We couldn’t have asked for a better morning to start off our Seawatch season. We have welcomed Alison Vilag back for a third season of tracking the majestic migration of seabirds.
“Somewhat quiet--but very pleasant--start to the 2024 Pt. Pinos Seawatch.
Weather: mostly sunny, fairly large swell, light onshore winds.
Flight: Cackling Geese were moving prominently today--I logged 464 over the course of the day; all flocks were flying northeast across the bay, as is typical here. There were just 180 Surf Scoters today, and there were several hourly checklists from today's count that lacked SUSC; this is the first opening day I've counted at Pinos where I haven't had Surf Scoters every hour. Alcid numbers were also low: I tallied just 143 Common Murres. Loon numbers (45 Red-throats and 102 Pacifics) were within expected totals for the count's start. Tubenose diversity and numbers were low: single digits of both Northern Fulmar and Sooty Shearwater. There seem to be substantial numbers of Brown Pelicans and Heermann's Gulls in the bay right now; the counts represented in these checklists are comprised only of birds flying out of the bay.
An adult female COCOS BOOBY was the obvious highlight of today's seawatch, particularly because she flew by during the height of a quiet afternoon's doldrums. A COMMON RAVEN (just my second ever at Pt. Pinos) and a SCALY-BREASTED MUNIA (detected by Brian and a Seawatch first) were non-seabird highlights, and a Black Scoter and Forster's (3) and Elegant (2) terns were nice additions to the day too.
I'm honored to be conducting the Pt. Pinos Seawatch for a third season, and enjoyed and appreciated all who dropped by this opening day to welcome me back. I'm excited to see what flights and surprises we'll share over the next six weeks; thanks for having me once again. day ended with 62 species!”
You can check the eBird Checklist here:
- Alison Vilag
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