Is there someone out there that can give me information on how to gain a
positive ID on what I believe could be a marbled murrelet, or direct me to
someone that could? The reason is that, if this is a murrelet, it is a long
ways from the ocean - at least 70 miles. This is a fair ways beyond the 50 -
55 mile range that I've seen in print, and so I think it would be an
interesting find.

I've seen the bird three times in flight, once last summer and twice so far
this year, as it leaves an old-growth forest stand at dusk. The bird flies
very fast with quick wingbeats. Because of this and the failing light, I
have been unable to discern any markings or distinguishing features. The
size looks right for a murrelet.

It flies in a straight line above the treetops until reaching the edge of a
break, then banks swiftly down toward the Cispus River valley. The last two
times I saw it, it made a couple very quick, slight banking maneuvers
(although it kept a straight line of flight) before descending over the
break.

Last summer I was in the area calling for spotted owls when I heard a call
that reminded me of the taped murrelet calls that I had. I happened to have
the tape with me and was able to compare the two. The calls sounded the same
except that the bird I was hearing would call once (a single call repeated
at intervals) rather than a series of calls as on the tape. I'm not
knowledgeable enough to know the variations of the murrelet call and whether
this is unusual or not. The bird seemed to be reacting to my whistling for
the spotted owls, which may account for a change in pattern.

I came back the next day to try and record the call. The bird responded from
exactly the same place. However, when I went into the forest to see if I
could record it, the spotted owl pair I had been trying to get the day
before showed up and so I stopped. Later that evening is when I first saw
the bird (if it was the same one) fly out at dusk. I was unable to return
last year.

This year, upon returning, I've seen the bird again twice, although it has
not made any calls in response to my calling. Although it covers a lot of
ground when I see it, maybe a quarter of a mile, it is so short in duration,
just a few seconds, that it would have to call right as it passed over for
me to hear it if it called on the wing.

If this is a murrelet, I would be seeing it as it leaves for the ocean. I am
going to try being in the area around dawn and see if I can catch it flying
in and, if so, hopefully hear some calls and see some circling.

Thanks for any help,

Bob Pearson
Packwood, WA
(360) 494-4053