Subject: [Tweeters] Port Angeles Thick-billed Murre
Date: Jan 4 13:29:01 2013
From: Carol Riddell - cariddellwa at gmail.com


I saw the THICK-BILLED MURRE in Port Angeles Harbor at 12:45 pm today. I had been scoping the harbor with Vince Lucas this morning from outside the Coast Guard station. We were unable to locate it within scope range from that location. About noon Vince said he would check from the pier on the southeast side of the harbor and then would head back to Sequim. I decided to slowly work my way west along Ediz Hook just to see what year birds I could pick up. My last stop was just east of the floating logs near the base of the spit. I got on four murres that were in a southeasterly direction, probably a little east of Westport Marine. Three were obvious Common Murres, with their long bills, white behind their eyes, and their streaked flanks. The fourth murre had a short bill, an all dark head with white throat, and clean flanks. The shorter bill was easy to identify in contrast to those of its three companion Common Murres.

It was also nice to see a Rhinoceros Auklet in full alternate plumage, Long-tailed Ducks, Harlequin Ducks, Black Turnstones, lots of Common Loons, and others.

Carol Riddell
Edmonds