Glossy

 

 

Nesting Pelagic Cormorant (Urile pelagicus), 21 June 2023

 

The smallest of the local cormorant species. From a distance they look black, but in the right light, their feathers look glossy green, purple, and bronze.  Also note the red near the base of the bill.

Nice feathers!

  

David mentioned that a Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) had been observed on Bodega Head, so I stopped by the outer parking lot this morning to see if it was still around.  Luckily, it was still there, just south of the whale watch area.

Lapland Longspurs are rare fall or winter visitors to Sonoma County.  They breed in the Arctic tundra and Bodega Bay is a bit far south for them (at least along the coast).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out the beautiful rufous feathers — you can click on the image for a larger version:

 

 

 

Many thanks to David for letting me know about this bird and to Mario for spotting it! 

 

Heading north

We took a quick look offshore before leaving the coast tonight (27 August 2020) and Eric spotted large flocks of Sooty Shearwaters (Ardenna grisea) close to shore and heading north.  

There were thousands of birds streaming by.  Here's a series moving closer with each view.  [You can click on the images for larger versions.]
 

 

 

 

 

 

The Emperor

We had to make a run down to the post office today, and since word had been passed along that an Emperor Goose (Anser canagicus) had been spotted on the offshore rocks just off the Bodega Head parking lot, we swung by to take a quick look.  Luckily, it was still there!

Emperor Geese are more often associated with arctic and sub-arctic Alaska (and Russia).  It sounds like there are four prior records in Sonoma County (in 1978, 1994-1995, 1996-1997, and 2001).

Here are a few photos from different perspectives.

Sitting:

 

Watching the waves:

 

 

With Black Oystercatchers: 

 

Searching for food and eating some green algae:

 

 

Profile view:

 

Many thanks to Scott for spotting this goose and to Dea for passing along the sighting. 

P.S.  I was curious about the species name.  Apparently "canagicus" refers to the island of Kanaga or Kyktak (in the Aleutian Islands).

Alongshore

Congratulations, Dr. Kerry Nickols!  A few images of the coast to help celebrate her Ph.D. and to inspire thoughts about the Coastal Boundary Layer!  (First three from Bodega Head, last two from Big Sur.)