This morning I headed out just after daylight in hopes of seeing the Snow Bunting located yesterday at Brown’s Point. On arrival Bruce, Peter and a Seattle birder were standing about 20′ from the SNBU near a blue trash can just off the beach. It was another super-easy Pierce lifer.
Bruce agreed to go over to Dash Point to see if we could find an Ancient Murrelet, and again it was really easy. I had one to the left of the pier before Bruce even got out of his car. No photos of this guy as he was very busy diving.
I only stayed out about an hour, and got two FOY Pierce birds, and the SNBU was a Pierce lifer for me. Quite a great morning.
Tag: Brown’s Point
Cassin’s Aucklet Today
About 11:30 AM today Bruce texted to let me know he had a Cassin’s Aucklet off Dash point. I had to work the Rotary Lot 1-5 today so was not able to dash over. I thought it was unlikely the bird would remain long, but after dinner Kay and I went over to check it out and watch the sunset. Nothing at all at Dash Point, but at Brown’s Point Lighthouse sure enough the CAAU was in flat water, just about 200-250 M off shore. We had nice if distant looks, and are confident of the ID. Digiscope attempts in waning light were useless, but the small size, round head, very pointy bill, grayish color overall with whiter below just at the water without a sharp demarcation line, lack of white wing patch and no strong head pattern exclude most other options, and the general shape especially head shape exclude MAMU. A Pierce first for us.