Unseasonably mild weather dominated each of the last two days at Avalon. As some readers know well, warm temps and southwest winds typically mean quiet days at the Seawatch.
Monday's flight was particularly light, with just a small pulse of Laughing Gulls and scoters during the early morning comprising most of the day's total. Tuesday brought far more excitement, beginning with the first noticeable (if small) pulse of Surf Scoters during the morning hours. A dramatic moment then occurred when we noticed a cuckoo flying in from the ocean. Unfortunately, a small gang of Great Black-backed Gulls also noticed the cuckoo, and the brutes eventually captured and dispatched the tired migrant. The ill-fated traveler never made it close enough to shore for observers to secure a positive ID.
Tuesday evening saw winds shift around to the south and increase to 15-20mph, conditions that can bring shearwaters closer to shore. Sure enough, we were able to enjoy brief looks at both Cory's and Manx shearwaters during the 4:00 hour. The season's first two Humpback Whales also put on a fun, though distant, show during the early evening.
Check the links below for full results from the past two days:
October 1 totals
October 2 totals
No comments:
Post a Comment