Subject: Kitsap Co.
Date: Apr 18 13:39:08 1999
From: S. Downes - sdownes at u.washington.edu


Tweets,
Took advantage of the weather yesterday to get over to kitsap co. and
scout for a FT. Migrants are defienty starting to pile in, the OCWA were
singing several places, about 9-10 were heard for the day at several
stops. Had Barn Swallows in two places and the Greater Yellowlegs numbers
appear to be increasing even for Kitsap Co. which is always a hotspots for
these shorebirds anyhow. I counted 15+ yesterday at various stops. The
most incredible to me was the amount on Bonapartes Gulls at one spot (and
it wasn't point no point!). I counted an esimated 460 at Arness Park in
Kingston and added to that total with about another 250 in a feeding flock
on the ferry ride, just out of Appletree Cove. Nancy Ladenberger told me
that she had seen similar concentrations flying by Kingston a few days
earlier, she estimated ~1000 birds. Other migrants included a cinnamon
teal, pipits at two different spots, caspian terns a 3 different spots and
a flock of 250-300 dunlin at the Gorst Estuary. Total for the day I had 70
species. I could not find any returning Martins yet, but they will be here
shortly. It doesn't take to many migrants to pull one out of the doldrums
of lowered activity on the westside during March and early April. Looking
forward to what next week might bring. BTW, there was a Blue-winged Teal
and Yellow-headed BB seen the day before yesterday at the same spot as
the Cinnamon so they should start showing up in other likely spots if they
haven't already.

Scott Downes
sdownes at u.washington.edu
Seattle WA

"Birds don't read bird books. (That's why they are seen doing things they
are not supposed to do)." -Mary Wood