Thank you, Wilson, for forwarding Shawneen's OBOL posting re: the
Ancient Murrelet. I'll simply add a bit more description for anyone
who wants to look for it:

From our viewing spot on the WA side (the weedy plateau across the RR
tracks from the outlet of Rock Creek Drive just west of Stevenson),
we first saw the bird fly from a spot between here and Cascade Locks
upriver out of sight. It then apparently drifted downriver,
eventually giving us views straight out from this viewing area. It
then flew upriver again about a mile or so, and away from us,
crossing the line from WA into OR. This was very late in the
afternoon, but the bird may well spend its day like this, repeatedly
flying upriver and then drifting back downriver. It's our feeling
that this viewing spot gives the most expansive view of the entire
region of interest, and you've also got a bit of elevation here to
help see over the waves (which were troublesome in mid-afternoon).
The lighting was also good from here, at least in the afternoon. A
scope is essential.

Jay Withgott
Portland, OR
withgott at comcast.net



Second Skamania County record for Ancient Murrelet.
Wilson Cady
Skamania County, WA


Please note: forwarded message attached

From: Shawneen Finnegan <shawneenfinnegan at gmail.com>
To: OBOL <obol at oregonbirds.org>
Subject: [OBOL] Murrelet Chase Results: Cascade Locks
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:09:44 -0700

Jay Withgott and I drove to Cascade Locks to look for the reported
Marbled Murrelet this afternoon. We looked until late in the day on
the Oregon side before crossing into Washington. It was good that we
did. From an overlook west of Stevenson (just opposite the entrance
road to Skamania Lodge) we found a reasonable view. From high on the
bluff we could see the Sternwheeler and Marina slightly to the
southwest. We saw one of each:

ANCIENT MURRELET (we think both OR and WA)
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (male) (OR & WA)
SURF SCOTER (male) close to OR shoreline
RED-THROATED LOON (WA side)
RED-NECKED GREBE (OR side)

Bad digiscoped photos of the murrelet were taken when it floated past us.
From Government Cove road we saw a huge raft of coots and wigeon on
the river that included three Eurasian types, the two males looking
like hybrids plus a female. Nearby was a fairly close EARED GREBE.

Shawneen Finnegan and Jay Withgott. (still driving home)