Point Pinos Seawatch Open House

Description: Every winter Monterey Audubon sponsors a dedicated seawatch to count seabirds migrating past Point Pinos at the tip of the Monterey Peninsula. Due to its unique geography, Point Pinos is the premier location on the west coast to see and identify seabirds from shore. In late fall, thousands of loons, Surf Scoters and other seabirds migrate past “The Point,” flying close to shore as they try to stay over water rather than fly over land to cross the peninsula on their southward journey.

We'll spend some time at the Seawatch Project site, then explore further south along the hard-packed coastal trail to see if we can spot any other up-close rocky-intertidal birds over near the Great Tidepool and South Gull Roost. We'll travel a total distance of 0.5 miles out-and-back. We'll primarily be birding along the rocky coastline, finding Black Oystercatchers, Black Turnstones, and other shore and coastal birds, but will spend at least one hour at the Point Pinos Seawatch site. At this spot we’ll have scopes to share with trip participants as we join our MAS staff bird counter, Alison Vilag, for a stretch of land-based seabirding. Although difficult to predict on any given day, we should see a selection of loons, scoters, sea ducks, and murres. If we’re lucky, a truly pelagic bird might make an appearance, like a shearwater, jaeger, phalarope or fulmar.

All birders are welcome on this trip, whether you have seen a jaeger or whether you don't know what one is yet! If you'd like to borrow binoculars, make a note during the registration process, as we have nice ones to lend out. If you have any additional questions about the activity level or accessibility, email Amanda Preece at amanda.preece@montereyaudubon.org to discuss options.

Trip Leaders: Monterey Audubon Society Board Member Amanda Preece will lead the trip.

Trip Difficulty: We’ll travel at a slow pace on flat or slightly inclined sidewalks, smooth DG or lightly traveled roads. This is a beginner trip open to all who want to learn more about seabirds and the rocky coastline of Pacific Grove. Total distance will be 0.5 miles out and back to the cars.

What to wear: Be prepared for very cold winds, even if it is warm at your house. If the winds are up, it could be colder than you expect. Dress accordingly in layers. Heavy rain will cancel, but light mist will not!

Facilities: Bathrooms are available at nearby Crespi Pond.

Meet: At the gravel parking lot where Ocean View Blvd begins to turn and curve south located HERE. The lot is labelled with a green sign that says "6 Foghorn". Parking is free all day.