This still sunny weather is a great time to observe birds from a kayak. The
flat calm water makes the kayak a stable platform. Yesterday on a quick
kayak across Port Townsend bay, there were several changes of the guard from
last week. The usual 100 or so long tailed ducks, black brandt, cormorants,
grebes, and loons were all there. Common goldeneye, 50 or 60 of which have
been located at one spot for the last 6 weeks have mostly left. Also there
were very very few murres and no marbled murrelets. Both these species have
been very common in this area all winter long.

The day's highlight was a season high of ~100 Ancient murrelets all in the
same half mile of water. There were 3 groups of 20 or so and several groups
of 3 to 5 birds. There are usually a few through middle January but I have
never seen so many. The diving behavior of these birds is completely unique
to my experience. Does anyone have any information on their activities when
they dive just below the surface as a group, and roam around as a pack? You
can always see where the group is by the disturbance on the surface and
occasionally one or a few will briefly pop their head up. It reminds me of
a slow moving, jittery pack of dolphins.
Michael Kennedy <mkennedy at waypt.com>
Port Townsend, WA, USA