Timing is a big part of the seabird numbers game. I too have seen 10,000
Western Grebes around Whidbey but that's usually in November before the
rafts break up into smaller groups. Many of those birds move out of the
count circle. And, as I stated, we didn't get the big influx of Surf Scoters
until a week after the count.
I'm glad the White-winged Scoters are somewhere as they sure aren't here.
Steve Ellis
sellis at coup.wednet.edu