We left the dock a little late, just after 10:30am on Sunday. Alcids were immediately evident, with Pigeon Guillemot, Rhinoceros Auklet, Marbled Murrelet, and Common Murre well represented. The weather looked a little ominous, and we were to have a five hour wait in Port Angeles before the return ferry. We had just reached the middle of the crossing with nothing new seen, when a small flock of shorebird-types flew up from in front of the boat and settled a short distance away. My first Red-necked Phalaropes of the year! A moment of panic ensued, in which I was unsure of just what side of the border we were on. A quick map check on the ole Blackberry confirmed that we were indeed still in Canadian waters.
At the end of Ediz Hook, at the entrance to Port Angeles, there were 60+ Heermann's Gulls lounging on the beach. This species has yet to reach Victoria in good numbers, and it was a nice touch to see so many in one spot this early in the year. There were another 30 or 40 scattered along the waterfront as well.
My wife and I grabbed lunch right away at the Port Angeles Crabhouse, which wasn't too bad, if a little on the pricey side. Following lunch we played tourist, and explored the antique shops and bookstores. I found it a little surprising that the Sibley Guide is $40 once you cross the border, as opposed to the $57 it costs up here. Picking up two copies and bringing them home would pay for the ferry ride! The birding in Port Angeles was a little slow, but I did manage to add (according to eBird) American Goldfinch to my Clallam County list, which up until this year, I didn't even know I had!
The return trip was also uneventful. There was a bit of swell on the water which, combined with the rain, meant I had the bow of the boat mostly to myself. Nothing new was added, but we had light enough back in Victoria to check for the Wandering Tattler that had eluded me over the weekend. A quick check of the breakwater revealed nothing, after which I quickly located the bird roosting on the rocks over near the pilot boats.
Wandering Tattler is a fairly regular summer bird here, but it can be missed. I feel a lot better having added it now, and not having to scramble or camp out in August.
I added three birds over the weekend, to bring the Big Year total to 213, with a few months left to find 39 more. However, a few common birds have still managed to avoid me, including Ruffed Grouse (heard, not seen) and Common Nighthawk (heard, not seen, numerous times). Shorebirding continues to pick up, and hopefully it won't be long until we have our first Baird's Sandpiper, followed closely by the others. The first Pectoral Sandpiper has already been reported as well.
Good birding,
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