Wow, I must be getting old! It doesn't seem that long ago that Tufted Puffins were pretty common along the Skagit County side of Rosario Strait - you might see 5-10 on a strong running tide off Eagle Bluff or Tide Point, on Cypress Island. But, I guess that was the mid-70's. Hmmm... Anyway, I agree that this bird sounds like a Rhinoceros Auklet.

Eric Kraig
Olympia, WA
mailto:kraige at oclc.org


________________________________

From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu on behalf of Scott Atkinson
Sent: Sat 04/16/2005 1:50 PM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: [Tweeters] Subject: Re: Deception Pass Auklets



Tweeters:

Tufted Puffin is very rare in Skagit Co, with only a handful of
records/reports and most of them from long ago, although there is evidence
that they might have nested at one time in county waters. It might be added
that April 15 would also be somewhat earlier than other entries, which tend
to be in the May-Aug nesting time frame.

Scott Atkinson
Lake Stevens
mail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com


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