Subject: [Tweeters] Brown Pelican off Alki Point
Date: Apr 11 16:19:08 2010
From: Gary Smith - gsmith at smithandstark.com


Tweeters,



This morning my wife observed an immature Brown Pelican standing on a small
wooden floating platform moored just northeast of the Alki Lighthouse -
cheek by jowl to two harbor seals, no less. It took off shortly after she
saw it.



And for a random sampling of what else is around right Alki now that are
slightly outside the expected:



The first Bonaparte's Gulls we've been able to see this spring came around
today, first just a few, then about 30 in one group. Occasionally in the
past, starting about this time of the year, I've seen them migrate in a very
large group, usually in a ragged intermittent line taking at least an hour
to pass by. I've never been sure that I've seen the group at the beginning
or to its end, but I've seen more than 1,000 birds on two occasions, and
several hundred at other times. I always hope to catch the annual
procession, but am not that fortunate.



Also this morning, two Rhinocerous Auklets paddled by close, showing
beautiful alternate plumage - white facial plumes and full "horn" evident.



Black Turnstones are still around, a half dozen south of the Lighthouse this
morning.



No really large accumulations of Brant yet this spring, but we had about 100
drop by about three weeks ago. We usually will see at least 200 at a time
at least once a spring, and several times have seen more than 400 at a time.
Their quiet, restless wariness is quite arresting.



A bald eagle coming into its third-year plumage has been cruising and
roosting around the Point lately. Yesterday it flew so close to my
second-story window I felt I could reach out and touch it.



And in the backyard, a pair of Black-capped Chickadees are carrying
materials today from a Hornbeam into a hole near the top of a nearby utility
pole.



Happy Spring Birding to you all.



--g





Gary T. Smith

Alki Point