The fall shearwater migration was going today. It was really fun to watch
them stream by in the thousands heading north. At dusk they turned around
and headed south and then began to cluster at the harbor mouth at Pt. Brown
right at the jetty. At first they flew around and around and then 10-15000
set down in the water at any one time while 3-5000 swirled around. There
usually are big numbers of sooties in migration but it was really something
to see them packed into a small area. I'm not experienced at counting 10K+
birds at a time so there were likely many thousands more, at one time I was
guesstimating 20-25000 birds in an area of about 200 by 300 meters.



Over by the game range 20 or so Red-throated Loons ranging from close to
breeding plumage to almost completely in winter plumage were preening near
to the shore. Several had actually pulled out up on to the beach. I've
never seen one walking on land before, they were extremely awkward.



Ed Swan

Nature writer and guide

www.theswancompany.com <http://www.theswancompany.com>

edswan at centurytel.net <mailto:edswan at centurytel.net>

306.463.7976