Observations

1. Harlequin Duck

   Number observed: 16

   Details

   Several groups, largest was eight birds. Many smart drakes. Some males moulting into formative plumage too.

2. Surf Scoter

   Number observed: 6

3. White-winged Scoter

   Number observed: 8

   Details

   Single group close to shore of Great Race Rock.

4. Black Oystercatcher

   Number observed: 4

   Details

   Two pairs flying around on arrival.

5. Black Turnstone

   Number observed: 12

   Details

   Ones, twos and threes scattered around. A few initially on grassy areas when we arrived before moving towards the shoreline.

6. Surfbird

   Number observed: 5

   Details

   At least five singles scattered around.

7. Dunlin

   Number observed: 3

   Details

   Scurrying around grassy area when we arrived then moved towards rocky shoreline. One definitive, two formative.

8. Rock Sandpiper

   Number observed: 3

   Details

   Two together on south side which I had good views of through my scope for a couple of minutes as they moved in and out of view between rocks. I moved closer for a better look but they vanished either walked around the back of the little island or flew off.

   Later I had superb views of a definitive bird (see definitive wing coverts) on the north shore but only for a couple of minutes before the bird quickly moved west along the shore and around a corner.

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9. Pigeon Guillemot

   Number observed: 12

   Details

   Most moulting into alternate plumage.

10. Common Murre

    Number observed: 4

    Details

    One in alternate plumage.

11. Short-billed Gull

    Number observed: 25

    Details

    All loafing on West Race Rock.

12. Western Gull

    Number observed: 4

    Details

    Two definitive, two first cycles.

13. Herring Gull

    Number observed: 7

    Details

    At least a couple of definitive birds, a couple of second cycles and three first cycles (juv).

14. California Gull

    Number observed: 3

    Details

    Definitive and two first cycles (juv).

15. Glaucous-winged Gull

    Number observed: 180

    Details

    130 in main flock on Great Race Rock. 10 on West Race Rock. 40 others scattered around. Approximately 95% of adults with primaries darker than mantle to varying degrees so likely this number includes some individuals that may better fall under ‘Olympic Gull’.

16. Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)

    Number observed: 25

    Details

    Estimate for the number of especially distinctive hybrids.

17. Herring x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)

    Number observed: 5

    Details

    At least a handful of ‘Cook Inlet Gulls’. Likely were more which I may have overlooked or incorrectly called ‘Olympic’.

18. Iceland Gull (Thayer’s)

    Number observed: 292

    Details

    240 in main flock on west side. 27 on West Race Rock. 25 on north side. Approximately 90% were definitive birds.

19. Larus sp.

    Number observed: 60

    Details

    Estimate of the number of indetermined hybrids.

20. loon sp.

    Number observed: 2

    Details

    Distant on water and another in flight.

21. Brandt’s Cormorant

    Number observed: 88

    Details

    Majority loafing on north side of Great Race Rock near gull flock.

22. Pelagic Cormorant

    Number observed: 25

    Details

    Majority loafing on north side of Great Race Rock near gull flock.

23. Double-crested Cormorant

    Number observed: 61

    Details

    Majority loafing on north side of Great Race Rock near gull flock.

24. Bald Eagle

    Number observed: 17

    Details

    Spread out loafing on high points of islands.

25. Barn Swallow

    Number observed: 3

    Details

    Three appeared just as we were leaving hawking low around jetty for insects.

26. Savannah Sparrow

    Number observed: 1

    Details

    Lurking along edge of rocks. Fairly dark chocolatey and rufous bird. Slim bill. Prominent yellow at base of supercilium.

    https://ebird.org/checklist/S160741512