Date: 9/21/26 5:35 pm From: Karen DeMello via groups.io <karen.demello...> Subject: [pen-bird] HALF MOON BAY State Beach - question
Peter's recent post inspired me to stop by Half Moon Bay State Beach just
before noon today. It was a treat to see 5 Snowy Plovers on the beach.
What was a surprise were the 5 dead Common Murres on the beach. Is this
normal? It's rare that I get to the coast, though I don't remember ever
seeing so many dead birds there before. Side note: If anyone is interested
in dead bird photos let me know, I took several.
Thanks,
Karen DeMello
Mountain View
On Fri, Sep 18, 2026 at 2:29 PM Peter Metropulos via groups.io <pjmetrop=
<pacbell.net...> wrote:
> This morning(September 18) I walked Half Moon Bay from Kelley Avenue north
> to Pilarcitos Creek.
> A PECTORAL SANDPIPER was feeding in the marshy estuary at the creek mouth
> along with a handful of other shorebirds.
> An AMERICAN AVOCET flying north along the beach was a much rarer bird
> along the coast than the Pectoral.
> I counted 28 SNOWY PLOVERS on the beach.
> Walking back to the parking lot I noticed a line of large,skinny,black
> birds flying low over the water,heading north. There were so many
> cormorants flying back and forth I imagined that's what they were but I
> gave them a look anyway. I'm glad I did look closely because the flock was
> of WHITE-FACED IBIS, about 20 birds in all.
>
> Peter J.Metropulos
>
>
>
