For the past three days the YbL has been visible from Point Wilson a
distance of 100~300 meters mostly around 150 meters from 1230~1630 hours.
The Ybl has been feeding on bottom fish and preening. The other day while
watching the YbL we saw it catch and consume seven fish. This bird is
molting and flightless now. The Common loon that has also been seen is in
molt to, so have most of the Pacific Loons, not many are seen in flight. The
Red-throated Loons are being seen around 1600 in flight moving to the west
into the Strait of Juan De Fuca to raft up for the night. There has been
huge schools of forage fish in Admiralty Inlet with many hundreds of Mew
gulls and lesser numbers of Glaucous-wing/ hybrid gulls feeding. All other
species that are normally seen at this time are present in good numbers. The
Marbled Murrelets have been as close as 40 meters from shore in groups of
two to eight. Some of the Marbled Murrelets are starting to show some brown
flecks on there under sides.

If you have been thinking about coming out to Point Wilson to see the Ybl
viewing of this bird is as good as it has been sense first seen late
October. If this Ybl remains at Point Wilson when it comes into its full
breeding plumage it will be nothing short of spectacular to see.



Bob Whitney

Port Townsend, WA

mailto:rlw at cablespeed.com

www.flickr.com/photos/rlw/