I just returned from several days on San Juan Island which I discovered is
the House Wren capital of western Washington. I had no idea they were so
common there.



I spent some time in futile search for the Island Large Marble butterfly at
American Camp. However, I did see a couple of interesting migrants, an
American Pipit and a bright male Mountain Bluebird, both along the beach at
South Beach. At Cattle Point lighthouse, I saw a Western Kingbird.



Turkey Vultures seemed too many to count and we saw Wood Ducks, Osprey, Bald
Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Brown Creeper, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned
Warbler, Black Oystercatcher, Harlequin Duck, Pacific Loon, Rhinoceros
Auklet, Common Murre, and Violet-Green and Barn Swallows. There were at
least five Purple Martins in an area of nest boxes at the Marina in Roche
Harbor. The foxes at American camp were multi-colored and entertaining.



We also saw two groups of Harbor Porpoise as we rode the ferry back to
Anacortes today.



Kelly McAllister

Olympia, Washington