Tweeters and Whatcom Birders,

Many thanks to Brad Waggoner for reporting the location of the BLUE
JAY on Lummi Island in Whatcom County. Although the bird was reported
previously on the Whatcom Birds group, the location given there was so
vague that it was not possible to find the bird.

Today, I took the ferry over to Lummi Island at about 11:30 AM, and
found the Blue Jay within 10 minutes of my arrival. As Brad reported,
the bird has been seen very close to the ferry landing on Lummi. When
I first saw it, the jay was perched atop a tree about halfway between
the Beach Store Cafe and the ferry landing-- about 100 yards north of
the landing. It was in a group with two STELLER'S JAYS, and vocalized
every few minutes. The birds moved south, and for a while were feeding
on crabapples in a large yard immediately north of the Island Library,
located right across the road from the ferry landing. When I last saw
the Blue Jay, it was in a treetop directly west of the Beach Store
Cafe.

Even though I live just outside Whatcom County, and have birded the
adjacent Lummi Peninsula quite a few times, I confess somewhat
sheepishly that I had never visited Lummi Island before-- even though
it was one of those places I have always intended to visit. As I had
found my "target bird" within 10 minutes, and as the weather was good
(nearly dead calm, and rapidly clearing), I decided to spend the rest
of the day exploring the island. I found a total of 54 bird species,
of
which the most notable were the following:

ANCIENT MURRELET-- Five birds seen at quite close range (as close
as 60 to 70 yards), in bright sunlight, in Legoe Bay. They were in
two
groups, a trio and a duo. There were also at least 8 MARBLED
MURRELETS and several PIGEON GUILLEMOTS in the bay. These
were the first Ancients I had seen since 1998, and one of the
closest views I have ever had of this species. I am used to seeing
Ancient Murrelets in larger groups than this, farther offshore in
deeper water.

BARRED OWL-- Two birds; one heard calling at the intersection of
Blizard Road and Tuttle Lane, and one seen about a mile to the south
near the junction of Tuttle Lane and Legoe Bay Road. The second bird
flew in behind my back as I was "squeaking" for sparrows. When I
turned around, there it was, perched on a post in a small marsh,
barely 10 feet away from me! (Darn-- no camera!) It seemed almost
oblivious to me, and appeared intent on finding the "mouse".
Eventually it flew and landed in a conifer on the edge of the marsh,
and finally flew again and landed on the telephone wires (!) along
Tuttle Lane, where it was still perched when I left at about 4:30 PM.

VIRGINIA RAIL-- Three birds heard calling in a small marsh along
Tuttle Lane near Legoe Bay Road (same location as the 2nd Barred Owl).

RED CROSSBILL-- A total of 60 birds in 3 flocks at various location
near the north end of the island. These were not the local breeding
form or "Sitka Crossbill", and may have been Call type 4.

I'll post a complete list of species and numbers later at
http://birdnotes.net .


Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus at telus.net