The weather has finally calmed down a bit and I've been out rowing a couple
of times this last week. It's been about 3 weeks since the last time out
so there is quite an observation gap. As noted before, birding and rowing
are a difficult mix so many birds are missed and only the dominate bird
groups really have much of a chance to be reported.

The wintering birds have mostly departed! I'm sad to see them leave.
Hardly any loons or grebes and about a fourth as many Ang Ang Aliks (old
squaw, long tail etc.). Very few murrelets, though there was one group of
10 Ancient Murrelets in a group Sunday and today saw two pairs. This is
the first time I've seen them in pairs.

This winter the ancients have out numbered the marbled everyday I've been
out. This is in marked contrast to past years and seems to be the result
of many more ancient and many less marbled murrelets. Reports are that
many Marbled Murrelets were at Port Ludlow this winter. I don't know
whether that is unusual, perhaps they have just decided to try a change of
scenery.

Common Murres appeared mostly in alternate plumage with only a few
individuals still sporting basic plumage.

Other birds in abundance.

Surf Scoter
White-wing Scoter
Double crested cormorant
Pelagic cormorant (fly by views so no idea if any were brandts)
Pigeon guillemot
Gulls ( someday I'll be able to say which ones )
Crows
Bald Eagles not abundant but there were 3 mature birds
Harlequin Duck
Michael Kennedy <mkennedy at waypt.com>
Port Townsend, WA, USA