Subject: [Tweeters] albino Yellow-billed Loon at Dash Point
Date: Nov 27 17:44:50 2004
From: Ruth Sullivan - godwit at worldnet.att.net


Hello Tweets,

This afternoon my mother and I birded the Dash Point area,as fairly cold winds prevailed and birding remained quite slow. However,upon a visit made to the public fishing pier at Dash Point at 2:30pm we observed the lingering albino Yellow-billed Loon just offshore from the pier,which was also observed by Ginger Rebstock and her birding friend. The conditions were not the best for photography due to rough conditions and clear focusing,but we managed to take many photos of the bird at best.We soon located the bird,as it swam in the relatively "choppy" water. We all watched the bird,as it mainly surface foraged,but later dove for food further offshore. The bird eventually came closer to the pier despite active fishing and crabbing,then we were soon joined by Rolan Nelson and his wife Kathleen at 2:45pm,who also observed the bird in good lighting. The bird remained quite active near the end of our visit and eventually drifted further offshore and could show up anywhere. It was a nice bird to see since we were unable to locate any Ancient Murrelets offshore or the Snow Bunting at Browns Point Lighthouse Park,of which were both target species for the day.

We have placed 5 photographs of the albino Yellow-billed Loon taken this afternoon,which can be accessed at the following link: http://www.pbase.com/godwit/loon

We checked a few other areas in the general Dash Point vicinity including a visit made to nearby Dash Point State Park in King Co.,Browns Point Lighthouse Park and ending our day along Marine View Drive(S.R.509)between the Tyee and Chinook Landing Marina. These areas hosted a few additional species of note adding to our trip including the following highlights:

Red-throated Loon
1 off Dash Point S.P.

Pacific Loon
1 off Dash Point

Bald Eagle
2 at Dash Point S.P.
5 at Dash Point
1 at Browns Point

Cooper's Hawk
1 at Dash Point

Red-tailed Hawk
1 at Dash Point
5 along Marine View Drive

Spotted Sandpiper
1 along Marine View Drive

Black Turnstone(with 3 Least Sandpipers)
6 along Marine View Drive

Bonaparte's Gull
95+ off Dash Point

Mew Gull(with 2 California Gulls)
250+ at a gull roost on log booms just south of the Tyee Marina along Marine View Drive

Common Murre
5 off Dash Point
3 off Dash Point S.P.

Marbled Murrelet
1 off Dash Point

Rhinoceros Auklet
14 off Dash Point

Anna's Hummingbird
1 at Dash Point S.P.

Pileated Woodpecker
1 at Dash Point S.P.

Hermit Thrush
2 along Marine View Drive

Hutton's Vireo
2 at Dash Point S.P.
1 along Marine View Drive

Yellow-rumped Warbler
35+ along Marine View Drive


Mammal highlights of the day:

3-4 California Sea Lions at Dash Point Lighthouse Park(with 2 additional sea lions noted off Dash Point)


Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Fircrest,WA
godwit at worldnet.att.net