[Tweeters] Murphy’s Petrel and other bedlam from Pt Wilson

[Steve Hampton]

I just ducked into the bathroom here to send out this message. Doing storm birding from Point Wilson tucked under the dune bluff looking north. I had an apparent Murphy’s Petrel and the number of Sooty shearwaters is building, now probably 30. Ancient Murrelets are coming into the Sound.

With 50 mph winds offshore, I suspect more pelagic species are ducking into the Strait.

Here’s my description of the Petrel: 

Dark Pterodroma with ridiculously fast and acrobatic flight style, between Point Wilson and Whidbey, outbound. A little smaller than SOSH with more angled wings; twice as fast with much higher, much steeper arcs— absolutely electric in flight. Watched it do about eight of these fast towering steep arcs before I lost it behind shearwaters and gulls.



Sent from my iPhone