Subject: [Tweeters]
Date: Mar 21 10:21:08 2013
From: Scott Atkinson - scottratkinson at hotmail.com






Tweeters: During the fierce storm last night I went up to Rosario Head, close to Deception Pass, to check for pelagics. I was stunned to encounter a very likely winter-plum. adult Red-facedCormorant fighting the wind at the rocky shoreline on the edge of the Bowman Bay beach. The bird was trying tofly westward back out into open water, but could only manage coast-wise movement and flew off southward intothe waters at Deception Pass. People should keep an eye out. This bird had a pale bill but I did not see it well, but the thicker neck than Pelagic, and the greenish gloss, especially on the back/scap, contrasting with purplish-blackish plumage otherwise--were well seen. The bird was plainlylonger than a Pelagic and heavier in flight, more approximatingBrandt's Cormorant in overall "gizz." The bird was deemed a winter ad owing to the fact that there was no pronounced red throat patch as yet, only a darkened reddish area,and there were no flank patches. Earlier in the day, I had an early CLIFF SWALLOW nearConway and I-5, my earliest for Skagit County by 8 days. Scott AtkinsonLake Stevensmail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com