My understanding is that Alex is making his observations from Puget Sound Express boats out of Port Townsend, where he serves as a guide. These trips prioritize whales but some vessels seem to visit Smith Island several times each week. Recent observations from the Smith area also include Brown Booby and Sabine's Gull.

They've also seen Parasitic Jaeger deep in the Sound near Seattle. I had one fly past me at Pt Wilson, Port Townsend, the other day. There's no telling what a "sea watch" from a promontory might produce!

Good birding,






Sent from my iPhone


> On May 27, 2021, at 9:59 AM, Mary Saylor <birder at pottersaylor.com> wrote:

>

> So I'll just share a couple of the notable rarities I'm seeing today on eBird through the Birder's Dashboard.(http://birdingwashington.info/dashboard/wa/) Alex Patia photographed a Horned Puffin near Smith Island on Whidbey (Island County). Apparently this is also a nesting location for Tufted Puffin, and Alex saw those too. I don't know how they were viewed, but I imagine it must have been by boat. Years ago I joined in when a number of birders rented a boat to chase another Horned Puffin that was in the San Juans. We whiffed on that though it was a really nice day out on the water. Perhaps some Tweeters would want to do the same for Smith Island.

>

> https://ebird.org/checklist/S89031721

>

> Mary

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