Hi Tweets,

Vic Nelson asked me to report a Long-billed Murrelet that he saw yesterday
afternoon off of Point no Point. The bird was seen for about 10 minutes from
his house starting yesterday afternoon at 2:30. It was about 150 to 200
yards offshore with many Marbled Murrelets in the area for comparison. Vic
told me that the Long-billed Murrelet did stand-out from the Marbled
Murrelets. In general, it was darker overall, lacking the white collar and
"clean" white scapular patch. Thus the Long-billed Murrelet did not exhibit
the "clean, black and white" pattern of nearby Marbled Murrelets.

Vic tells me that there has been a increase in Marbled Murrelet numbers this
past week off of Point no Point. I hope to give a look-see this afternoon.
In any event, if I hear of any news I will pass it on. I was out at Point no
Point in the late morning with a group of birders from the Kitsap Audubon
Society and we had only a few Marbled Murrelets, so perhaps the afternoon
hours would be the best time to check.

Good birding,

Brad Waggoner
Bainbridge Island, WA
mailto:wagtail at sounddsl.com