Tweeters,

Results for the Sequim-Dungeness CBC are coming in, with two parties
still to report. The weather was excellent, other than morning drizzle
in the hills above Sequim. It was a beautiful day along the Strait,
virtually wind-free with high overcast after mid-morning.

As usual we had some unusual birds, with some good stories --
Bobolink -- a confirmed sighting, seen again the day following the count.
A winter-plumaged bird hanging out in a grassy, weedy field in a flock
of about 35 Savannah Sparrows. Photos taken. We know this bird should
be in Argentina right now, but it really is here.
House Wren -- still to be confirmed, but well-described by an experienced
observer.
Gyrfalcon -- 2 seen at one time at the tip of Dungeness Spit. While one
bird perched on a driftwood pole, the other stooped towards the sitting
bird, thrilling our boat party.
Others -- Sora, Marbled Godwit, Spotted Sandpiper (2), Red Knot (2),
Semipalmated Plover, Glaucous Gull, Barred Owl, Anna's Hummer, Swamp
Sparrow (2), White-throated Sparrow (2).

We have decided not to count a White-breasted Nuthatch, which was
apparently seen about one-fourth mile outside the count circle along the
Dungeness River.

Missed species included Black-legged Kittiwake (count week), Northern
Shrike (count week), Pygmy Owl, and Hermit Thrush (but we're hoping one
or two of these might have been seen by the two missing parties).
Otherwise we tallied all the expected species, including Evening
Grosbeaks and Red Crossbills, which have been virtually non-existent on
the north Olympic Peninsula this fall.

We won't know final numbers for a couple days, but most interesting is
that the boat party and Dungeness Spit walkers counted over 500 Ancient
Murrelets, mostly concentrated between Protection Island and the tip of
Dungeness Spit. This beats our old high count for this species by over
100. Forest birds (kinglets, chickadees, nuthatches, creepers, etc.)
seemed particularly abundant -- the warm fall weather may have
contributed to their high numbers.

Species total now stands at 141, tying last year, our second-best.
Sorry, no Skylarks this year -- believe me, we checked.

And many, many thanks to our wonderful counters, particularly those who
traveled long distances to help. We couldn't do it without you!

Bob Boekelheide
Sequim