ML627095849

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Observation details

Incredible mass of shearwaters moving south, a phenomenon I have never seen in Oceanside. Three main rafts just south of Tyson St., fairly close in, and a non-stop stream passing through and by the rafts, continuing south towards Carlsbad. Count done in two parts: first of the birds on the water in the rafts then one minute counts of birds flying south between the end of the pier and the north edge of the raft, to avoid duplicating birds going up out of the raft. These one minute counts averaged 700-750 passing shearwaters. A boat deliberately blew through the outer raft and sent them all in various directions and the southbound birds turned north towards the harbor. I chased them up that way, only to see them pivot towards the south again, with some temporarily settling far outside the pier to the south of it so my count is at best, a conservative estimate. By the time I got to the accessible end of the pier, the rafts had drifted further out and south but scattered birds were going to and from where the pelicans were diving. Classic flight pattern - low, straight, lacking the big bounding passes of Pink-footed. At least 3 leucistic seen, as well as 2 "darker" BVSH showing some smudgy brown on the flanks. Will add some photos tomorrow but for now, attaching a shot of the southbound flock that had turned north and was pivoting back south, as a snapshot of what it looked like out there this afternoon.

Technical information

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