Mike P. wrote -

<snip>
<<<Notes: At least two COMMON MURRES were with chicks today and there
were plenty of adults fishing in the area. Large numbers were feeding
in the river. A PIGEON GUILLEMOT was carrying food. There were 20
juvenile CASPIAN TERNS with the loafing flock of adult terns on the
river beach.>>>

As many of you know, there has been a La Nina-induced pool of cold
water off the west coast of North America for the last 3-4 months, now
shrinking. This is in contrast to the El Nino-induced warm pool of the
past few years. Given that cold pools enhance plankton abundance and
upwelling, this should be a much improved breeding year for west coast
seabirds (and likely helps explain the anomalous kittiwake sightings
this summer). Perhaps Mike's recent observations support this theory.

--
Jack Bowling
jbowling at direct.ca