Salutations,

Mary Anne Rossing and I took advantage of the fine afternoon weather and
drove to Port Townsend for some sea-watching. We arrived about 3:30, and
the tide was running out rapidly. Lots of Common Murres, Pigeon Guillemots,
a few Ancient Murrelets, and 20+ Marbled Murrelets. We were joined in the
sea -watch by Ed and Delia Newbold. As the sun got lower in the sky, about
4:30, a large loon landed about 100 yards off-shore. I put my scope on it,
and sure enough it was an adult Yellow-billed Loon molting into basic.
The bright yellow bill held at an upward angle was gorgeous in late afternoon
sunlight. The head was still dark greenish with a hint of white collar,
and there was a good bit of checkering still on the back. As we were
leaving 13 Black Oystercatchers flew by the breakwater at the lighthouse.

George Gerdts
Bainbridge Island
_geopandion at gmail.com_ (mailto:geopandion at gmail.com)
206-842-8138