Subject: [Tweeters] Puget Sound Seabird Survey - TWO Parastic Jaegers at
Date: Oct 9 13:49:41 2007
From: Adam Sedgley - AdamS at seattleaudubon.org


Hi Carol (and Tweets).

Sorry for the late post but I completed two survey sites as well in
Burien: Three Tree Pt and Seahurst Park (for a volunteer who was out of
town), just north of you Carol. I actually had a surprising amount of
bird activity given the date with highlights being TWO light-phase
PARASITIC JAEGERS out in the middle of the sound and a fly-by Common
Murre at Three Tree Pt and a juvenile PEREGRINE FALCON chasing a crow
right over my head and scattering a bunch of gulls at Seahurst Park.

THREE TREE PT:
Surf Scoter (7)
White-winged Scoter (1 fly-by)
Red-breasted Merganser (1)
Horned Grebe (1)
Red-necked Grebe (10+)
Western Grebe (2)
Double-crested Cormorant (4)
PARASITIC JAEGER (2)
Bonaparte's Gull (1)
Mew Gull (3)
California Gull (6)
Glaucous-winged Gull (1)
GWGUxWEGU hybrid (2)
COMMON MURRE (flyby)
Pigeon Guillemot (2 - molting into winter plumage)

SEAHURST PARK:
Surf Scoter (23)
Common Loon (2)
Horned Grebe (6)
Red-necked Grebe (5)
Western Grebe (5)
Double-creasted Cormorant (1)
PEREGRINE FALCON (1 juv)
Mew Gull (2)
California Gull (7)
Glaucous-winged Gull
GWGUxWEGU hybrid


The Puget Sound Seabird Survey has over 30 volunteers visiting 28 sites
from Edmonds to Dash Pt St Park in Federal Way so if you see one
scanning the sound on the first Saturday of the month, be sure to thank
them for their important work!

We are using this winter to refine the protocol and process to
eventually expand the survey to central and south Puget Sound. Please
contact me if you would like to be kept in the loop regarding our plans
for next year. For more info, please visit:
http://seattleaudubon.org/science.cfm?id=1168

Cheers,
Adam Sedgley

Science Associate
Seattle Audubon
206-985-6993
adams at seattleaudubon.org

www.birdweb.org



-----Original Message-----
From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Lynn &
Carol Schulz
Sent: Sunday, October 07, 2007 12:31 PM
To: Tweeters
Subject: [Tweeters] Seabird Survey - Possible P. Jaeger at Des Moines

Hi Everyone:
Yesterday, Sat, Oct 6, was the first day for counting birds for the
Seabird Survey in Puget Sound. (See the original msg about the survey
below. I'm sure they could use some more volunteers.) I volunteered
and my official viewing site is the Des Moines Fishing Pier. I am also
doing an alternate site (not one of the official ones) in Des Moines.
It's located in Zenith which is about 1.5 miles south of Des Moines.
This site is a public access with stairs and a viewing platform at the
bottom of a public road.
It is quiet this time of year for seabirds in Des Moines as most of them
have not returned yet. A lot of the birds will be back by the end of
October. It was very quiet at the Fishing Dock at the Des Moines
Marina. Before my official 15-minute count I observed a Turkey Vulture
heading south about 700 feet up over the bluffs.
At the mouth of Des Moines Creek, the sand was showing during the
incoming tide, and along with the usual hybrid gulls, there were a few
Mew Gulls, a Ring-billed Gull, and a California Gull. During my 15
minute count there were very few birds to be seen. A small flock of
Surf Scoters were quite far out to the north. After my count, I was
sitting in my truck at about 3pm with the windows rolled up. I heard a
terrific boom and thought it might be thunder. But there was no
lightning. Now I realize it was the explosion down in Tacoma of the
Atlas Castings and Foundry. The foundry is located in the Nalley
Valley, and if I had been observing w/ my scope, I have not doubt I
would have seen the fire and smoke from the Des Moines Pier.
>From the marina, I drove south on Marine View Drive to the Zenith
>Access. There were
very few birds there, just a couple of Mew Gulls, etc. I did my count
from about
3:45 to 4pm. Here are some highlights: W Grebe - 1, and Horned Grebe -
2. Out at a buoy at Pt Robinson there was a Brandt's Cormorant, and a
Pelagic Cormorant. At the very end of my count, a "different" seabird
flew through my scope view. It was flying north as I looked west to Pt
Robinson. It stayed fairly low over the water, had a steady deep and
bouyant? wingbeat. It had narrow, very-long pointed wings. It was
black and flashed white. It wasn't easy to see the bird and I just
could not focus that well on it. Nevertheless, I think it was a
PARASITIC JAEGER. As it flew north it turned and it looked like it
might go into the Des Moines marina. But it continued north up the
center of Puget Sound.
I have a problem with this sighting during my Seabird Survey count. I
have not heard on Tweeters that anyone has seen Common Terns or
Bonaparte's Gulls along w/ the Jaegers in the south sound. I usually
see P Jaegers harrassing those birds. Are the terns and gulls down here
now? Another problem w/ viewing the Jaeger is I have never seen one
flying in a straight line and all alone. If anyone has some insight as
to whether this might be what I saw, please reply to me or to Tweets.
At the time I saw it I was standing on the viewing platform at the
bottom of the stairs at the Zenith Access. Later in the fall (I think
late Oct/early Nov) this site is a great place to see (and hear) Black
Scoters.
Here is the description of the Zenith site. We use it during our RAS
Kent-Auburn
CBC:
"City of Des Moines Park - From Marine View Dr, turn west on S 240th St
then right on 7th Ave S and left on 239th St to its end at 6th Av S. Go
through the gate [at the bottom of the public street] and down the steps
to a lookout over the water."
This is below the "Castle" that used to be called the Masonic Home in
the community of Zenith. The castle can be seen for miles. It is
located between the Des Moines Marina and Fishing Pier to the north, and
Salt Water St Park to the south.
Here is an approximate address. City of Des Moines Pk at Zenith, S
239th St.
You may have to park somewhere up the hill, about a block away up on
7th. Especially now that there is a house-construction site up on 7th.
Steve Johnson is a volunteer down in Redondo, which is located near
Federal Way. He saw 30-40 WESTERN GREBES during his count. If you are
interested in the survey, please see Adam Sedgley's original msg below.
Yours, Carol Schulz
Des Moines, WA
linusq at att.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "Adam Sedgley" <AdamS at seattleaudubon.org>
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2007 5:47 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] Seabird Survey in Puget Sound! (Citizen Science)


A recent study by Dr. John Bower at Western Washington University found
that seabirds in north Puget Sound have declined dramatically since the
late 1970's (learn more
<http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/northwest/story/138470.html> ). But
what about wintering seabirds in central and south Puget Sound? Well,
we honestly don't know and the volunteer Science Commitee at Seattle
Audubon has declared it a priority to find out. We have established the
framework for a citizen science project to take place this winter and
for winters to come.

That's why we need your help. Might you be the birder we are looking
for with a couple hours to spare every fourth Saturday this winter?

--------------------------------

WHO: A dedicated team of talented citizen scientists!

WHAT: Wintering Seabird Survey

WHEN: The first Saturday of every month, October through April. Count to
take place within two hours on either side of high tide (4-hour window).
Only 15 minutes per site.

WHERE: Central Puget Sound (eastern shoreline) from Edmonds Ferry
Terminal south to Dash Point (south Federal Way). 28 survey locations
have been mapped out, at least one mile apart.*

--------------------------------

* Would you like to help but live outside the Seattle area? Please
contact Adam Sedgley at adams at seattleaudubon.org to learn more. The
Seattle Audubon Science Committee is very interested in conducting
surveys throughout central and southern Puget Sound. Take this protocol,
find a site, visit it monthly over the winter and send us your data.
It's that easy.

To learn more or to download the protocol, please visit
http://seattleaudubon.org/science.cfm?id=1168
<http://seattleaudubon.org/science.cfm?id=1168>

In field training with members of Seattle Audubon Science Committee, two
possible dates:

Wednesday, September 19th, 6-8pm (at Golden Gardens in Seattle)

Saturday, September 22nd, 10am-12pm (at Golden Gardens in Seattle)

Please let me know if you are interested in this survey and if so, which
sites would you be able to visit, your birding ability and which
training session you will be able to attend. We would really appreciate
your help.



Thank you.

Adam Sedgley

Science Associate

Seattle Audubon

206-523-8243 ext. 36

adams at seattleaudubon.org <mailto:adams at seattleaudubon.org>

www.birdweb.org <http://www.birdweb.org/>

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