Hello Tweeters,
Please find below the report from the March 30th cruise.

It was notable for sightings of a diverse number of species as well as
large numbers of individual birds. The highlights of the trip included:
Hundreds of Rhinoceros auklets at Point Wilson as well as in Port Townsend
Bay
Scores of Western grebes in Port Townsend Bay
Great sightings of Long-tailed ducks at Protection Island
Numerous Marbled murrelets in Port Townsend Bay
An Ancient murrelet in Port Townsend Bay
Ten bald eagles on Protection Island and six on Rat Island
An outstanding observation of a male Northern Harrier on Rat Island,
perched and on the wing.

Checking last year's spring sightings, we sighted Tufted Puffins at
Protection Island on April 21st and 28th, earlier than in previous years.
We have not received any communication from them as to this year's arrival
date but, nonetheless, have high hopes for continued great birding on the
remaining trips scheduled for this spring:
Saturdays: April 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th
To reserve a spot or obtain more information call the Port Townsend Marine
Science Center at 800-566-3932 or email: cruises at ptmsc.org
All trips leave at 1 PM from Point Hudson Marina in downtown Port Townsend.
Discounts are provided for members of the Port Townsend Marine Science
Center, Audubon and WOS.

Sightings on Saturday, March 30th, 2002:
(Key: P-Protection Island, R-Rat Island, PtB-Port Townsend Bay, PtH- Point
Hudson
Common loon - All
Western grebe - PtB
Red necked grebe - all
Horned grebe - P
Double crested cormorant -R
Brandt's cormorant - PtH
Pelagic cormorant - all
Black brant - P,R
White winged scoter - P
Surf scoter - all
Harlequin duck - P,R
Longtailed duck - P
Common goldeneye - P
Bufflehead - R, P
Red breasted merganser - P, R
Black bellied plover - R
Sanderling - R
Bonaparte gull - PtB
Mew gull - R
Glaucous winged gull - all
Common murre - PtB
Pigeon guillemot - all (wide variety of plumage)
Marbled murrelet - PtB
Ancient murrelet - PtB
Rhinoceros auklet -all
Bald eagle - P,R
Northern Harrier - R (male)
Belted kingfisher- p, R, PtH
Northwestern crow - P, R
Mammals:
Harbor seals - P, R
Deer- P

Peter
Port Townsend Marine Science Center
360-385-5582
360-385-7248 fax
www.ptmsc.org