Tweeters,

My first experience with ANCIENT MURRELETS was somewhat similar to
Ruth Sullivan's. On a Christmas Bird Count in Victoria, BC, more than
30 years ago, I was allowed a quick look through someone else's scope
at some little specks probably a half-mile away on the water. I didn't
feel comfortable counting them on my life list until I saw some more,
almost a year later, off Lighthouse Marine Park at Point Roberts in
Whatcom County.

The easiest places to find Ancient Murrelets, in my experience (not
counting Vancouver Island), are Point Roberts and various places off
the west side of Fidalgo Island (Skagit County) and Whidbey Island
(Island County). Two places where I have had good luck-- besides
Washington Park in Anacortes, mentioned by Gary Bletsch-- are Rosario
Head on Fidalgo Island and the west end of the Hastie Lake road on
Whidbey Island. They definitely get scarcer as you go father south in
Puget Sound, and they seem to like deep water and strong currents.

At Point Roberts, Ancient Murrelets can be seen anytime from late
October or November through March, but they are seen much more often
in November and December than later in the season. I don't know where
they go later in the winter, and I'm not sure if anyone else knows.

A couple of hints that I have found helpful about identifying Ancient
Murrelets. They tend to occur in small flocks-- from about 5 to 20
birds-- unlike Marbled Murrelets, which tend to occur in pairs
throughout the year. If you see a tight flock of murrelets, they are
probably Ancients. Also, when a flock alights on the water, they often
dive immediately, looking as if they had flown non-stop into the
water, rather than waiting a few seconds before diving as other alcids
usually do. Ruth Sullivan also commented on this behavior.

Good luck to all in finding this somewhat elusive bird species in
Tweeterland!

Wayne C. Weber
Kamloops and Delta, BC
contopus at shaw.ca





----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Wile <mikewile at attbi.com>
To: <garybletsch at yahoo.com>; <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Friday, November 22, 2002 1:20 PM
Subject: Re: Ancient Murrelet strategy


Tweets-
I totally agree with Gary in terms of the best months and good places
to see Ancients. I will add that probably the most reliable spot in
my experience has been taking the ferry to the San Juans. The 4 or 5
times I have done this in November/December (usually not just birding
trips) have always been rewarded with great views, including right off
the ferry dock in Friday Harbor.

Good Luck

Mike Wile
Redmond, WA
mikewile at attbi.com
----- 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