I relocated the Northern Mockingbird again this afternoon in the same hedge
at about 4:40 p.m.

And on another note, my husband and I went sailing today, ostensibly to
watch the Toliva Shoal race. I found the Brandt's Cormorants on marker # 7
in Dana Passage, and finally found one pair of Black Scoters, which I have
been looking for all winter. The number of Western Grebes remains very low.
I saw a total of 12 today.But the best sighting was that of a Sea Otter in
Budd Inlet. It was seen at about 2:15 p.m., just about mid channel, at
about Beverly Beach which is a development on Cooper Point in west Olympia.
It was swimming north at a leasurely pace, mostly on its back, showing
large almost-webbed hind feet and the short, chubby tail (shorter than a
River Otter tail). The face and neck were a lighter color than the body,
and the head appeared less pointed, or more broad than that of a River
otter. It was also considerably larger than a River Otter, maybe twice the
size (both longer and heavier). For many years I lived on the bay on Cooper
Point and River Otters would use the float in front of our house as a
dining table for their young. They would park the youngsters on the float
and then bring food to them there; so I have been able to observe a number
of them over the years. I have never seen a River otter swim in the fashion
the Sea Otter used today.

Hope this isn't too far afield for Tweeters, but I am very excited! And I
did mention a few birds!

Kristin Stewart
Olympia, WA