Good news and?bad news from Thursday (9/6).??? First the good news:
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Some western(?) sandpipers were at the marsh as well as?what I believe to be the same peregrine falcon that I saw the day before.? Hopefully both the sandpipers and the falcon will remain there through this weekend's?Puget Sound Bird Fest: http://www.pugetsoundbirdfest.org/? .
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Now the bad news: The bird I?previously reported as?a marbled?murrelet was diving in?the?water between the fishing pier and the marina, which allowed me to take some very?close photos from the fishing pier.???Although the bird's plumage looks identical to that of a marbled murrelet,?the shape of its?head and its longer bill look?those of a pigeon guillemot.? ?According to the illustrations in my Sibley's, the plumage of a juvenile pigeon guillemot? can look identical to that of a juvie marbled murrelet.? Based on my photos, I am now calling it out as a juvenile pigeon guillemot. ?Thank gawd for big honkin' lenses!

Bill Anderson; Edmonds, WA. USA