Subject: [Tweeters] Yellow Billed Loon - No and Yes
Date: Nov 29 18:46:15 2012
From: Blair Bernson - blair at washingtonadvisorygroup.com


I just returned from another trip to Clallam
County, Neah Bay and Cape Flattery. I was going
to stop at Fort Worden and look for the Yellow
Billed Loon there but it was already dark when I
was close so that is the "No". However on the way
out to Neah Bay, in heavy rain, I saw the road to
Pillar Point and since I have not been there is a
while I decided to detour. There was an immature
(or winter plumaged) Yellow Billed Loon about 70
yards offshore...humongous pale yellowish bill on
a very large bird. So that is the Yes.

There was lots of rain including in Neah Bay which
hampered birding for anything not in the water.
There I found the expected birds but not the
Snowie that Michael Willison and I had our last
trip. I did not even bother with thicket birds in
the areas near the Mini-mart or Makah
Passage/Holden intersection. Too rainy. But the
weather gods were a little kind since it stopped
raining when I got out to Cape Flattery. I birded
rigorously there for the two hours before the
rains returned. The tide was coming in and the
seas were a little rough. MANY Common Murres and
Pacific Loons in addition to far fewer other
alcids than seen the last trip. The prize was a
fairly close in immature Black Legged Kittiwake
with those oh so distinctive wingtips dipped into
the black inkwell and some gray on nape and top of
head and distinctive top of wing pattern. There
also were shearwaters on the inside of Tatoosh
Island. On the last visit there were more but
much further flying behind the island.

On the way back I had time to stop at what I
believe is called Shipwreck Point (or Beach) along
the Highway near Sekiu and also at several
pullouts. I was amazed at the number of Common
Loons in the Straits - everywhere and the
incredible numbers of Buffleheads. At Shipwreck
Point there were two treats,,,a large group of Mew
Gulls and a very large flock (30+) of Black
Turnstones. Got too wet and had to leave with
those nice treats in mind.

--
Blair Bernson
Edmonds