Subject: [Tweeters] March Point White Pelicans - Skagit Co.
Date: Jun 28 14:39:18 2016
From: Joan Bird - jbird202 at hotmail.com


Hi Tweets


After failing miserably three times to locate the White Pelicans at Blaine, I took a trip to Skagit to follow up on the pelicans Marcus Roening saw from Bayview State Park. They were barely visible from there this morning, but could be seen across the bay by March Point. A quick trip around the bay, in the large gravel lot just before you enter onto E. March Point Road (at 10:00 a.m.), there was a huge congregation of pelicans visible from shore. A short way up E. March Point Road there are a few safe pull-offs, where I was able to see them very clearly. The first flock was spread out a bit, counted at 94 birds. Fairly close to them was a flock where the birds were so closely packed that the best I could do was guess the number at about 100. All of the birds were slowly moving away from Swinomish Channel toward the end of March Point and more open water.


On my return from birding elsewhere, a second check of the pelicans at 12:30 p.m., , revealed only about a dozen birds, flying at altitude toward the islands.


Joan Bird

Bellingham