Subject: [Tweeters] Arctic Loon update at Point No Point 4-13-07
Date: Apr 13 19:04:55 2007
From: Ruth and/or Patrick Sullivan - godwit513 at msn.com


Hello Birders,

Today we revisited the Point No Point-Hansville area in search of the Arctic Loon between 11:15am-4:45pm. We were unable to relocate the bird despite thorough scoping of offshore waters between the Hansville Store and the Point No Point Lighthouse. We were joined by Brad Waggoner for a short while after 12pm,where he added to the search with us before he checked from the Point No Point Lighthouse. We spent most of the time along the windswept beaches at the Hansville Store,but also made 2 visits to the Point No Point Lighthouse with the same results. Upon returning from the lighthouse Brad informed us he spoke with an English birder,who independently observed the Arctic Loon off the Point No Point Lighthouse at 11:30am. We just wish to mentioned this sighting so birders are aware of it even if we didn't see the Arctic Loon ourselves.

Overall conditions at Point No Point/Hansville were very cold and windy nearly the entire time we spent there in addition to scattered rain showers. At times the wind let up,but this only lasted a short while and the stiff winds were evident over the water with rough conditions. Our main highlight during our visit was an adult BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE observed flying approximately 80 yards northeast off the Hansville Store at 3:45pm. The bird was detected flying alone first until it joined a line of Bonaparte's Gull flying along a current line,as the bird continued flying just above the flock of Bonaparte's Gulls. The bird was very crisp with solid black primary tips on both the upper and underwing contrasting to a pale gray mantle with the 2 dark spots on the underside of the tail that represented feet. It was an exciting bird to see and maybe the windy weather contributed in the sighting!
Overall Bonaparte's Gull numbers varied widely in numbers and it was hard to count them accurately since the flocks shifted around alot,but they were probably the most abundant bird species sighted today. Alcid numbers were minimal with Rhinoceros Auklet numbers still in good numbers,but not exceptional followed by Pigeon Guillemots. Additional alcid species included 10+ Marbled Murrelets and a single Common Murre.

Away from searching for the Arctic Loon we made 2 walks along the main road between the Point No Point Lighthouse and Hansville that yielded several passerine species to add to our day of birding. Highlights along this route included up to 3 separate TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES(including one bird resting atop a holly clump closer to the Hansville end and 2 bird observed together further north towards the lighthouse). Despite not seeing the Arctic Loon it was a nice,but windy day at Point No Point and it was great running in Brad Waggoner too(as always)! A list of other notable species encountered at Hansville/Point No Point included the following:

12+ Pacific Loons
5 Red-necked Grebes(in full breeding plumage)
35 Western Grebes
85+ "Black"Brant
1 immature Cooper's Hawk
1 male Ring-necked Pheasant
2 Sanderlings
2 Wilson's Snipe
3+ Herring Gulls
13 Band-tailed Pigeons
1 Mourning Dove
4 Rufous Hummingbirds
50-60 swallow species observed between 11:20-11:45 flying over the open water between Hansville and Double Bluff on Whidbey Island,which appeared to likely all be Violet-green Swallows.
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 Orange-crowned Warbler
1 Common Yellowthroat(singing from the wetland area immediately south of the Point No Point Lighthouse)
4 Lincoln's Sparrow
1 Golden-crowned Sparrow



Good birding,

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