Subject: [Tweeters] King Co birds, 11/24/04: TUVU, BLSC, PECO, SURF, BLTU
Date: Nov 23 15:16:21 2004
From: Matt Bartels - mattxyz at earthlink.net


Hi Tweeters -
I made a few stops along the Puget Sound today looking for water
birds. Here are some highlights [with notes on last weeks unreported
sightings occasionally thrown in]:

Des Moines Marina, Des Moines [Delorme p. 63 A-6, WA ABA p. 197-8]
TURKEY VULTURE - 1 slowly moving south. The left wing primaries were
very ragged looking &/or missing - some were bent up, others just
seemed to be gone. As far as I could tell, this seemed to be the
reason behind its labored flight style as it worked its way south.
Seen at ~9:15 AM.

HARLEQUIN DUCK - 1 flew in to join the scoters - Last week there were
several at this location.
BARROWS & COMMON GOLDENEYES - Both goldeneyes were present at every
stop this morning.
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS - 10-20 here, close in. Similar numbers of Surf
Scoters too.
HORNED, RED-NECKED & WESTERN GREBE -several of each.
PIGEON GUILLEMOT - 1
COMMON LOON - a couple.

Saltwater State Park, Woodmont Beach [Delorme p. 63 A/B-6, WA ABA p. 197-8]
Same mix as at Des Moines [except the TUVU], with a few additional
HARLEQUIN DUCKS thrown in.

Dumas Beach Park, Lakota [Delorme p. 63 B-5, WA ABA p. 197-8]
Again, same basic mix as the above, with fewer WWSC and a very large
flock of American Wigeon. Last week at this spot, I had a Tundra Swan
close to shore & one Eurasian Wigeon drake mixed in with the Wigeon.

Alki Point & Duwamish Head beach, West Seattle [Delorme p. 79 C-5 ,
WA ABA p. 162]
BLACK SCOTER - 5 just south of the lighthouse
PELAGIC CORMORANT - one near the Black Scoters
SURFBIRDS - 100+ - same flock, presumably, as the one reported
yesterday by Paul Webster.
BLACK TURNSTONE 20-30. With the Surfbirds. These were all along the
rocks across from house #1100 or so on Harbor Way. The flock allowed
close approach and observation, and try though I might I couldn't
find a Rock Sandpiper in their midst. Great flock though.

Good birding,

Matt Bartels,
Seattle, WA


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