ML248825571

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Continuing. While walking over to the Hermit Rock overlook at about 9:15 AM, I was told by another birder that the Parakeet Auklet was around. Unfortunately, I couldn't see the bird from the overlook. I moved to a different spot, SW of the overlook at about (37.783546, -122.510708). Here I could see the cove completely. From this new position I could see the PAAU perched on a mussel covered rock. I hiked down to the beach where the low tide made accessing the cove very easy. Unfortunately, the bird was then flushed into the surf by a fisherman. After a long wait, which included the bird flying to the back of Hermit Rock and then being flushed out by a raven, the bird returned to the mussel covered rock, sat there for about 30 minutes, and occasionally vocalized. At about 10:50 AM, the bird left the rock and flew NW well past the engine block. At that point I lost view of the bird behind the crest of a wave. It may have landed several hundred yards out or continued flying. I searched for the bird after getting back to the overlook without success. Unlike my past visits, it didn't appear the PAAU was foraging in the surf. From its behavior, it seemed like it was just waiting for the right time to fly to the back of Hermit Rock. (Maybe its favorite perch was occupied?) I'd assume the bird finished foraging before I arrived. After spending some time in the water, the bird would fly in loose circles around the surf. The second time it did this was when I saw it land on the mussel covered rock. Other than the backside of Hermit Rock, this mussel covered rock seems like its goto resting spot, especially at extreme low tides. This rock may not be visible from the overlook. I recommend the spot I mention above for scanning the cove. Low tide again proved a successful time for observation; low tide (-0.6 ft) being at 7:55 AM. The tide was at +1.4 ft when the bird left (10:50 AM). See this past checklist for more info about location and foraging habits. https://ebird.org/checklist/S69920664

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Lens

EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM

ISO

400

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/8.0

Shutter speed

1/640 sec

Dimensions

3494 pixels x 1965 pixels

Original file size

3.62 MB