Monterey Bay pelagic birds 3

MONTEREY BAY: PELAGIC BIRDS

ALCIDS

text & most photos by Don Roberson

those attributed to other photographers are
used with permission; all rights reserved.

These pages feature the regular pelagic birds to be found on Monterey Bay boat trips, but each species has its own season. Of course, not all birds will be found every trip, even in the prime season. All photos on this page were taken on Monterey Bay (except for the Cassin's Auklets and the basic Tufted Puffin). These pages conclude with the alcids.

Common Murre is a year-round resident on Monterey Bay; there is a breeding colony along the Big Sur coast. Others arrive to spend the non-breeding season after nesting on the Farallones. Oiled murres may come ashore, like the bird (right) at Pt. Pinos in molt into fresh basic plumage. Birds in full alternate plumage (far right) are noted from about Christmas into the next summer.

Photos above © D. Roberson, 3 Oct 1979 (left) & 26 Jan 1980 (right). Photos below © D. Roberson 18 Apr 1995 (left) & © W. Ed Harper 2 Oct 1978 (right)

Pigeon Guillemot is an inshore species. Many nest under piers and buildings in Monterey harbor (left) and along Cannery Row. Juvenal-plumaged birds in late summer and fall are very different (right).

Juvenal-plumaged guillemots (above right) have been confused with Marbled Murrelet (below). Note how tiny the bill of a real Marbled Murrelet is. In the photo from Moss Landing (above right), note that you can see the orange legs that will become red in adult Pigeon Guillemots.

Photos below © W. Ed Harper in Feb 1984 (left, in MTY) & © Arnold Small in Oct 1985 (right, in SCZ)

Marbled Murrelet is an inshore alcid. A few nest in Douglas-fir groves in the Santa Cruz Mts. In Monterey County it is a scarce visitor off Ft. Ord and Monterey in fall and winter, when in basic plumage (both photos here).

Photos below © Ron Saldino 18 Oct 1997 & © D. Roberson 3 Oct 1982 (right)

Xantus's Murrelet Synthliboramphus hypoleucus scrippsi ['Scripp's Murrelet'] is a regular visitor in late summer & fall. Currently considered a subspecies, this taxa nests on the Channel Islands. It may be split as a species from the following taxa in the future.

Photos below © Ron Saldino 18 Oct 1997 (left) & © D. Roberson 8 Oct 1990 (right)

Xantus's Murrelet Synthliboramphus h. hypoleucus [the nominate race; would remain 'Xantus's Murrelet' if split] is a rare visitor in late summer and fall in warm water years. This bird nests on islands off w. Baja California. It has a white face but, like Scripp's, has all-white underwings.

Photos below © D. Roberson, 7 Oct 1978 (left, in Moss Landing harbor) & © Stephen F. Bailey 24 Aug 1983 (right)

Craveri's Murrelet is a scarce fall visitor, mostly in warm water years. Compared to Scripp's (above) note thinner bill, black chin, partial shoulder bar, and dark underwings.

Photos below © Bill Hill in Feb 2003 (left) & © Jeri M. Langham in Jan 1980 (right)

Ancient Murrelet is a winter visitor, in varying numbers from year to year, but it is often difficult to get close to these skittish alcids.

At close range the short yellow bill of Ancient Murrelet is apparent, but more typically one sees only gray backs, black caps, and white underparts at a distance.

Photos below © D. Roberson, 20 June 1992 from west of the Farallones (both shots)

Cassin's Auklet can be the most abundant alcid on Monterey Bay when much of the world's population moves here in fall after nesting on the Farallones.

Yet it is very difficult to get close to a Cassin's, as they tend to fly straight away when a boat approaches. It is often hard to get close enough to see the white arcs around the eye and chicken-like bill.

Rhinoceros Auklet is a fall and winter visitor, and can be present in the hundreds. Autumn birds lack the double plumes on the face but these appear by mid-winter (right) and the "horn" on adults is often apparent by February (far right).

Tufted Puffin is a scarce year-round visitor. Most are in basic plumage (right) rather than full alternate plumage (left).

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Page created 9-10 Nov 2002