Hi Tweets-
Mother Nature smiled upon us yesterday as we enjoyed a perfect day (at this time of year anyway) for our Xmas count on Orcas Island - no rain and no wind. We were able to go out on a smooth, glassy Puget Sound to count the birds for the first time in 3 years. We had a really birdy day on land and on the water, but the most interesting phenomena that I wanted to tell you about was the congregation of approximately 1000 Brandt's Cormorants near Orcas Landing, especially in the light of the fact that, up to now, I had never seen a Brandt's Cormorant on or near the island in the 5 years I've lived here. Hope you all had as good a day.

Gayle Benton
Eastsound, WA
gbenton at rockisland.com