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...> 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...> 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
