I don't know if this is early or not, but there was one Heermann's Gull
at the Ballard Locks this morning keeping company with some very noisy
Mew Gulls. The usual California and Glaucous-winged gulls were present
too. Also on hand were two female Red-breasted Mergansers and the Double
Crested Cormorants seem to be returning in larger numbers. There seems to
be only one Belted Kingfisher now, and it seems to be a lot quieter then
the pair was all summer.

Speaking of Cormorants, there is a movement afoot (awing?) to remove the
quotas on the hunting of Cormorants in the South, It seems they're
damaging the Catfish industry. There was an article in this morning's New
York Times, I'll post it when I get it formatted if anyone is interested.
(nytimes.com)
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Cliff Drake
Seattle, (Ballard) WA
Birder at Juno.com