Subject: [Tweeters] A good day on South Puget Sound
Date: Nov 14 07:42:03 2004
From: bill shelmerdine - georn1 at hotmail.com


Tweeters,
Yesterday, Saturday, I took a boat from Boston Harbor to Nisqually River/
Anderson Island, checking salt water areas in Thurston, Pierce, and Mason
Counties. The highlights were a Yellow-billed Loon (Pierce Co.) and 3
Ancient Murrelets (Thurston County). Given all the good reports from the
Sound lately and the near perfect water conditions (flat, calm, overcast,
and limited tidal exchange) it was a good time to be on the water. I made
some notes regarding water bird distributions that I will share below, but
first the uncommon stuff.

The Ancient Murrelets were seen on the outgoing (0930) and incomming (1145)
legs of the trip. They were in with feeding flocks of more common species
off of the tip of Johnson Point. This area is not accessible to land based
birders. An ambitious kayaker cound access the location rather easily I
expect as it was quite close to Zittles Marina ( about .75 miles early then
about 1.5 miles later). I'm assuming that Zittles has a public Launch,
However, be careful, currents in Dana Passage can get moving. The exact
locations were 47.12780, 122.80880 (early); and 47.18635, 122.83495 (later).
The birds approached the boat within about 25 feet and were not the least
bit spooky. At first I though they might be immatures because bills were a
pale blue-gray with dark across the top of the culman. However, at least 2
also showed very faint white streaking on the black in the sides of the neck
(filo-plumes, or what was left of them). I expect this means they were
adults; any thoughts?

The Yellow-billed Loon was just off of Anderson Island in the Nisqually
Reach, directly opposite Luhr Beach. It was only about 1/4 mile off shore.
Location: 47.12517, 122.71303. This bird I believe was an adult, primarily
because it still showed a strong checkered pattern to the back (transitional
to winter-basic). The entire bill was quite bright with only slight dusky
area at the inner part of the culman, base of the bill ws the brightest.
There was more white in the face than I would have expected for an adult.
The bird was seen very well, at less tahn 100 feet. While it was much too
far out yesterday to be identified from Luhr beach, perhaps it will stick
around and move in toward the Nisqually Delta eventually.

As far as bird distribution goes, I thought that was quite interesting. For
those that are interested in whats out there in the inland marine areas that
are typically not accessible, read on. As expected I suppose, the
distributions were very spotty with most of the areas having few birds. By
far the largest concentration and diversity of species was the Nisqually
Reach, from Nisqually to Anderson Island, and northwest almost to Tolmie
State Park. The next largest concentration was the area off of the tip of
Johnston Point, including the mouths of Henderson and Case inlets.

The only large concentrations of Bonepartes Gulls (hundreds) were along
current lines about 1/2 to 3/4 miles off Anderson Island, and out from the
mouth of the Nisqually River. Brandts Cormorants were by far the most
common corm throughout the Nisqually Reach all the way to Henderson Inlet(at
least away from the immediate shoreline). However, they were replaced by
Double-crested throughout Dana and Squaxin Passages. Rhinoceros Auklets
dominated Alcid numbers through the Nisqually Reach; Pigeon Guillemots
dominated through Dana Passage and Squaxin Passage through to Boston Harbor.
Rhinos were the most common overall and the most well distributed (all
areas). Common Murres were decidedly uncommon, with only one concentration
of 20 birds off of Johnson Point/ Case inlet (this is an area I've noted
concentrations before). Only 2 Common Murres were in the Nisqually Reach.
No Marbled Murrelets were seen, though not for lack of trying. Groups of
Pacific Loons were seen off of Anderson Island and at the mouth of Drayton
Passage; two were also at the mouth of Case inlet. Well... All and all a
great day on the water. Cheers and good birding

Bill Shelmerdine
Olympia

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