Just before 2pm on Saturday, about a half hour before Ruth and Patrick
arrived at Point No Point and positively identified the TB Murre off the
lighthouse, a few of us saw, a bit far off in the waning light due north of
the parking area, a very dark headed Murre right next to a Common Murre in
distinctive non-breeding plumage. I seem to recall white flanks on the
dark-headed bird, but let's just pretend I didn't see that for the moment.

At the distance we were viewing, the bills did not seem different, but they
were far off as I said, in deteriorating light.

Are people still seeing Common Murre with highly contrasting dark heads this
time of year, or is that dark head on its own enough to feel pretty good
about ID'ing the bird we saw as the TB Murre?

I have a diagnostic photo of a Common Murre off the ferry that has a
transitional look to it http://www.pbase.com/nmcgarry/image/72396634 , but
all other Murre I scrutinized yesterday were in very clear non-breeding
plumage --- except that last one with a dark head.
______________________________________

Ned McGarry
Sammamish, WA