Hi Tweeters,



I stopped at several locations today in the general vicinity of Port Townsend.? The weather was very cooperative.



Point Wilson (Fort Worden State Park) (10:30-12:00):? The best stop of the day.? When I arrived, Bob Whitney was already there and we were soon joined by Matt Bartels.? While there, I saw the following species (greatly aided by Bob):?

-150+ ANCIENT MURRELET.? This is a very conservative estimate.? They tended to fly by in groups of 4 to 20+.? Most were quite a way off, but easily identifiable with a scope.? One landed fairly close in, giving us an excellent view.

-MARBLED MURRELET.? Typically in pairs.? A couple were nice enough to cross paths in the opposite direction with a few Ancient Murrelets, allowing for a brief comparison.

-PIGEON GUILLEMOT, COMMON MURRE, RHINOCEROS AUKLET

-1 LONG-TAILED DUCK

-HARLEQUIN DUCK (fairly common at a few of the other stops today as well)

-SURF SCOTER, COMMON GOLDENEYE, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, BUFFLEHEADS (perhaps the most common water bird of the day), PACIFIC LOON, WESTERN GREBE, RED-NECKED GREBE, HORNED GREBE, SANDERLING, DUNLIN, DOUBLE-CRESTED & BRANT'S CORMORANT



Point Hudson (12:15-1:00): ?If you park off of Hudson St. and walk along the water to the right, there is a decrepit pier at the far end, in the region of the trailer park.? On the top of this was a wonderful mixed flock.? I counted 200+ BLACK TURNSTONES, which is the most that I have ever seen in one location, and a smaller number of SANDERLINGS & DUNLIN.? There were also a couple of SURFBIRDS mixed in.? Scattered throughout the flock were a few dozen E. STARLINGS.? Strange grouping of birds.? Also seen in the water were a couple of BONAPARTE'S GULLS, HARLEQUIN DUCKS, 2 MARBLED MURRELETS (less than 200 feet from the shore), BUFFLEHEADS, and 1 ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD buzzing around the parking area.



Kah Tai Lagoon: Several RUDDY DUCKS mixed in with MALLARDS, A. WIGEONS, & A. COOTS.



Stops at several other locations did not yield anything unexpected.? The was a small flock of BRANTS at Fort Flagler SP.?



Good birding,



Lonnie Somer

wheelermombi at comcast.net

Olympia, WA