Subject: PB weekly summary #6 (long)
Date: Apr 30 02:19:22 1996
From: PAGODROMA at aol.com - PAGODROMA at aol.com
Point Piedras Blancas, San Luis Obispo, Co., California.
Weekly Summary #6, 4/15-4/28, 1996.
(*Selected* species; i.e. in most cases including those species which are
clearly long-shore, off-shore migrants but *not* including 'common' large
migrant larid gulls, cormorants (except DCCO), most shorebirds, miscellaneous
non-sea waterfowl, and in most cases unidentified birds like alcids, terns,
jaegers, etc.)
SEARCH EFFORT - 25X = 30.3hrs.
SEARCH EFFORT - E + 10X = 42.4hrs.
TOTAL HOURS OF EFFORT = 72.7hrs.
RTLO --- 2,201
PALO --- 114,290 (best estimate = ~129,500)
ARLO --- 1 (4/26 -- I am really confident on this one!)
ar/palo -- 1
COLO --- 1,241
YBLO --- 0
co/yblo -- 3
CLGR --- 3 (maybe same one on three days)
BFAL --- 1
LAAL --- 0
NOFU --- 67
PFSH --- 33
FFSH --- 1
SOSH --- 2,970+
STSH --- 2
MASH --- 1 (4/25)
BVSH --- 0
storm petrels 0 (none this year yet)
BRPE --- ~157 (judged as migrants)
DCCO -- 26
BRAN --- 13,091 (best estimate = 17,500)
BLSC --- 5
SUSC --- 6,945 (best estimate = 9,000)
WWSC -- 168
RBME --- 75
OLDS --- 0
WHIM --- 333
LBCU --- 14
RNPH -- 309,500 (huge flights early am 4/23 & 4/24 -- no Reds!)
REPH -- 9,155 (4/27 & 4/28 only)
POJA --- 18
PAJA --- 4
po/paja -- 3
FRGU --- 0
BOGU --- 7,030
HMGU --- 30 (all brown immatures judged as migrants)
MEGU --- 1
GWGU --- 4
GLGU ---- 0
BLKI ----- 2
SAGU --- 413 (exactly 400, 1730-2000hrs, 4/27)
CATE ---- 7 (low)
ROTE ---- 0
ARTE ---- 19 (4/27, two flocks in SAGU 'corridor')
COTE ---- 1
FOTE ---- 703
COMU ---- 95
MAMU ---- 6 (possibly just one 'local' pair at sunset)
XAMU ---- 0
ANMU ---- 1
CAAU ---- 3
RHAU ---- 57
Notes & selected highlights this week:
Very very busy right now; the 'fun' just never stops!! Here's just one day
from my journal; cut to the quick -- copy & paste:
---------------------------------------------------------
23 April 1996
weather: 100% sunny with a few high scattered thin cirrus; wind NW 4-12kt
(am), NW 13-20 kt (pm); seas mostly B2/3 (am), B3/4-5 (pm); sea temp
10.20C; air temp 530-600F. Observed sunset = 1945hrs.
Summary:
----------
Hyakutake Comet: [PM] 2100hrs -- Gone for good I think -- at least for
the next 100,000+ years. I looked for it but couldnt find it again this
evening. I think the light of dusk at 2100hrs is too great and that coupled
with the waxing 1/4-1/3 moon dilutes it so and it is now too low on the NW
horizon. It was a great show while it lasted since mid-March and Piedras
Blancas Lighthouse could hardly have been a better or more magical spot to
have observed it.
----------
Vancouver! Vancouver! This is it!! (famous quote from Jim Johnston(?),
his final imortal words announcing the explosive eruption of Mt. St. Helens
Volcano, Washington, 5/18/80). In this case -- Pacific loons erupted in the
long awaited epic event of the year. An all time high count of 43,488 were
counted (total daily estimate = ~45,000), with ~36,000 all passing before
0900hrs. The stream was steady and nearly unbroken from 0600-0800hrs with
the peak flow rate of ~16,500 counted between 0730-0800hrs (500-700 loons per
minute!). The flight virtually stopped at 1100hrs, after which only
intermittant individuals and small packs were seen sporadically. One brief
evening flurry with ~1,000 passed at 1740hrs. This date coincides exactly to
a similar flight observed in 1995.
Also erupting in sudden massive numbers were red-necked phalaropes by the
tens of thousands! Huge flocks everywhere, especially between 0630-0730hrs,
all flying north. By 1000hrs, ~109,000 had been counted (estimated) and the
flight had all but ended as the birds had either all passed by or had
scattered and settled on the water for the day. Clearly nocturnal migrants,
they feed and rest by day. Only a slight movement was noted during the
sunset session. Amazingly, it was only last evening (1900hrs) when the very
first red-necked phalaropes of the season were seen, a scattered feeding
flock of ~200.
Steady and significant numbers of brant, surf scoters, (even white-winged
scoters), and Bonapartes gulls were on the move again. Among the brant
flocks, two of the white-bellied eastern forms (B. b. horta) were
identified and first ones this season. Like yesterday, most of the
Bonapartes gulls were once again quite near shore, following the coastline
and cutting overland over the South Point.
Good species diversity for shorebirds observed today.
The grand finale was indeed *grand*. During the sunset 25X session, a pod of
~15 killer whales (Orca orcinus) were observed at 1912hrs. in the heat of
chase, subduing, and killing a possible gray whale (small adult or juvenile
I think), 2.5nm due west of the West Point. The animal lunged a few times
and within 30 minutes an elongating tell-tale slick was forming. The pod
consisted of at least two large males and the rest females and immatures. By
1930hrs, there were 10-20 sooty shearwaters, 1 pink-footed shearwater, and 1
immature black-footed albatross along with ~20 western gulls associated with
the slick. Due to glare of sunset in the west and fading light, observations
were terminated at 1948hrs. Perhaps the kill and feeding will still be
within range tomorrow at first light as I expect the whole thing to drift a
little south overnight, perhaps replicating a similar scenario observed in
1995.
Curious and anomalous gray whale behavior was observed today. Cow/calf pairs
at mid-day and late in the day were reluctant to leave and round the South
Point. One such pair rounded the Point and the Outer Rock, only to return to
the inside cove. Another spent nearly 20 minutes way inside between the
shoreline and the harbor seal rocks, behavior which we observed only once
last year, and that time was also coincidental to a killer whale / gray whale
kill observed just off the Point. We can only speculate that todays gray
whales were aware of trouble nearby, perhaps hearing the pod of orcas
in the area.
Peregrines: Nothing special observed today. I didnt really have much time
to look in on them this morning with the loon migration running full tilt.
The female comes after me only when I am wearing my Russian brown seal skin
/ dog fur shapka, hovers just overhead, screaming to wake the dead.
Otherwise, when ever I am wearing my NOAA ship ball cap they pay no
attention. Do I look like some kind of intruding animal or preditor when I
wear the shapka? A shapka in sunny central/southern Calfornia of all
places?! Ive got to look like the biggest joke this State has ever seen,
but I dont care. At least my head and ears are always warm in the 20-30
knot wind generated afternoon Aleutian-like chill. Even our visiting Russian
guest doesnt have his, and now he has a cold.
Texaco Ponds: not checked.
Oasis -- nil.
------------------------------------------------------------
_General comments_:
LOONS: 'Epic' flight for Pacific Loons, 4/23 (~45,000), and crashing back to
6,000 4/24. 4/23 must have been a general house cleaning for those stacked up
down south.
PHALAROPES: Flood gates burst wide open 4/23 with a sudden vanguard wave of
red-necked phalaropes (~109,000+). 4/24 the count was ~137,000+, as birds
poured out of the bay and were captured on tape with the heat sensing
infrared imagry which we use to track, monitor, and sample gray whales. On
both days, the flight was done and over by 0800hrs with nary a single bird
detectable anywhere, even out on the water!! Weather conditions can not be
considered a contributing factor. Everything has just been the usual normal
for here. The phalaropes were simply here one morning (two actually) and
totally gone the next.
SABINE'S GULL: Spectacular evening event on 4/27, 1730-2000hrs with the
first of the season seen and in unprecidented numbers (400 on that evening
alone, and all within 100-200 meters off the 'Point'! Incredible spectacle
in the perfectly brilliant evening sunlight as they drifted along passing and
filling the view field of the 25X 'big eyes', and winning *Bird of the Week*.
Just like 1994 & 1995 seasons, Sabine's are totally unpredictable except
that they are almost exclusively seen in the evenings after 1800hrs to sunset
*only*! 4/27 date is just a tad early not to mention a record count in a
single event! They are not to be counted on every evening. It's just luck I
guess combined with just the right current and wind conditions near shore.
PEREGRINES: Male was captured and banded 4/22. Much to everyone's surprise,
this was an unbanded 'wild bird'. Brian Latta from the Falcon Research
Group, UCSC was down to catch & band the bird using a live great horned owl
as 'bait'. Incredible! The falcons went 'nuts' at first sight of the owl
when it and the trap were set up out in the iceplant. The whole thing was
over in only a matter of seconds! Brian may be back later this week to try
and access the eyrie and band the chicks. Ideal banding time is 17 days
after hatching. If the birds appear too mobile, hence any danger
what-so-ever that the birds might 'jump' prematurely, the effort will be
called off.
PASSERINES & OTHERS (& STUFF): zilch!
First brood (two) of Allen's hummingbirds hatched, Saturday 4/20. I'm not
checking on them too much since I need a ladder to see into the nest.
Richard Rowlett <pagodroma at aol.com>
(Bellevue, WA)
currently: Piedras Blancas Lighthouse
San Simeon, California