Puget Sound Bird Fest Part I - Three life birds

Today marked the second day of the Puget Sound Bird Fest held in Edmonds, WA. I participated in several activities but the highlights of my birding adventure were the pelagic tour from 8:00 to 10:30 Am, Trumpeter Swan Society education class from 11-noon, and the Raptor demonstration by the Sarvey Wildlife Center from 12:30 - 1:30 PM.

The pelagic tour started out from the Port of Edmonds and headed due north. Along the breakwater wall, I spotted my first new lifer among several other shorebirds roosting atop the edge of the breakwater wall. The Heermann’s Gull, had an unmistakable red bill and very dark color plumage – like no other gull I have seen before.

As the fishing vessel “Undecided” cruised along our guide Dennis pointed out a flock of Bonaparte’s Gulls, Red-necked Phalaropes, and more mixed flocks of sea birds.

We motored just south of Mukilteo when we spotted the second lifer of the day, a Marbled Murrelet. Soon after Captain Ron made a roundabout toward a flock of Pelagic Cormorants, and other birds floating among fishing vessels nestled together catching Coho Salmon during a fishing derby.

The third lifer, a Rhinoceros Auklet - was spotted heading south back toward Edmonds. Several of us spotted a sea lion and Osprey near Richmond Beach. The morning ended with 21 species. Stayed tuned for Part II - Raptor Demo!


Thank you to our guide Dennis and Captain Ron for a wonderful day out on Puget Sound.