Subject: [Tweeters] Columbia River Mouth 30 Oct 07
Date: Oct 31 10:29:52 2007
From: Troy Guy - Troy.Guy at noaa.gov


Tweeters-
We completed another seabird survey from the North Head lighthouse in WA
at the mouth of the Columbia River. We have been surveying birds here
twice a month beginning in August 2004. We surveyed from first light to
3:30pm. The sky was clear all day but a thin haze lingered for most of
the morning. The swell was up at 8'-10' with clean sets to 12-15'.
Wind was north-northwest 5-10 knots increasing to10-15 in the
afternoon. Sea was pretty calm with Beaufort 2-3 all day with a few
whitecaps in the late afternoon.

Rafts of Bonaparte's Gulls were observed on the water at first light.
They trickled southbound throughout the day. Foraging Black-legged
Kittiwakes were spread out in the distance. Pulses of California Gulls
were steadily streaming southward. Heerman's Gulls were flying steadily
south. A spiffy looking breeding adult Ring-billed Gull flew past.
Pelicans numbers are way down from our last survey.

We saw our seasons first Short-tailed Shearwaters, Ancient Murrelets,
and Black Scoters. Small numbers of winter plumaged Common Murres and
Marbled Murrelets were around. Only three Rhinoceros Auklets were
seen. A non-breeding plumaged Parasitic Jaeger was launching attacks on
the small gulls. Later a breeding plumaged adult Pomarine Jaeger came
through and beat the fish out of one of the few remaining Heerman's
Gulls. A light-plumaged Northern Fulmar came in to check out the action.

Overall there was no large southbound movement of scoters or loons
observed. We had a few Buffelheads in the scoter rafts at first light.
There was a fair number of White-winged Scoters and Red-throated Loons
scampering around feeding and rafting close to the beach. Occasionally
5-10 loons would coalesce into a tight feeding pack and herd a bait
shoal up to the surface. Mew Gulls, Bonaparte's Gulls and Black-legged
Kittiwakes were always there to take advantage of the action.

Mammals included the usual suspects...California and Steller Sealions,
Harbor Porpoise, Harbor Seal. No whales. Seems winter is almost here.

Best regards,
Troy Guy
Astoria, OR