Good Morning Judy and Tweets

Pelagic Cormorants (and your description fits) are often seen in Puget Sound and our inland waters to the north. On a couple of recent trips they have also been showing the white flank patches characteristic of the breeding season.

The Barrow's Goldeneyes are commonly seen around the wooden pilings (lots of critters growing on them) of our ferry terminals - but wood seems to be being replaced by metal.

Another place to see rubber-skinned, goggle-eyed, external-lunged creatures is around the Edmonds ferry terminal.

Good birding

Brian H. Bell
Woodinville WA
bellasoc at isomedia.com
----- Original Message -----
From: judyrowetaylor at comcast.net
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2005 9:31 AM
Subject: [Tweeters] possible Pelagic Cormorant


Greetings Tweeters,

Nothing like a nice walk along the beach on a coldish and rainy morning to make one feel awake - as was my adventure today at the Mukilteo Lighthouse Park! In with a flotilla of Barrow's Goldeneyes (about a dozen) there were at least two male Common Goldeneyes. Near the boat launch, along with six Red-breasted Mergansers, I observed two cormorants that I believe were Pelagic. They fit the description - dark and smaller than Double-crested, slender neck, small head and very slender dark bill. I saw a very distinct white patch on the flank area of one as it dove beneath the water. I didn't see either one in flight. How frequently are Pelagic Cormorants seen on the "inland coast," that is on Possession Sound or south to Puget Sound?

Oh yes, the flotilla of Goldeneyes came in close to shore where I was standing when four very large, black-rubber (synthetic, I'm sure) - skinned critters with goggle eyes and external lungs waded into the water near the bird's original area for congregating.

In case I haven't mentioned it before, the lone male Buffelhead continues at the runoff settling pond on the north/east side of the ramp going from Rt. 99 onto Mukilteo Speedway. I have seen one there for the past three winters and I always look for him when I drive by.

Cheers! Judy
--
Judy Rowe Taylor
Mukilteo, WA
mailto: judyrowetaylor at comcast.net
www.enduringibis.com
"Art is a voice of the heart, a song of the soul."


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