OK - maybe not billions, but the Bonapartes were
out in force this morning on the Ferry between
Edmonds and Kingston where I saw between 100 and
200 and especially at Point No Point where there
were more than 300. Most were well into breeding
plumage but at least a few were still with white
heads and spot behind the eye. Also seen were
numerous Common Loons, a Red Throated Loon, two
groups of more than 20 each Western Grebes and
numerous Horned and Red Necked Grebes. Altogether
I had more than a dozen Rhinoceros Auklets and
Pigeon Guillemots and two Marbled Murrelets at
Point No Point and single Common Murres on the
ferry crossing and at Pt. Gamble. All three
cormorants were seen and Surf Scoters far
outnumbered White Winged Scoters (perhaps 100 to
3) and no Black Scoters or Long Tailed Ducks.
Also many (30 plus) Red Breasted Mergansers. The
highlight however was an otter taking and eating a
flat fish at Point No Point.