Ancient Murrelets(AnMu), sightings and R.F.I.
About 20 AnMu's were seen Nov 1 on the trip around Protection Island for
teachers led by Bob Boekelheide. Two were seen well just outside the entrance
to Sequim Bay and a group of 3 and a group of 2 were nearby on the water near
Protection Island. The others were seen flying at various distances.
The first request for information from those that know these birds better
than Bob or I do is about ID of flying birds.
Last year with the AnMu invasion we noticed low flying lines of AnMu's
several times simultaneously plunge (dive) into the water from the height of
several feet. We had never seen MaMu's do this. We felt this might be a
distant ID help. Anyone agree? None today did this by the way.
Bob and I both agreed on two flying lines today not being MaMu's and
concluded that they were probably AnMu's. In trying to figure why we felt
that way we agreed that we could not recall seeing flying lines of MaMu's.
Agreement?
Bob also said that the MaMu's would show the white shoulder coverts and
these seemed to be more dark above than MaMu's. I doubt that the wing coverts
show up at any great distance. I also doubt that low flying AnMu's raise
their wings high enough for the white wing linings contrasting with the dark
flanks to be of much help. I had forgotten about the head high flying posture
which would probably been of the most help.
In short we had 5 nearby AnMu's and about 15 we are not so definite about
and are requesting the expert's tips so in the future we can be more sure.
Also, I have been told the usual pattern is to see AnMu's heading into
Puget Sound in November only to disappear into the <Puget Triangle>, not
being seen during the winter or heading out in the spring. Doesn't seem to
make sense.
The Snowy Owl on Ediz Hook was seen on the beach near Daishowa on Oct 30,
by an observer who works on the Coast Guard Station.
A Clark's Nutcracker(ClNu) was seen at the Lost Mountain Winery near
Sequim on Oct 31. ClNu is a very sparse reident of the high Olympics and I am
not aware of previous lowland observations.
Bob Norton
Joyce (near Port Angeles), WA
norton360 at aol.com