Hi Tweeters,

A day trip to Victoria yesterday afforded the opportunity to see what was
flying on the Strait. The morning crossing was fairly unproductive other
than a pair of Rhinoceros Auklets on the American side. Coming back early
evening was a little more productive as the Coho neared Ediz Hook: 12
Common Loons, 1 Harlequin drake, 8+ American Wigeons, 1 pair of Buffleheads,
8+ Pelagic Cormorants, a few Pigeon Guillemots, and the usual Rock Doves.

We stopped for a walk in the upper fields at Dungeness NWR but the activity
level was pretty low. We had several good observations of a male Northern
Harrier. Other than that we saw 2 Canada Geese, 1 Mourning Dove, 2 Crows.
Along the backroads there were more Mourning Doves, R-W Blackbirds, and
Robins.

We tried the mouth of the Dungeness River before heading back to the
Kingston Ferry. It must have been about 7:30 p.m. with mudflats exposed.
It would have helped to have the spotting scope but had to make do with
decent binocs. There was a flock of 200+ American Wigeons. Before
something startled it and they all flew away I was able to identify a couple
of male Eurasians among them. There were quite a few Black-bellied Plovers,
a few Dunlins, Mallards, and Western Gulls. There were other peeps out
there but between the distance and fading light I could not identify them.
We did puzzle over what appeared to be a Turkey Vulture sitting off on one
of the mud flats, very inactive but for the shorebird activity all around
it.

For the Federal Way folks who asked a couple of weeks ago about Brant
sightings around the Sound. I walked the beach on law tide from the Edmonds
Ferry Dock to Shell Creek Thursday evening. The flock of Brants feeding
along the shore numbered over 150.

Carol Riddell
Edmonds
cariddell at mac.com