Date: 9/13/26 10:53 am From: Peter Metropulos via groups.io <pjmetrop...> Subject: [pen-bird] SEABIRD FEEDING FRENZY at Ano Nuevo State Park
On September 11, I witnessed a massive concentration of seabirds while scoping at Ano Nuevo State Park. Positioned on the bluff near the pond I scanned the bay between the island and the Santa Cruz County line.SOOTY SHEARWATERS were streaming north at a rate of hundreds-per-minute. I gave up counting after I reached 20,000 birds. More birds were arriving from the south and settled in to land on the water along with several thousand BRANDT'S CORMORANTS. I arrived at an estimate of 100,000 Sooty Shearwaters. I managed to pick out one PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER among them.Adding to the spectacle were: COMMON MURRE, 2800; MARBLED MURRELET,25; ELEGANT TERN, 1125; COMMON TERN,1.
On the pond were was an early drake RING-NECKED DUCK, and 2 VAUX'S SWIFTS were feeding with swallows.Later,at PESCADERO STATE BEACH, I saw a WANDERING TATTLER on the rocks near the creek mouth.
