Tweeters

The Protection Island birding cruise of 10/12/96 began withsome gusty winds
that seemed to keep many birds out of the air. By the time we reached the
island the winds had abated and, being in the lee of the island (south
side) allowed us to get some great observations, including the nests of
pelagic & double crested cormorants.

We did include a side trip to Rat Island also. This site, across the Bay
from Pt. Townsend, is a breeched spit extending from Marrowstone Island
towards Indian Island. Being semi-protected, it offers a good opportunity
to observe shorebirds from up close as we enter Kilisut Harbor. We've
added this additional side trip to our cruises in the past and will
continue to go there on all Protection Island cruises in the future.

Saturday's cruise included Pilchuck Audubon Society & Seattle Audubon
Society members.

Sightings of 10/12/96 include:
Pigeon Guillemonts
Pelagic Cormorants
Double Crested Cormorants
Mew Gulls
Heerman's Gulls
Thayer Gull
Bonaparte Gulls
Glaucus Winged Gulls
White Winged Scoters
Surf Scoters
Common Murres
Harlequin Ducks
Bald Eagle
Red Necked Grebes
Common Loons
Pacific Loons
Black Oystercatchers
Sanderlings
Rhinocerous Auklets
Belted Kingfishers
Black Turnstones
Black Bellied Plovers
Horned Grebes
Black Scoters
Northwestern Crows
Starlings

Additionally, we spied hundreds of harbor seals on Protection Island (shore
& waters) and scores of harbor seals on Rat Island. The marine mammal
highlight of the day was an exceptionally large elephant seal on the
western spit of Protection Island.

Those of you who know Protection Island will be pleased to hear that the U
S Fish & Wildlife service has contracted to remove the derelict cars, vans
& campers from the base of the cliff on the east side of the island. They
should be taken out this week, eliminating the Aurora Avenue ambiance.

The next Protection Island Cruise is scheduled for Saturday, October 19th.
There are still spots available. Cost is $35 per person or $30 for PTMSC
members, Audubon Society members & WOS members. Reservations can be made
by calling (360) 385-5582 or eMailing ptmcs at olympus.net

Peter Badame
PTMSC