14 OCTOBER. WASHINGTON STATE: SEABIRDS

Between at least 1986 and 1996 thousands of Brown Pelicans could be expected to show up in late summer each year on the Washington coast. The mouth of the Columbia River, Willapa Bay, and Grays Harbor were the main concentration areas though flocks could easily be observed along the coast north of Grays Harbor, in places like Kalaloch Beach and at Willoughby Rock. This pattern of late summer/early fall abundance on Washington's southern coast seemed pretty consistent during this period. This year, a dramatic change is evident. . . I started asking others and heard that anchovies were apparently being found in large numbers further north than usual.--Kelly Mcallister <mcallkrm@dfw.wa.gov>, via Peggi Rodgers <woodduck@cruzio.com>