Subject: [Tweeters] Little Gull update NO 4-19-06
Date: Apr 19 19:00:51 2006
From: Ruth and/or Patrick Sullivan - godwit513 at msn.com


Hello Tweets,

Today we rechecked several areas between Manchester State Park and the Southworth Ferry Terminal for the Little Gull,but were unable to locate the bird during our searches. We ran into several birders during the afternoon,as they also searched for the bird and as a whole Bonaparte's Gull numbers were fewer today than yesterday. We located 3 separate groups of Bonaparte's Gulls beginning with 2 small flocks along south shoreline of Yukon Harbor,then a larger tight flock of 600+ birds at 2:30pm noted off from Olympiad Drive SE,as they foraged in a current line just off the south end of Blake Island. This latter flock was last noted foraging further offshore north the Southworth Ferry Terminal at 4:30pm. It is very possible many of the Bonaparte's Gulls that we observed yesterday could be different birds today. Anyhow,it is also possible the Little Gull could still be around so further searches for the bird should continue.

Our best highlight while searching for the Little Gull this afternoon was a single CLARK'S GREBE amongst a flock of 70 Western Grebes just north of the Southworth Ferry Terminal at 3:30pm. The bird appeared to be in breeding plumage with pure white areas extending well over the red eye. The bill was very bright orange-yellow in the limited sunlight and the sides were very pale. We also encountered good numbers of both Horned and Red-necked Grebes in breeding plumage in the same vicinity,as well as from nearby Yukon Harbor.

Pacific Loon numbers were fairly good from several locations that we checked with 80 birds noted in offshore waters surrounding Blake Island. Red-throated Loons were also in relative good numbers with smaller numbers of Common Loons. We also encountered good numbers of Brandt's Cormorants primarily from the south end of Blake Island. At the south end of Yukon Harbor we encountered 5 species of shorebirds including 50 Sanderlings,8 Black Turnstones,20 Western Sandpipers and 3 Dunlins then rounding out the list with several Killdeer. Other highlights at selected location for the day included the following:

"Black"Brant
100 at Manchester
50 off the Harper fishing pier

Eurasian Wigeon
2 males along Beach Drive E near Port Orchard

Harlequin Duck
1 male along Olympiad Drive SE(north of the Southworth Ferry Terminal)

Barrow's Goldeneye
1 pair at Yukon Harbor

Osprey
1 at Yukon Harbor

Herring Gull
2 adults off the south end of Blake Island

Caspian Tern
1 at Yukon Harbor

Rufous Hummingbird
several from different locations

Purple Finch
1 heard singing at Manchester State Park



Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Fircrest,WA
godwit513 at msn.com