Date: 3/26/26 12:42 pm From: Ronald- Thorn via groups.io <Tronthorn...> Subject: [pen-bird] Pigeon Point seawatch 3/25
Yesterday morning, I did a seawatch from Pigeon Point. Chris Hayward arriving at the end of the seawach contributed adding more Brant to the count. Although the conditions weregood with a brisk northwest wind and clear visibility out to the horizon, no tubenoses were noted. Sooty Shearwaters should be arriving soon. Noted during the three hour seawatch.Brant were passing behind the rock off of the lighthouse, numbers that I have not noted in quite awhile were ( 1,013 ) Brant. Other northbound birds were ( 956 ) Surf Scoters,( 4 ) Black Scoters, ( 13 ) Red-breasted Mergansers, ( 102 ) Red-throated Loons, the first I have noted in alternate plumage were ( 14 ) Common Loons, ( 1 ) Pacific Loon, ( 27 )Whimbrels, ( 1 ) Long-billed Curlew, ( 1 ) Semipalmated Plover. I had already noted ( 107 ) Sanderlings, when a steady stream passed behind the rock, it was difficult get a good count. There were between ( 550-600 ) Sanderlings, I have never had that experience before from years seawatching at the point! The first Bonaparte's Gulls noted were ( 24 ), ( 6 ) Short-billed Gulls, casual visitor on the coast ( 2 ) Ring-billed Gulls, ( 82 ) California Gulls, ( 2 ) Herring Gulls, ( 1 ) Iceland ( Thayer's ) Gull, ( 73 ) Western Gulls, ( 1 ) Heerman'sGull, ( 5 ) Caspian Terns, ( 21 ) Elegant Terns, ( 1,600 ) Common Murres, ( 18 ) Pigeon Guillemots and ( 4 ) Rhinoceros Auklets.
Ron Thorn
