Hurricane Birds

[birdman]

Hi Birders,
Yesterday, November 12th was a day off from work and I made the entire day a seabird
watching experience. The winds were savage out towards Port Renfrew
and Jordan River. The waves were massive and the shearwaters were in!
Started the day with 5 different waves of BROWN PELICANS not far from
Gordon's Beach heading east and in! A total of 21 birds is pretty
wild for mid November! Off in the Strait of Juan de Fuca were several
NORTHERN FULMARS, 2 identifiable (close to shore)SHORT-TAILED
SHEARWATERS and 1 BULLERS SHEARWATER!! Plus a few tubenoses I could
not identify. Plus 1 immature BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE at Jordan River.
Bird of the day was an adult winter plumaged SLATY-BACKED GULL in
Jordan River!!!! Total stunner, it was in flight and the "string of
pearls" was well seen as was the jet black slate colored mantle.
At Whiffin Spit was a 3rd year GLAUCOUS GULL which was one of the few
birds I was able to get pictures of because of the driving winds.
I had 10 gull species on the day and a couple of good birds as well.
Nice to see the Snow Goose and Cackling Geese are still floating
around in town.
Can only wonder what else is now floating around after the wind storm.
Cheers!
Birdman

[Dave]

Wow, what an awesome list! I was thinking that the Iona Jetty or Point Roberts would have some good stuff in the wind Monday, but getting there would of been a challenge. Buller's Shearwater? From land? Wow!

Dave

[birdman]

Hi Dave,
Exellent choices!!! I used to go out on the Iona Jetty in huge wind storms. It can be both dangerous (please always use common sense if you want to this journey) but profitable! I once had waves and green water going over my Van but we had a Sabine's Gull in early December at the Tip. Shearwaters, Pelicans actually many amazing seabirds have all turned up during huge wind storms off the tip of the South Jetty. I hope one day you are able to experience this type of natural wonder. It is truly cool!!!
I also hope that many more Mainlanders can come over and bird this Juan de Fuca region. The undiscovered country. It is staggering how good this area can be. I think with more coverage and good eyes many other birders will be just as shocked as I have been as to how good this area can be for producing unexpected rarities. In October three of us had 2 Black-footed Albatrosses from Port Renfrew flyby the shoreline in a big wind storm. In August an immature Horned Puffin thrilled 6 of us close to shore!!!!The sky is the limit!!!!
All the best!
Birdman