A crowd of birders was treated to fabulous looks at the Thick-billed
Murre at Point No Point this morning. We first saw the bird in the
distance towards Hansville at about 8:30, but later it came in quite
close to the lighthouse. We were able to note all the appropriate field
marks and watch it diving. Each time, just before it dived, I saw the
murre open its bill as if to take a deep breath. Then, Ryan Merrill saw
a pair of Marbled Murrelets do the same thing before a dive. I have
never noticed this before. Is this typical alcid behavior? Do they do
it before every dive?

The murre was still in sight when I left at about 10 am.

Rachel Lawson
Seattle
RachelWL at msn.com