The "long thing" caught by the gull and sought after by the Rhino Auklet may
have been Pacific Sandlance, a small, thin fish that spawns (and actually
hides in) our sandy inter-tidal areas. They are 1 of the 3 so called forage
fish that are major prey items for salmon and fish eating birds. I've seen
Pigeon Guillemots bring sandlance to feed their young in their bluff burrows
here on Whidbey Island.
Steve Ellis
Coupeville, Wa.
sellis at coup.wednet.edu