Tuesday, September 2, 2014

I'm back. On the Farallones, and in the Blogosphere. I know I barely qualify as a blogger. I think I am fine with that. I have only been Crushing rarely since we last spoke. I will maybe go back and fill in the long gaps since the last installment, but for now here are some Crushey moments from the last few months.

This is my sixth Fall spent on Southeast Farallon. I am here with one Rob Roccoli, a SEFI first-timer and known liar/coward/pingpongfailure. I have only Crushed a few birds here and there because there have been few birds around to Crush. 

Do not despair dear Reader, they will come. They will arrive in hordes upon a south wind under a gray overcast sky and we will all rejoice.

To start, a bird definitely not from the island:

How far could  Greater Roadrunner make it over open ocean? A quarter mile? That's not far enough. This bird was checking me out in my truck on the Angeles National Forest. 

Reddish Egret, Long Beach CA. Probably the only one alive with tiger stripes.

Risso's Dolphin, near Anacapa Island.

Brown Pelican with wings chopped off, following the sailing vessel Vesper, Santa Barbara Channel.

Brandt's Cormorant, SEFI.

Baird's Sandpiper, SEFI.

Virginia Rail, SEFI. We named it Railey after last year's dearly departed Craney. But we didn't give this one any mice. Too big.

A much lurkier Crush of the rail.

Our flagship bird, the Western Gull, SEFI.

Least Flycatcher in Jim's hand. Is it legal to Crush birds while they are in your hand? I don't actually know, But I did it anyway.

Gray Flycatcher in my hand. I believe Rob Roccoli took this photo.

Townsend's Warbler, Heligoland.

Gray Flycatcher, Crushed while free.

Western Wood-Pewee, SEFI. We have had good diversity of flycatchers this year. Least, Dusky, Gray, Willow, and Western Kingbird come to mind. But only a few were Crushed with any severity.

White-tailed Kite, looking at me at sharkwatch, SEFI. Muy rusty and young.