Tweets,



It dawned clear as the storm passed overnight. I decided to see what might
be off West Point in Discovery Park, maintaining a sea watch there from
11:15 until 1:15. Lots of action off shore, including about 50 alcids I
tried to morph into Cassin's Auklets as they didn't seem quite right for
Rhinos. However, after two hours of staring I decided they were juvenile
Rhinos, rather paler beneath, a bit grayer, a bit floppier in flight. Also
one Common Murre in close, three Common Loons, and nice flocks of southbound
Canada Geese, Northern Pintails, American Wigeons, and Greater Scaup. Just a
few Surf and White-winged Scoters. Numbers of Mew, California,
Glaucous-winged Gulls with half-a-dozen Heermann's.



Best birds of the watch were one winter adult SABINE'S GULL, new for my
county list, that was flying around in mid-channel north of the point, which
then drifted off further north out of sight, not to return, and a single RED
PHALAROPE flying south well out into the channel. Pearl gray mantle and a
bit heavier than a Red-necked Phalarope would be. Though I didn't see it
land on the water it flew rather more gracefully than, say, a Sanderling,
with frequent changes of direction.



Gene Hunn

18476 47th Pl NE

Lake Forest Park, WA

enhunn323 at comcast.net