Yesterday, the VENT tour led by Bob Sundstrom, George Gerdts and Matt Young joined Westport Seabirds for their annual pelagic trip. Starting at 6:30 a.m. with the sun rising over Mount Rainier, Venus still visible, calm harbor and seas, all we needed was Orca jumping and rainbows for the perfect postcard. We did have some very cooperative Humpback Whales further out to complete this wonderful scene. Seabird numbers seemed less than last week with no major rarities seen. However, for the tour, with birders coming from many states and for some, their first pelagic, it was a great trip. Leaders for Westport Seabirds were Scott Mills and myself. Phil and Chris Anderson were our boat pilot and spotters.

Further information on upcoming pelagic trips and reservations please visit our website at www.westportseabirds.com.

Birds observed
Green-winged Teal
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Black-footed Albatross
Northern Fulmar
Pink-footed Shearwater
Buller?s Shearwater
Sooty Shearwater
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel
Brandt?s Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Brown Pelican
Great Blue Heron-in harbor
Marbled Godwit-350-in harbor
Black Turnstone-1, on jetty
Red-necked Phalarope
Red Phalarope
Sabine?s Gull
Heermann?s Gull
Western Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Caspian Tern
Common Tern
Elegant Tern-1, seen in harbor by a few
Parasitic Jaeger
Common Murre
Cassin?s Auklet
Rhinoceros Auklet
a passerine ( more than likely a sparrow or warbler)

Mammals observed
Gray Whale
Humpback Whale
Harbor Porpoise
Dall?s Porpoise
Northern Fur Seal
Steller?s Sea Lion
California Sea Lion
Harbor Seal

Other stuff
Valalla jelly fish
Pacific sun fish
Blue shark

Bruce LaBar
Tacoma, WA