Big pulse of Bonaparte's Gulls moving up the Sound right now.



Last night around 7 pm I observed about 1,000 Bonaparte's stretching a mile
or more along a rip current from the Alki Point Lighthouse north and
northeast into Elliott Bay - about half in the air, mostly moving in from
the south, and about half down on the water. Of the latter, many were sort
of hovering and pouncing on the surface, others sitting but also dabbling.
A few Mew Gulls were associating with the activity as well.



This morning around 7:15 there were at least 150 Bonaparte's on the water,
also in a north mixed in with Brant, Mew Gulls, and Glaucous-winged gulls.
To the extent there was aerial activity this morning, they seemed to be
picking up and flying back south of the Lighthouse.



Good spring birding to you all.





Gary T. Smith

Alki Point