Tweets,

To amplify the brief report posted from the birdbox. After two or three
aborted dates (50 knot winds; 20 foot seas) the weather cooperated. It was
cool (32 degrees) at dawn (6:30 AM departure) with an offshore flow and Mt.
Rainier was conspicuous on the orange eastern horizon. We passed the bar
without even noticing it. (I recall stomach-dropping crossing with an eye on
the 15 foot combers over the shallows just left of the narrow channel.) Lots
of Black-legged Kittiwakes in the channel and just off-shore (fewer further
off, including one that looked very dark-mantled on the water that proved
not to be a Red-legged!). Bill Tweit filled in for Terry and Phil, as usual,
took the helm. He warned us that a buoy 300 miles west reported 37 knot
winds, so the front was on its way, but we hoped to get out to 125 degrees
west (about 40 miles off shore over Grays Canyon at the continental shelf
drop-off) and beat it back. We did, but not by much. We had a 20 knot se
headwind throwing spray all over the whole way back, so saw nothing much
after the turn-around. Between the shelf and the shallows near shore there
was not much, but we drew in a fair crowd to Bill's chum & oil slick at 125
W. Here's my version of the list.

RED-THROATED LOON 20, inshore
PACIFIC LOON 5, inshore
COMMON LOON 4, in the channel & harbor
WESTERN GREBE 4, in the harbor
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS 2, at 125 w
LAYSAN ALBATROSS 1, at 125 W (my best ever view; cruised in from the
stern, banked wings vertical, looped within arms length, cruised the length
of the slick, visited briefly with a Black-footed, cruised past for another
look at the chum we had to offer, dropped onto the water for a minute,
before paddling back airborne and heading about his/her business. Made the
discomfort of the return all worthwhile)
NORTHERN FULMAR 25, mostly dark phase, but at least one hyper-white and
another in between
SOOTY SHEARWATER 1, maybe 2, with conspicuous white underwing flash;
another ratty-looking dark Puffinus could go either way
SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER 5, seen well at close range; short slender bill,
more evenly grayish underwing, pale throats noted
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT 3, on jetty & in harbor
BRANDT'S CORMORANT 20, the most common species, all in the channel or
just offshore
PELAGIC CORMORANT 5, one or two showed the beginnings of white flank patches
GREATER SCAUP 3, females in the harbor
SURF SCOTER 10, just offshore
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 30, just offshore
PEREGRINE FALCON 1, adult, harassing starlings in the harbor at dawn;
cruising with gulls
DUNLIN 200, harrassed by the Peregrine on the harbor jetty
BLACK-TURNSTONE 12, along the jetty on our return
POMARINE JAEGER 1, sub-adult, light phase; heavy body, heavy collar;
cruised by our slick at 125 W
HEERMANN'S GULL 6, immatures and adult, one getting a white head; most
unusual winter numbers; in the harbor and at the mouth of the channel
MEW GULL 25, common also at 125 W
CALIFORNIA GULL 2, at 125 W
HERRING GULL 25, at 125 W, many adults
THAYER'S GULL 3, immature and adult, at 125 W
WESTERN GULL 25
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL 15
WESTERN X GLAUCOUS WINGED GULL 10
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE 120, in the channel and on the jetty (mostly) and
at 125 W
COMMON MURRE 200, many in alternate plumage
MARBLED MURRELET 2, in the channel, winter plumage
RHINOCEROS AUKLET 10, some in alternate plumage
ROCK DOVE 100, in the harbor, Peregrine bait

On the way home, I crossed-paths with a flock of 15 TREE SWALLOWS just sw of
Aberdeen.

Gene Hunn, Seattle, hunnhome at accessone.com