Hello Gary and Tweeters,

Yes, my mother and I would aggree with you in reagrds to being able to observe Ancient Murrelets in northern Puget Sound areas such as from ferries and from known and familiar land areas such as off the Edmonds fishing pier,Point NO Point,Dungeness Spit,Ediz hook,Pt,Roberts,and other northern Puget Sound locations beginning in November and lingering through the winter,BUT in souther Puget Sound,where this species is relatively unreported or undetected due possibly to less calm waters and currents(which this species tends to favor,unlike more calmer sheltered bays favored by Marbled Murrelets)found in northern Puget Sound. Sightings that do occur or more limited in southern Puget Sound(south of King Co.)if and when they occur mostly between the mid November and lasting through early December,with occasional sightings being reported on CBC's of normally single birds. We have ecountered this species as far south as the Narrows Bridge in Tacoma,but it would be possbile to observe them further south in extreme cases.

Sincerely,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan


----- Original Message -----
From: Gary Bletsch
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Friday, November 22, 2002 12:04 PM
Subject: Ancient Murrelet strategy


Dear Tweeters,

Here is my two cent's worth (adjusted for inflation) on trying to find Ancient Murrelets for one's life list.

When I went for this species in the early nineties, several of us got together and took the ferry from Whidbey to Port Townsend, as pedestrians. We rode it back and forth a few times. I believe it was November, or perhaps December. Certainly, almost all of my ANMU sightings since then have been in those months. Anyway, one or more of our group saw one or more birds on each leg. I think we took the ferry there, back, there, and back again (four crossings). I had horrible cheapo binoculars at the time, and so I was the last one to get a decent look, my friends all having Zeiss or other nice bins. Even with my $29.99 optics, though, I got great looks on our last leg.

I have not bothered to do the ferry trip again, at least not in the cold season. Since then I have found that two or three November trips to Green Point (Washington Park) in Anacortes, per year, usually suffice to find an Ancient or two, for ye old Skagit county year list. That strategy has usually demanded long sessions at the picnic table out there. Optimal conditions have often included cold rainwater running down my back, continual need to wipe off eyeglasses, and wind threatening to knock the tripod off the table, but there is also a special quality to Green Point in late autumn, and the chance for big flocks of fish-eating birds up close.

Good luck with your lifer ANMU!

Gary Bletsch





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