Tweeters,

The initial Fall Protection Island birding cruise on October 5th resulted
in generous sightings of both species and numbers.

The sightings on the afternoon trip and the earlier morning trip for
Olympic Audubon (these sightings are in parenthesis) provided the unique
situation of sighting all four loon species in one day.

Sightings of Saturday, October 5th, 2002:
Key: P-Protection Island, R-Rat Island/Kilisut Harbor, PtB-Port Townsend
Bay, PtH- Point Hudson,
PtW-Point Wilson

Common loon - all locations
Pacific Loon - PtW
(Red throated Loon - P)
(Yellow Billed Loon - PtW)
Red necked grebe - all
Horned grebe - PtB
Double crested cormorant - all
Pelagic cormorant - all
Brandt's Cormorant - all
Great blue Heron - P, R
(American Wigeon - P)
(Black Scoter - P)
White winged Scoter - P
Surf Scoter - P
Harlequin duck - P,R
(Bufflehead - R)
(Black Turnstone - R)
(Sanderling - R)
Heerman's gull - all
(Bonaparte gull - R)
Mew Gull - P
Glaucous winged gull - all
Common murre - P, PtW, PtB
Pigeon guillemot - all
(Marbled murrelet - PtB)
(Ancient murrelet - PtW)
Rhinoceros auklet -all
Bald eagle - P, R
Northern Harrier - Female on Rat Island
Rock Dove - PtH
(Belted Kingfisher - R)
Northwestern Crow - P, R
(Raven - P)
Starling - R

Mammals:
Harbor seals - over 1,000 on Protection Island
Elephant Seal - young Male on Protection Island
Deer - P

As part of our educational program for all ages, the Port Townsend Marine
Science Center's boat expeditions this fall to Protection Island, the
National Wildlife Refuge at the mouth of Discovery Bay are scheduled from 1
PM till 4 PM on Saturdays: October 12, 19 and 26 and November 2 & 30
(Thanksgiving weekend) and Tuesday, New Year's Eve, Dec. 31st. The PTMSC
offers these trips to enable citizens to gain a better understanding of the
marine ecosystems and natural science interrelationships which abound in
these waters. The three-hour cruises depart from Point Hudson Marina in
downtown Port Townsend. Naturalists from the Marine Science Center,
familiar with the island, the local bird population and marine mammals are
on-board interpreters and provide commentary on local birds, mammals,
geology and weather. Tickets are $45 per person or $40 for members of the
Marine Science Center, Audubon or the Washington Ornithological Society.
All trips include an additional stop at Kilisut Harbor/Mystery Bay area
(between Marrowstone & Indian Islands) or Smith Island. On-Board
refreshments are available. Call the MSC at 360-385-5582 or 1 (800)
566-3962 or email cruises at ptmsc.org to reserve a spot and for additional
information. Rates for children & groups are available.

The PTMSC, a non-profit educational organization based in Port Townsend
since 1982 is dedicated to marine science and natural history education,
interpretation and preservation and has been providing these trips since
1994. All ticket revenue benefits the Marine Science Center's education
programs.

Peter Badame

Port Townsend Marine Science Center
532 Battery Way
Fort Worden State Park
Port Townsend, WA 98368
360-385-5582 ext:105
360-385-7248 fax
www.ptmsc.org