FIELD NOTES Doug Bell June 13, 1985 LOCATION: Protection Island (approached from Walla Walla (Jefferson Co., WA) College's Marine Station @ Anacortes), WA. HABITAT: Substantial island - eastern spit ~ 40 acres - sandy soil, grass, driftwood - near sea level. Table bluffs w/sand banks - high grassy hills & pine forest. TIME: 14:00 - 18:00 WEATHER: Lt. overcast, some drizzle (mist) but clearing. Dale Lent is manager of Marine Station. Met Charlie Amoloner & Joe Galusha at Marine Station. Went out on boat w/ Jim Nesser, Doug (18' Boston Whaler, w/ 90 hp outboard) to Protection Island. Met Nigel Ball and Robert Opps wife: Maggie, daughter Hazel. Went to east sandy spit. Helped Jim set up speakers at blind. Lots of gulls - 11,000 total on island. 4-5,000 out foraging at any time. Primary tips vary from lt. grey (= Mantel) to darker grey to almost black (seen in a few birds). Saw at least 3 pairs where one bird had dark or blackish primary tips and its mate had grey tips. Other birds: Carrion Crows (American & Northwest) Caspian Tern (1) Pigeon Guillemots (nesting in rocks of harbor entrance). Savannah Sparrows (3) - yellow lores, pink legs striped head, spotted breast, raspy twitter Oystercatchers - 5 birds - 2 doing a head down bill-open side-by-side run. Voice quick stacatto Barn Swallows Violet Green Swallows Song Sparrows Cassin's Auklet Burrows in bluff cliffs. Pelagic Cormorant Raven