Date: 5/21/26 2:23 pm From: Brian Fitch via groups.io <fogeggs...> Subject: [SFBirds] Rhino Courtship
I spent an hour and a half at the Sutro Baths this morning before the fog lowered, with the only highlight being a pair of Rhinoceros Auklets just offshore. Once I got the scope on them I could see their horns and eye plumes, but then I was given a first ever experience as I watched them synchronously stretching their necks up and out like potoos as they swam side by side, then coming around to face each other and touching beak tips together in a quick little kiss. They did this three times before swimming further offshore and eventually behind Seal Rocks. No mating was observed, but after a walk around Land's End, I spotted them or a second pair by Hermit Rock. I've written before about how great it would be to have them breeding here in town, so I'll keep trying to monitor the situation.
Land's End, North Lake, and Elk Glen were migrant free, but after driving home, I then walked up to Alamo Square, where I immediately spotted an Ash-throated Flycatcher, an Olive-sided Flycatcher, and heard a Western Flycatcher. At least four Western Tanagers were up in the cypresses, but there was no sight or sound from the male Summer of the last two days. I then saw Donna Borden, and she and Heather shared that Mike Anderson had just found a female type Summer on the north side of the park. After many minutes of scouring the area, I had brief looks at the female flying between cypresses near Fulton and Pierce. Brian Fitch
