Tweeters:
Saturday's (Aug. 1st.) Protection Island Cruise began with a run straight
north to Smith Island (actually most observations were done on Minor I.)
prior to heading over to Protection Island. Sightings on this cruise
included:

Double Crested Cormorants - Smith & Protection (yes, still on their nests
on Protection)

Pelagic cormorants - Protection

Red Necked Phalarope - 5 out in the Strait between Smith I. & Protection I.

Black Turnstone - heard on Smith

Heerman's Gull - everywhere

Mew Gull - Smith

Glaucus Winged Gull - everywhere

Common murre - all over

Pigeon guillemont - all over

Rhinocerous auklet - everywhere

Tufted Puffin - 2 on smith, 4 on Protection

Bald Eagle - 4 on Smith, 6 on Protection

Rock Dove - Point hudson

Northwestern crow - Point Hudson

Another landmark has gone from being a cliff dweller to a beach dweller, as
the cantilevered old Coast Guard building on the west bluff of Smith I. has
finally crashed down to the beach below.

Upcoming Protection Island birding cruises are scheduled for Saturdays:
August 15th, 22nd, 29th & Sept. 5th

Simply contact the PTMSC (360-385-5582) for reservations & info.

Regards
Peter B.