The Bremerton ferry terminal area is a great place for eagle-watching this
time of year! Every workday this week there've been at least two in the
area in both the AM and PM, sometimes all adult, sometimes sub-adults in
varying stages of plumage. (I've heard reports of more than six birds
hanging out across from Evergreen Park as well.)

Tonite there were three adult birds, one atop the Turner Joy (battleship)
and two in a tree along the bank behind the ship. This morning there were
two sub-adults. I enjoyed watching both groups of birds, as they were doing
some fishing! Don't know what was out there, but there were lots of Pelagic
Cormorants swimming/diving in the same general area in which the eagles were
trying to grab fish. Unfortunately I didn't see a successful catch but it
was fun watching them try. There was a definite difference in the technique
of the adults v. the youngsters: The adults stayed closer to the water
overall and approached it more slowly, almost appearing to kite for a bit
before reaching down w/those monstrous talons. The sub-adults took
extended oval-shaped flights well above the water before kind of plopping
down and making a grab.

Vocalizations and other behaviors were interesting too. As an eagle came in
to perch on the TJ those in the tree would call to it and it would answer
and sometimes turn to look for them. When a youngster was perched on the
top of the TJ's mast and an adult flew in, the kid bird acceded the spot to
the adult w/no hesitation. OTOH, when a sub-adult approached another
sub-adult who already had claimed the mast there usually was a lot of
vocalizing, the approacher would fly around and harass the occupier, and
sometimes occupier would leave, sometimes not.

About 10 days ago I started hearing the occasional tern squak and then see a
tern or two. Within the last couple of days many more terns have arrived.
Can't remember how long they stayed in the area last year, but it does seem
that they're here earlier this year. I think they're Caspian, as that's
what they sound the most like and I see a solid-color bill. Haven't gotten
a great look at the wings. I hope to go down to the ferry
terminal/boardwalk and hang out for a good long while one of these days and
figure it out for sure. The Commons are the most common in Kitsap County,
but you never know.

The Pigeon Guillemot numbers have dwindled dramatically, and I no longer see
the Horned Grebe.

Good birding,
Mary

Mary Klein
Bremerton WA
CelloBird at seanet.com