My husband and I stole a glorious day at Westport yesterday, he
to go surfing and I to bird. The waves were small so the highlight
for both of us had to be two BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES flying
gracefully around the marina. One kittiwake was adult, the other
a first-year. The first-year was an especially spectacular bird,
with a prominent black half-collar, black-edged slightly forked
tail and a breathtaking "w" across the back. Altogether a
symphony in white, black and gray. We got great looks too, as
a sea-lion obligingly tossed pieces of fish far and wide for
the birds to feed on, while we watched from the high walkway above
the marina. After settling on the water to feed directly below us,
the first-year bird then took off, circled around and flew right
above our heads, almost in touching range.

Also on our trip list: 5 brant, 2 oldsquaws, numerous horned
grebes and common loons, and a lone murrelet (ancient or marbled,
couldn't tell in the distance and chop), as well as the usual
sea ducks (1 white-winged scoter) and other gulls.

A fisherman told us that howling winds of 40-60 mph had raged
all day on Friday, which probably explains the kittiwakes'
decision to visit the marina. In future, I will gladly endure
days, yea weeks, of cabin fever if the reward is a bird
like that.