David and all,



I've always found Common Terns to be rather spotty around Alki Point, but in
the 90's, thought of them as sparse but regular in July and August, with
fewer birds but possible into October. Not so much this decade. This year
we noted two individuals, total. Last year was better than a number of
recent years, but I was around more last summer, so my effort was up, also.
Over the last ten years, we've seen, on average, just 7 birds a year. In
2005, we saw none.



--g



Gary T. Smith

Alki Point



From: tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of David
Hutchinson
Sent: Sunday, October 25, 2009 11:51 AM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: [Tweeters] Uppers and downers



In Discovery Park this morning, heading south, over the south parking lot no
less, were 36 Snow Geese. Made me think of Dennis's comment about the lack
of juvenile gulls (partic Mew)this season. And what happened to the
traditional, if small, Common Tern migration on Puget Sound?
A couple of weeks ago on Fir Island, the first arriving flock of Snow Geese
comprised about 2500 birds. Of this number I estimated 45% were birds of the
year. The Fraser/Skagit Rivers population is doing tremendously well
(130,000 last year??). There are now, fide Martha Jordan, two breeding
colonies on Wrangell Island. With Trumpeter Swan populations growing
slightly, this is putting great pressure three square bulrush survival and
on agricultural land in Skagit County and its surrounds. DH

--
David Hutchinson, Owner
Flora & Fauna: Nature Books
Discovery Gardens: Native Plants
3212 W.Government Way
Seattle,WA.98199
http://www.ffbooks.net/
206-623-4727




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