Date: 9/21/26 5:47 pm From: Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur...> Subject: Re: [pen-bird] HALF MOON BAY State Beach - question
Hi Karen,
I’ve heard there is compelling evidence that this summer there may be a
bigger die off of seabirds than usual of our coast. However based on my
experience of walking ocean beach for many years finding dead birds
including murres late summer/early fall is normal.
Consider that there are several hundred thousand murres nesting on the
Farallones. Some mortality is to be expected and at least a few of these
will wash up.
Dominik
On Mon, Sep 21, 2026 at 17:35 Karen DeMello via groups.io <karen.demello=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> 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
>>
>>
>
>
