdt's
annual boat-around-the-island birding tour, we spotted a snow-white
red-necked grebe (judged to be that species from its general gross
morphology and the immediate company it seemed to be keeping, a normally
plumaged grebe). This bird was really dazzling in the sunlight and
allowed fairly close, but respectful, observation from our boat, "Ed's
Girl".

The remainder of the trip had good numbers of W. grebe and great views of
long-tailed ducks (aka "old squaw"), a few close looks at least grebe,
harlequin ducks and other expected duck species, Stellar's sea lion on
buoy, both adult and immature BAEA's, a single yellowlegs (greater, I
think), surf birds, dunlin, black turnstone, sanderling, all 3 scoters, 3
cormorant species, one western gull amongst the the glaucous-winged & mew
diners at our bread toss-outs. Nothing really unexpected, other than the
beautiful albino grebe, just a pleasant day with pleasant leisurely looks
at familiar species.

I am still seeing a single tree swallow hanging around the 6th and 223rd
Avenue area just east of the Des Moines, WA marina; no other swallow
species, yet.

Maureen E. Ellis, me2 at u.washington.edu, Univ of WA and Des Moines, WA, USA