We held the Sequim/Dungeness CBC yesterday, Dec 16. A beautiful calm day, started chilly and ended with chili at our compilation, with spectacular weather in between.

I'm still awaiting data from a couple groups and several feeder watchers, but there are a few unusual species that might interest people. Fortunately, several of these species were known before the count, making my life as a compiler relatively easy. We have great photographers who took amazing pics yesterday for confirmation. We now stand at 144 species for the day.

Emperor Goose -- One photographed flying with a flock of Canada Geese near the Gardiner boat launch on the west side Discovery Bay.
Yellow-billed Loon -- Our boat party found 10 in the area between Protection Island and Dungeness Spit, plus one more seen from land off the north end of Miller Peninsula.
Black-crowned Night Heron -- locally known as "Gale," wintering in Dungeness for at least the 3rd or 4th year.
Snow Bunting -- Two found on Dungeness Spit.
Harris's Sparrow -- Visiting a feeder along 3 Crabs Road since late October.
Rusty Blackbird -- Two in flocks of blackbirds and starlings, one photographed at Maple View Dairy near Washington Harbor east of Sequim, and the other at the north end of Schmuck Road at Port Williams Rd.
Bullock's Oriole -- One photographed yesterday in the town of Dungeness, last seen two weeks ago in the same area. Likely subadult male.

Also count week W Scrub Jay at Dungeness.

Bob Boekelheide
Dungeness