On Thanksgiving (11/22) Michael asked if anyone had seen a small
flock of Surfbirds and Black Turnstones this year near Alki Point.
On Friday (11/23) my wife, my sister from Philadelphia and I cruised
the West Seattle waterfront. Just beyond the Armeni boat ramp, short of
Duwamish Head, there was this flock of about 30 surfbirds plus 6 Black
Turnstones on the rocks just below the concrete walk. These were barely
16 feet away (just able to focus my binoculars that close). They sat
and preened, but showed little of their distinctive flight patterns
until I waved at them. Then two or three birds would fly a couple of
rocks over and looked just like the flight patterns in the National
Geographic Guide. The tide was high which might explain their rock
roost habits. In the same area there was a flock of young and/or female
Barrow's Goldeneyes feeding off the rocks.
We then swung around to the Beach Drive south of the Alki Point
Lighthouse. There were a bunch of Surf Scoters and a flock of about 25
(nigricans) Brant. Also a persistent pair of Harlequin Ducks were
feeding close in. A large flock of Sanderlings was on the off-shore
rocks at the south end of the walk. As we watched, they took off in
mass formation flight, landing at the creek end in front of us for a
bath. Among them was a single Dunlin that was flying, feeding, and
bathing along in the middle of all the Sanderlings - a part of the
flock. It was an excellent opportunity to compare bill length and brown
vs. gray coloration. Now, back to re-reading Dennis Paulson's details
on those little critters in his "Shorebirds" book. These experiences
were just about as good as holding the little rascals in my hand!
Fran Wood (male)
412 - 36th Ave., Seattle
98122
fbwood at u.washington.edu