On Monday September 28, 2015, Ken Brown led an ABC field trip to Kitsap County with Jaegers as primary targets. Five carloads of birders started out on the south side of Bainbridge Island at the fish ponds where we hit pay dirt with a huge flock of Bonaparte’s Gulls with smaller numbers of at least 4 other gull species and a Common Tern. We hit the right day for Jaegers as we watched perhaps 5 Parasitic Jaegers go after the small gulls, often successfully.

We dragged ourselves away from that spectacle and headed for Point No Point. We didn’t get that same show at all there, but in the bright sunshine we turned into whale watchers as perhaps two Humpbacks surfaced over and over, delighting us and many others. The clear conditions offered incredible views of the north Cascades with Mt. Baker gleaming gaudily. Sea Lions attracted gulls close to shore, and as well there were small numbers of migrating and wintering waterfowl making an appearance.

After lunch at Norwegian Point/Hansville (where we had a 2nd cycle Herring Gull), we headed for Foulweather Bluff and enjoyed the freshwater ducks on the inland side. Driftwood Key/Hansville again took our breath away as a huge flock of Bonaparte’s Gulls arrived in a ball like so many sanderlings! A late Osprey was a pleasant surprise!

A sunny, fun, and successful day of birding. Thanks, Ken!

Click on photo to enlarge. Bonaparte’s, Humpback, Jaeger, and the group.