Hey Tweets,

You saw the preview this morning when I sent some very rough notes to the Tweeters address by mistake. Here is a finished report, which should be much more intelligible. I apologize for any inconvenience caused by misdirecting the earlier message to Tweeters.

It has been a sometimes exciting, sometimes not so exciting first two weeks of October. Activity is picking up on the Edmonds waterfront. California Gull numbers are diminishing as Mew Gull numbers are increasing. Heermann's Gull numbers are continuing to hover around several hundred. Bonaparte's Gulls can be seen most days. Surf Scoters have returned in force and six adult drake Black Scoters are seen frequently from Sunset Avenue in the waters just north of the Edmonds Underwater Park. Although they can be seen in other waterfront locations from time to time, the most reliable place to look for them is north of the Underwater Park. White-winged Scoters are being seen but not every day. Large numbers of American Wigeons have been swimming off of Shell Creek The two goldeneyes, Buffleheads, and Red-breasted Mergansers have not yet returned to Edmonds marine waters. They should be back soon. Horned and Red-necked Grebe numbers are increasing but still not large. Pacific Loons are also back in the marine waters north of the Underwater Park. So far their numbers have ranged from one to four. There have been a few fly-bys of single Common Loons.

October 2nd was a great day on the waterfront with three birders watching a Leach's Storm-Petrel (code 5) and two Parasitic Jaegers (code 3) from the pier. Later that day two Ancient Murrelets (code 2) were seen from Sunset Avenue. On October 7th there was a Pied-billed Grebe (code 2) in the marina where this species can frequently be seen. The excitement that day, though, was the high count of 1224 Western Grebes tallied by several birders on the pier. On October 8th there was a Western Gull (code 4) at rest on the north breakwater. There were Snow Goose (code 3) fly-overs on October 12th and 14th. Three Eared Grebes (code 4) were seen on October 12th and and 17th. A first fall bird has been seen multiple times between the pier and ferry dock. It either is near the Surf Scoters or swimming alone. A pair of Eared Grebes have been seen twice from Sunset on those dates. A Black Turnstone (code 4) was seen and photographed on the marina breakwater early in the day on October 14th. It was reported a second time later that day on the Brackett's Landing jetty. I had my first-of-fall Red-throated Loon (code 3) fly closely by the pier on October 17th.

Waterfowl numbers and species are back to winter levels at the Edmonds Marsh. These include American Wigeons, Mallards, Gadwalls, Northern Shovelers, and Green-winged Teals. There has been no Eurasian Wigeon sighting yet, despite the presence of a large wigeon flock in Edmonds. Great Blue Herons are back regularly with sightings ranging from one to thirteen birds. Killdeers are the only shorebirds regularly seen at this point. A few American Coots are present.

Marsh sightings of interest include three Greater White-fronted Geese (code 3) on October 2d and 5th; two Western Scrub-Jays (code 4) on October 3rd; one Pied-billed Grebe (code 2) on October 14th and 16th; one Western Sandpiper (code 1) on October 2nd; one Pectoral Sandpiper (code 3) on October 8th; two Long-billed Dowitchers (code 3) on October 8th; and one Western Meadowlark (code 4) near the southwest observation platform on October 8th.

Carol Riddell
Edmonds, Wa