Hi tweeters,

In high winds at around 2:30pm today (12/28) I saw three dark shearwaters fly S past Alki Point in West Seattle. Although I have no prior experience with this species, I got a good enough look at one individual to be fairly confident it was a SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER (no wing flashes, rounder looking head and seemingly not as long-winged as a Sooty). However, I did not get a good enough look to say that all three were this species.

I first spotted the birds while scanning from the W end of Alki Beach (from Alki Ave. SW) as they made their way S across the mouth of Elliott Bay. They were at a distance of ~1/2 mile and the lighting was descent. When the birds rounded the point I drove to the S side and relocated them at a much greater distance to the S.

Would have been a good time to be on the Vashon ferry. Keep your eyes on the Sound.

Good birding,

Sam Terry
Seattle









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