Hi Tweets -

I spent some time this morning at the Edmonds Fishing Pier. Arrived at
9:30 and the Ancient Murrelets (4-5) were working quite close to the
pier, as near as 30 feet. They pulled a ways out, about 100 yards, and
then worked back in. About 10:15 they had moved to about 300 yards south
of the pier. One murrelet was seen quite close - a fisherman hooked it
and reeled it in. We got a chance to see it from about 3 feet while he
was releasing the bird. As with most birds in the hand it looked much,
much smaller than when down on the water. While upset, it was not
struggling violently. On release it flew down to the water and
immediately dove.

Also present during this time were Rhinoceros Auklets, Double-crested
Cormorants, Red-necked Grebes, Horned Grebes, a couple of Common Murres
moved in close to the pier, and the Bonaparte's Gulls kept up a
continual display. Up to 8 harbor seals were there also.

Luckily for all this the fog, while still present, had lifted and
visibility was quite good.

A way up north of the ferry terminal, on Ocean Ave off Water Street a
couple of Pacific Loons were visible about a quarter mile offshore.
Closer were six male Common Goldeneyes.

Good birding,

Brian H. Bell
Woodinville Wa
bellasoc at isomedia.com