2025 Pt. Pinos Seawatch - 2 Nov

Weather: Slight breeze all day, strongest mid-morning as it swung around from east to west. The fog rolled in in the early afternoon and we were in pea soup for less than an hour - great visibility all day otherwise, except for a slight haze due to salt spray from the heavy swell.

Birds: Overall slightly quieter than yesterday, but with constant movement throughout the day. SURF SCOTERS steadily flew by in small flocks with 983 birds total for the day; one flock contained a BLACK SCOTER drake.

Loon numbers were slightly up, with RED-THROATED LOONS peaking in the morning and PACIFIC LOONS steady all day. Most of these birds were singles to small groups.

Tubenoses were largely absent save for a few SOOTY SHEARWATERS and NORTHERN FULMARS. COMMON MURRES were steady all day in small numbers. ELEGANT TERNS and BONAPARTE'S GULLS were present all day, peaking in the afternoon, and offering excitement as PARASITIC JAEGERS attempted to steal their lunch money.

2 small flocks and a lone individual BRANT were also a lovely sight as these sea geese make their way south from Alaska. One banded individual that was observed in Monterey two years ago turned out to be only 4 months old and fresh from Kachemak Bay, Alaska before it was spotted eating sod near Monterey Bay Park. Every year it is amazing to watch these young birds make their way south for the first time!

A MERLIN was also buzzing the Point - hopefully this small fierce falcon sticks around for the winter to take advantage of the bountiful prey, perhaps to the chagrin of passerines we observed like AMERICAN PIPIT, BARN SWALLOW, and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER...

Finally, on this beautiful Sunday we had many pleasant interactions with curious passersby, several of which turned out to be locals or even regular visitors looking forward to the start of Seawatch and Alison's return! Thank you to our volunteer relief counters Amanda Preece, Fred Hochstaedter, and Catherine Webb - it takes a village to attempt to match what Alison does every day.

See the full trip report here: https://ebird.org/tripreport/428969

- Kai Russell