Tweeters:

I once had a flock of 36 Tufted Puffins in late May (back in 1980s) right close to Iceberg Point, Lopez I. Think
the book Birding in the San Juan Islands has the exact date. Recall in those times that single birds would
show up sometimes off the ferry, but were more likely at the southern edge of the archipelago.

Vespers in the Sequim or DRA area: it has been a very long time since the species bred here. Do recall
a bird at the DRA in mid-April of (about) 1979, and vaguely recall that not long before this (mid-70s) Stan and
Dory Smith reported a breeding pair at the DRA. Literature from much earlier (Bowles, Jewett) indicates that at
one time (and prior to today's intense development of the Sequim prairie) the species was a regular breeder
in the area. In the last couple decades Vesper seems to be a very rare (mostly fall) migrant (there have
been three recorded at nearby Graymarsh since 1986, spanning Sept. 1-Oct. 6).

Scott Atkinson
Lake Stevens
mail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com