Subject: [Tweeters] Winter Shorebirds update
Date: Mar 30 19:53:24 2012
From: Ashley Jensen - smashley_138 at yahoo.com



I decided to go to Alki again today to look for rock pipers. It payed off. Along the rocky beach just south of the Alki Lighthouse I found a mixed flock with Black Turnstones and Surfbirds! Yay, 2 lifers! The flock also included some Sanderlings. They allowed me to observe them from quite a close distance. Both species are well on their way of molting into breeding plumage.
I saw something else interesting in this area. I saw an otter come out of the ocean with a fish in his mouth and then he ran up the beach and proceeded into a fairly small drainage tube (the tube is in the concrete below the stairs and probably continues underneath the road). That's where he disappeared. Any thoughts? Maybe a den in there? I'm not sure why else he'd go in there.
O.K. One more thing. On the other side, between Seacrest park and Duwamish head, I saw all the usual seabirds. I also saw a small alcid. It was about 50 yards away, so it looked quite small even in binos. So, I know it was a small alcid, it was all dark, had a small pointed bill, and had a little white on under tail coverts (seen when diving). I think it's gotta be a Marbled Murrelet or a Cassin's Auklet. So are the Marbled Murrelets in breeding plumage at this point (because it certainly couldn't have been one in nonbreeding) Any thoughts?

(sorry for such a long post)

Cheers,

Ashley
Monroe, WA
SMashley_138 AT yahoo.com