Hello Tweets,

Today , I unexpectedly birded almost the entire day at Point-No-Point,
after waiting nearly 5 hours to observe the BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, nearly
the same experience I encountered at Marymoor Park in Redmond, in late
October. I was fortunate to get a 15 minute look today, despite the
presence of a MERLIN, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, and a COOPER'S HAWK. The weather
was not bad, except the constant wind, but NO rain. The bird today was
located at the SE corner of the marsh side bordering the blackberry
brambles, and rose bushes, which is further south past the three small
Holly trees, only on the marsh side, accessed with boots, as it is quite
wet, and marshy, with the recent heavy rains. The bird associated with 3
R.C.Kinglets, but a mixed flock of both kinglets, Bushtits, and
Chestnut-backed, and Black-capped Chickadeees, and 2 TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS
were all nearby throughout the day. Other notables during my lengthy stay
included: 1 CLARK'S GREBE, 1 BROWN PELICAN, 2 MARBLED MURRELETS, 1 ANCIENT
MURRELET(surprisingly hard to find in good numbers, especially at this
location), 14 HEERMANN'S GULLS, 1 VIRGINIA RAIL, and 1 HERMIT THRUSH. The
BROWN PELICAN was seen high overhead at 2:30pm, then dropped , and fed on
an apparent herring ball, with other waterbirds, including still good
numbers of BONEAPARTE'S GULLS, but NO Little Gull today. I briefly checked
Port Gamble were 4 OLDSQUAW were noted late in the day.

Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net