Went chasing some of our great winter birds this week end. Started at first
light Saturday on Water Street in Edmonds, where I met Patrick and Ruth
Sullivan. As Patrick mentioned in a previous posting, we briefly viewed the
ARCTIC LOON. Joined by Marvin Coper, the 4 us of traveled to Snohomish
where we were rewarded with a nice view of the adult gray morph GYRFALCON.

I then returned to Edmonds where I did not find the ARCTIC LOON again. Next
I checked out the Edmonds Marsh where I did not find the EURASIAN
GREEN-WINGED TEAL. The marsh is difficult to see into. The bird may very
well have been there.

Later I caught the Edmonds ferry and camped on the Kitsap peninsula. Early
this morning I viewed the EMPEROR GOOSE in Port Angeles. The bird was in
the SE corner on Lincoln Park where it has been seen for some time. It has
2 legs, but only one foot.

On the way back to Seattle I stopped at John Wayne Marina, east of Sequim.
There I saw 5 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, at least 6 MARBLED MURRELETS and 4 BLACK
OYSTERCATCHERS, among other birds. I did not count the numerous PIGEON
GUILLEMOTS, but noticed that plumages ranged from mottled winter plumage to
very dark with white wing patches.

Sequim Bay (the boat launch at the State Park) had similar birds as John
Wayne Marina. Both locations had COMMON and PACIFIC LOONS. At Sequim Bay I
also had a RED-THROATED LOON.

Marv Breece
Seattle, WA