Avalon Seawatch, 30 September 2016

     The day dawned with small drops of hail pelting on the wooden windows of the shack. The wind continued to blow at 34mph with gusts nearly knocking me over while I looked head-on into the northeast wind. The air was a tad warmer today, reaching 68 degrees fahrenheit, and the mornings rain turned into a drizzle and then a mist by late afternoon.
     The birds in the air were few, only totaling 186 individuals of 14 species, but there was plenty of action locally on the beach. Sanderlings hid behind thick clumps of seaweed and mounds of blown sand. Every once in awhile a strong gust would blow them into the air and the flock would reassemble at a new location concealed from the wind. Three Spotted Sandpipers stopped for a moment to enjoy the tide pool alongside the jetty. Royal and Caspian Terns dove into the crash occasionally arising with a small fish tucked in its bill. Herring Gulls, Great Black-backed Gulls, and Laughing Gulls danced in the wind before letting it carry them southward.

     Below are the totals for todays count. We look forward to seeing you at the Seawatch, sunrise to sunset, at 8th and 9th street beach in Avalon!

S N S Black Scoter    5    6    Great Black-backed Gull    32    -    Brown Pelican    4    -    Herring Gull    11    -    Double-crested Cormorant    11    -    Lesser Black-backed Gull    2    -    American Oystercatcher    2    -    Caspian Tern    6    2    Sanderling    13    -    Royal Tern    7    3    Dunlin    6    -    Forster's Tern    7    -    Laughing Gull *    66    -    American Kestrel    2    1

Totals: 186 individuals, 14 species, 35:21 hours Present: Osprey 3, Semipalmated Plover 6, Spotted Sandpiper 3, Sanderling 47, Laughing Gull 9*, Ring-billed Gull 3, Great Black-backed Gull 9, Herring Gull 39, Caspian Tern 7, Royal Tern 3