Tweeters;
We just returned from a great day birding the Port Ludlow- Marrowstone
Island loop on the Audubon field trip. Edmonds marina had quite alot of
bird life early this morning too. We saw a large flock of Western Grebe
resting just south of the ferry jetty. Red-necked and Horned Grebe were
abundant as well. The Red-necked Grebes were in varying plumage and some had
quiet alot of red. The Brandt Cormorant are just beginning to molt into
breeding plumage and were conveniently perched on the pilings while we were
pulling out from the dock. Surf Scoter, Pigeon Guillemot and Rhinoceros
Auklet were floating around the end of the fishing pier. We stopped at Point
Salisbury where on Friday I saw 4 Turkey Vultures (8 more up by Port
Ludlow). There was very little wind today and a large (200+) flock of
Western Grebe just east of the boat launch. Red-breasted Merganser and
American Wigeon were feeding just off the beach too. Oak Bay County Park had
a very large flock of Brandt in amongst the Dunlin and clam diggers.
Northern Pintail and Bufflehead were using the lagoon with a fishing Belted
Kingfisher. The Hadlock Lions Park had a Cedar tree full of Yellow-rumped
Warblers and Pine Siskins and a singing Bewicks Wren right at the top. We
also had a great look at a coyote across the channel. We stopped in Nordland
for a Lesser Yellowlegs and then on to Mystery Bay State Park where on
Friday there was a flock of 200 + Pacific Loon and 5 Lesser Yellowlegs.
Today was a bit quieter but a male Rufous Hummingbird was very cooperative.
Barrow's Goldeneye, White-winged Scoter and a breeding plumage Common Loon
were fishing offshore. The spit at Fort Flagler was pretty quiet but we had
great looks at Sanderling, Brandt and Harlequin Duck within a 10 feet of
our scopes. The spit across the channel had a large flock of roosting
Dunlin, Black-bellied Plover and a few Black Turnstone. Unfortunately the
Rock Sandpiper was nowhere to be seen. The Harbor Seals were hauled out on
the beach in a large group of nearly 100. We tallied nearly 57 species and
what a relief to have a sunny Seattle to come back too.

Tracee Geernaert
tracee at iphc.washington.edu