Hi Tweeters,

A couple of days ago, as I returned to my car at the Damon Point parking lot, I ran into a couple, who, noticing my scope and bins, proceeded to tell me about all of the birds that they routinely see while walking on the spit. They mentioned that there were breeding Snowy Plovers where the second picnic area used to be, and that the birds must be nesting because they peep loudly and try to lead them away whenever they walk to that section of the beach lately. I asked if they were certain of the ID, and they replied yes, in fact, they said, they see 'thousands' of Snowy Plovers every Fall, and so were familiar with them. OK. I though that maybe their Snowys were actually Killdeer, but kept it to myself. That night, I got to thinking that maybe they mis-IDed the birds every Fall, but actually were correct about the current Damon Point birds being Snowys. So, I went back out to Damon Point today to check it out, figuring, if nothing else, I could use the exercise as my leg!
s are b
eginning to look like ambulatory chop sticks from too much desk sitting.

The weather was much sunnier and warmer this time. On the outer coastal side of Damon Point, a single Common Loon was fishing near the coast. 5 Brown Pelicans and a small number of Surf Scoters were much farther out. Just beyond the far end of the pond, a deer carcass had washed up and was being consumed by 4 Turkey Vultures. The inland bay was a bit more active, with several Pacific and 1 Common Loon, Canada Geese, Double-crested Cormorants, more Surf Scoters, 2 Pigeon Guillemots, and some California Gulls. When I reached the described spot, I was greeted by two frantic Killdeer (the 'Snowy Plovers'), which peeped loudly and tried to lead me away. Just then, a Peregrine Falcon swooped down at me, coming just a few feet away and calling hoarsely. It circled me several times, calling the whole time. Then, a Harbor Seal starting honking and kvetching from the water. I knew when I wasn't wanted around, and so walked quickly farther up the beach. On the way back, I sa!
w one o
f the Killdeer chasing a crow out the their territory, something that I had never seen before.

By the time I returned to my car, I only had another hour before I had to head back to get the kids, so I went to the Jetty, which was also pretty quiet. As on Wednesday, Pelagic Cormorants, Black-legged Kittiwakes, Heermaan's Gulls (including 2 juvenile with yellow bills), and Western Gulls were on the rocks. There were still large numbers of Common Murres in the water and flying about just above the surface. Through the scope, I could see several hundred alcids in the distance. Many were too far for a positive ID, but most, if not all, seemed to be Common Murres, judging by silhouette shape and occasional flashes of white on their breasts.

Good birding,

Lonnie Somer
Olympia, WA
wheelermombi at comcast.net