Tweeters,
Report from the 10/17/98 Protection Island Cruise by the Port Townsend
Marine Science Center.

Just as we were passing Point Wilson heading north the skipper spotted 4
large birds on the wing headed towards us. As we closed on the Point
Wilson bouy 4 Brown Pelicans flew over the port side of the boat headed
south. We expected to see them later in the trip at Rat Island (Kilisut
Harbor) but didn't spot any. However, returning from Rat Island to Point
Hudson, 4 Pelicans (perhaps the same 4) overtook the boat & followed us for
approx. 5 minutes like gulls following a fish boat into harbor. As we
approached the Port Townsend waterfront they veered off to the west: the
Port of PT & the Mill. If they were the same four they may have been (from
1:30 till 3:45) on the southeast side of Marrrowstone I. or way down in
Kilisut Harbor in Scow Bay or Mystery Bay. Our only previous 1998 Brown
Pelican sighting was on 4/4/98 at the Pt. Hudson bouy. Last fall's
sightings occured on 10/4 at P.I, 10/11 at P.I.,& 10/18 at P.I. & Rat I.

Mammal sightings on this trip included a California Sea Lion sunning on the
Pt. Hudson bouy and an Elephant Seal at Violet Point on Protection Island.
>From the size & coloration it appeared to be the same individual we spotted
on 10/10/98. (Either a female or an immature male).

Harbor seal activity on Protection Island was unlike anything I've seen
before. As we approached Violet Point, preparing to traverse the south
(lee) shore from east to west, there were numerous seals in the water and
scores on the beach. Heading west 200 yards offshore we sighted scores of
seals, in groups of 10 - 15, cruising along the tops of the water/waves
like dolphins, They were close in to shore & heading west, breaking the
surface at great speed. If they were hunting/feeding I've never seen this
behavior before as I always assumed they 7remained beneath the surface. It
appeared to be some form of play behavior, engaged in by multiple groups.
This lasted approx. 2/3 of the way along the south shore of the Island.
Has anyone else seen this type of behavior? & is it a common occurance that
I, in my sheltered life, have not abserved before. It was a first for our
naturalist also.

Additional Sightings:
(P-Protection Island, R-Rat Island, Ph-Point Hudson)
Common Loon- R
Red Necked Grebe-P,R
Horned Grebe-P,R
Double Crested Cormorant -P,R
Pelagic Cormorant -P,R
Great Blue Heron-R
White winged Scoter-P
Surf Scoter-P,R
Harlequin duck-P,R
Red Brested Merganser-R
Black Turnstone-R
Sanderling-R
Western sandpiper-R
Heerman's gull-P,R,Ph
Bonaparte Gull-R
Mew Gull-R
Glaucus Winged gull - everywhere
Common Tern-R
Pigeon guillemot-P,R
Bald Eagle-R (mature)
Rock Dove-Ph
Northwestern Crow -R
Starling -Ph

The remaining Protection Island cruises scxheduled for 1998 are:
Saturday October 31st, November 7th & 28th and Thursday, New Year's Eve,
Dec 31st. All trips depart from Point Hudson Marina at 1 PM. Discounts
apply for audubon & WOS members. Reservations requested.

Regards
Peter B.
PTMSC
360-385-5582