Hello, tweeters.

I just got back from an afternoon visit (1:30-3 pm) to Point Wilson
(Fort Worden State Park), just west of downtown Port Townsend. The
water was calm, as the wind was light from the SW. The tide was running
out at a good clip, and there were dozens and dozens of both Marbled
and Ancient Murrelets out in front of us. It was as many murrelets as
I've ever seen there, I think. The Marbled were all in pairs (saw one
or two singles), the Ancients in groups from 3-20 or so. Both species
were on the water feeding and flying upcurrent to float back down.
Amazingly, we saw only a half-dozen murres. Common Murres at one time
were the most abundant bird to be seen off Point Wilson, usually way
out in the channel but quite visible with a spotting scope. Also, some
years ago, dozens of both Horned and Red-necked Grebes would use the
same tactic of flying upcurrent to float down again. We saw no grebes
today except a few near shore. I don't know whether this represents a
major change in populations or something about today's conditions.

Loons also put on quite a show. Pacific Loons were flying out of Puget
Sound in large numbers (with the current and against the murrelet
flight), mostly low over the water but some higher up and much nearer
shore than the murrelets. Another set of loons were flying quite high,
as high as I ever see loons there, and most (but not all) of them were
Red-throated! No Red-throated was seen flying low. Really quite
exciting and the first time I've ever seen such distinctly different
behavior between those two species.

The state of the tide is probably the most important variable in
whether there are birds flying past Point Wilson or not.

Dennis
-----
Dennis Paulson & Netta Smith
1724 NE 98 St.
Seattle, WA 98115
206-528-1382