Subject: Protection Island / Smith Island sightings
Date: Oct 15 12:31:03 2000
From: PTMSC - ptmsc at olympus.net


Tweeters,

The Port Townsend Marine Science Center's cruise to Protection Island departed on such a glassy, calm sea that we added a cross-strait detour to Smith & Minor Islands prior to traveling to Protection Island. As we traveled north we spotted a small set of Harbor Porpoise off of Partridge Point. This fortunate weather resulted in our observation of a quite remarkable set of feeding frenzies at bait balls southwest of Smith I. as we traveled to Protection. Approximately halfway between the islands we encountered two frenzies, cut our engines & drifted between them. As we approached we glided through large flocks of red necked grebes & observed a Minke whale cruising around the vicinity, undoubtedly attracted by the activity. The frenzies/bait balls, while containing numerous gulls, including Mew, Heerman & Glaucous winged, also had Pacific Loons & Red Throated Loons diving & feeding. Around the near-perimeter were white winged scoters, surf scoters common murres, pigeon guillemots and Rhinoceros auklets. There were even a few seals working this food source.

The remaining Fall Protection Island cruises are scheduled for Saturdays, from 1 PM till 4 PM on Oct. 21 & 28, Nov. 4th & 25th (Thanksgiving weekend) and Sunday Dec. 31st.
Reservations can be made at 360-385-5582 or ptmsc at olympus.net.

Sightings of 10/14/2000
Key:
S-Smith I.
M-Minor I.
Pel-Pelagic area in the Strait
P-Protection Island
PtH-Point Hudson

Common Loon - S,P
Pacific Loon - S, Pel
Red Throated Loon - Pel, P
Red Necked Grebe - all
Horned Grebe - S,P
Double Crested Cormorant - all
Pelagic Cormorant - all
Great Blue Heron - P
White winged scoter - all
Surf scoter - all
Harlequin Duck - S,P
Oldsquaw - S
Sanderling - M
Heerman's gull - all
Mew Gull - all
Glaucus winged gull - all
Common murre - all
Pigeon Guillemot - all
Rhinoceros auklet - all
Bald eagle - 2 mature on S., 1 juv. on P
Northwestern Crow - PtH
Starling - P, PtH

Mammals:
Minke whale - Pel
Harbor seal - all
Harbor porpoise - Pel
Deer - P

Regards,
Peter Badame
PTMSC



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