Jacki,
I have great confidence in Steve Mlodinow's and Steve Pink's identification skills and have little doubt that they saw a red-faced cormorant at the mouth of the Elwah River. What excited me was the suggestion that the bird had moved east to Sequim, where it was seen by other experienced birders and was presumedly in an area where one was restricted by tribal rules about beach access. Of course the Victoria RBA report gave me hope that there was perhaps a second bird. I am still curious to know whether anyone besides Steve and Steve has seen a red-faced cormorant along that shoreline this past week. Because of a lack of a report on the Bird Box or on Tweeters, I assume that the Victoria RBA was in error, and was referring to the bird seen by the Steves last weekend.


Greg

Greg Toffic
Curator of Birds
Woodland Park Zoo
5500 Phinney Avenue N.
Seattle, WA 98103
(206)684-4836 PH
(206)233-7278 FAX
greg.toffic at zoo.org

"Metaphors be with you"

>>> "Jacki Bricker" <seaotter at eskimo.com> 05/15 12:27 AM >>>
<kidding, sort of>
Maybe those several birders mistook an oystercatcher for a red-faced
cormorant.
</kidding, sort of>

Seriously, though, maybe it's a case of mistaken identity? I can't tell you
how often I hear people squeal with excitement about the "penguins" in the
alcid display when I'm doing my shift at the Seattle Aquarium. For the
record, they're common murres, people.
:-]

-Jacki Bricker
Woodinville, Washington

-----Original Message-----
From: TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu
[mailto:TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Greg Toffic
Sent: Thursday, May 13, 1999 5:05 PM
To: rba at birding.bc.ca; Virginia.Jessop at leg.bc.ca
Cc: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: RBA Victoria, BC -- May 12/99 at 11:00pm

Is this report for red-faced cormorant accurate? I know that Steve Mlodinow
and Steve Pink found what they think is a red-faced cormorant and are
providing details, but this was just east of the Elwah River mouth. This
RBA report states that SEVERAL birders saw a red-faced cormorant at Sequim.
Is this a second bird? Who are the "several" birders? Has anyone else seen
this bird or tried for it?
Greg Tofic



Victoria Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, May 12th at 11 p.m.
Compiled by Hank VanderPol. Transcribed by Virginia Jessop.

Wednesday, May 12

A RED-FACED CORMORANT, an Alaskan species, was positively identified by
several experienced Washington birders at Sequim, Washington, which is
approximately 35 km east of Port Angeles. The bird was last seen flying
in a northerly direction toward Victoria. The RED-FACED CORMORANT is
similar to a Pelagic Cormorant but has a large red patch around the eye.
Check all the local Pelagic Cormorants carefully for this potential
species.