21 April

Bonaparte’s Gull and Cackling goose. Today’s migration was maybe not so intense as it been the days before, but it still was very interesting. First push of Bonaparte’s gull was very pleasant. With many flock within a kilometer. Large flocks of Cackling goose filled the sky and today’s count is the best so far for the season. Flock of 50-200 shorebirds (mainly Western sandpiper) flew by just some hundred meters from the coast. Counting time: 06:00-14:00. 43 species of seabird counted. Weather today was cloudy with some showers later around noon. Visibility mostly good (5-10 km) temporarily moderate (2-5 km).

Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)

Bird species list:
Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)	127
Brant (Branta bernicla)	1058
Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii)	1895
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)	25
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)	3
Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis)	488
Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)	3
Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)	1446
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi)	24
Black Scoter (Melanitta americana)	6
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)	4
Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata)	463
Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)	3597
Common Loon (Gavia immer)	301
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)	2
Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)	3
Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus)	227
Brandt’s Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus)	145
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)	79
Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus)	87
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)	111
Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)	38
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)	7
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)	16
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)	9
Sanderling (Calidris alba)	2
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)	311
Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri)	1765
Western/Least Sandpiper	3950
Dowitcher sp.	372
Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)	32
Common Murre (Uria aalge)	3890
Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba)	107
Marbled Murrulet (Brachyramphus marmoratus)	21
Rhinocerous Auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata)	30
Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)	2
Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)	1375
Mew Gull (Larus canus)	6
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)	1
Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)	412
California Gull (Larus californicus)	563
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)	71
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)	53
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)	201

Whale species list:
Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)	2

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20 April

Orca (Orcinus orca), also known as killer whale.

ORCA! We had to wait for more than a week to say the magic word but today was the day. While scanning for Bonaparte’s gull, Rasmus suddenly finds three breaching killer whales (two adult and a young one) moving steady towards northeast. All the counting was for a short while paused to observe the fantastic creatures for at least two minutes. Sea lions were also on the move today and at least 50, most likely Californian Sea Lions were seen moving north. The morning started with heavy fog so counting was reduced but good numbers of Loons and Common Murres were still seen. Counting time: 06:30-14:00. 41 seabird species counted. Weather: Limited visibility due to fog, less than 500 meter until 10:00 and good visibility for the rest of the day. Weak wind from northwest 5 ms (11mph).

Bird species list:
Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)	280
Brant (Branta bernicla)	356
Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii)	14
Gadwall (Anas strepera)	2
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)	2
Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis)	11
Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)	5
Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)	1560
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi)	30
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)	1
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)	7
Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata)	162
Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)	11496
Common Loon (Gavia immer)	244
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)	2
Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)	1
Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus)	2
Brandt’s Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus)	136
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)	135
Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus)	93
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)	257
Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)	31
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)	3
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)	5
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)	215
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)	3
Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri)	288
Western/Least Sandpiper	5920
Dowitcher sp.	7
Common Murre (Uria aalge)	15850
Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba)	46
Marbled Murrulet (Brachyramphus marmoratus)	6
Rhinocerous Auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata)	8
Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)	14
Mew Gull (Larus canus)	5
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)	8
Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)	247
California Gull (Larus californicus)	233
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)	13
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)	68
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)	83

Whale species list:
Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus)	1
Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)	3

19 April

No words can describe the intensity of the days migration. A constant flow of loons and murres filled the ocean, and only in the first hour more than 20 000 murres and 7 000 loons passed by. Large flocks of Shorebirds sometime accompanied the flow of murres and loons. Today’s count on murres is probably the largest spring count ever in Boiler Bay. A really great day! Counting time: 06:10-15:10. 50 species of seabirds counted. Weather was sunny with some haze far in the horizon. Moderate wind 5 m/s (11 mph) from northwest.

Part of a big flock of Greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons)

Bird species list:
Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)	2758
Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens)	7
Brant (Branta bernicla)	209
Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii)	32
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)	5
Gadwall (Anas strepera)	4
American Wigeon (Anas americana)	62
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)	1
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)	20
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)	3
Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis)	120
Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)	124
Scaup sp.	13
Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)	3230
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi)	30
Black Scoter (Melanitta americana)	1
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis)	1
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)	6
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)	48
Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata)	207
Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)	19597
Common Loon (Gavia immer)	413
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)	2
Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)	2
Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus)	16
Brandt’s Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus)	813
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)	348
Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus)	271
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)	422
Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)	54
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)	17
Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus)	1
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)	49
Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri)	2030
Western/Least Sandpiper	5370
Dowitcher sp.	54
Common Murre (Uria aalge)	90710
Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba)	25
Marbled Murrulet (Brachyramphus marmoratus)	13
Rhinocerous Auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata)	6
Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)	2
Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)	38
Mew Gull (Larus canus)	13
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)	32
Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)	301
California Gull (Larus californicus)	571
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)	82
Thayer’s Gull (Larus thayeri)	1
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)	100
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)	805

Whale species list:
Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus)	4
Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)	6

18 April

Great movements on geese today. Total over 10 000 geese counted. Good numbers were also counted by Teals, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, shorebirds and Caspian tern. Good species counted were Snow goose, Ring-necked duck and Eared grebe. Counting time: 06:05-14:35. 50 species of seabirds counted. Weather was sunny, fairly good visibility and moderate to weak wind from north.

Greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons) and snow goose (Chen caerulescens)

Bird species list:
Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)	9141
Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens)	1
Brant (Branta bernicla)	740
Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii)	293
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)	9
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)	81
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)	10
Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis)	611
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)	8
Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)	370
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)	1
Scaup sp.	3
Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)	3040
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi)	71
Black Scoter (Melanitta americana)	12
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)	1
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)	37
Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata)	27
Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)	813
Common Loon (Gavia immer)	414
Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)	2
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)	49
Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)	1
Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)	116
Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus)	23
Brandt’s Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus)	80
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)	174
Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus)	211
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)	152
Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)	293
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)	6
Plover sp.	2
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)	18
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)	22
Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus)	12
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)	19
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)	314
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)	1
Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri)	100
Western/Least Sandpiper	136
Dowitcher sp.	148
Common Murre (Uria aalge)	8530
Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba)	78
Marbled Murrulet (Brachyramphus marmoratus)	38
Rhinocerous Auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata)	2
Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)	2
Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)	85
Mew Gull (Larus canus)	46
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)	29
Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)	279
California Gull (Larus californicus)	270
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)	200
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)	81
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)	517

Whale species list:
Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)	2

17 April

Movements towards north started to pick up today! Brant, Greater White-fronted Geese, Surf Scoters, Pacific Loons and shorebirds were all counted in fairly high numbers and a lot of different duck species could be seen migrating north. “Bird of the day” became two males Harlequin duck towards north on less than a kilometers distance. Counting time: 06:10-12:10. 48 species of seabirds counted. Weather: Nice sunny sky with a strong wind from northwest 8 m/s (18 mph).

Brant (Branta bernicla)

 

Bird species list:
Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)	728
Brant (Branta bernicla)	1721
Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii)	3
American Wigeon (Anas americana)	23
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)	10
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)	30
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)	44
Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis)	152
Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)	636
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)	4
Scaup sp.	1
Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)	2
Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)	4990
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi)	138
Black Scoter (Melanitta americana)	25
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)	1
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)	64
Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata)	36
Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)	3253
Common Loon (Gavia immer)	241
Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)	2
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)	41
Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)	2
Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus)	246
Brandt’s Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus)	61
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)	172
Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus)	142
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)	108
Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)	131
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)	6
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)	5
Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus)	15
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)	89
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)	146
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)	1
Western/Least Sandpiper	862
Dowitcher sp.	646
Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata)	1
Common Murre (Uria aalge)	6300
Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba)	137
Marbled Murrulet (Brachyramphus marmoratus)	23
Rhinocerous Auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata)	14
Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)	10
Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)	6
Mew Gull (Larus canus)	10
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)	6
Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)	486
California Gull (Larus californicus)	65
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)	138
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)	19
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)	323

Whale species list:
Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus)	1
Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)	3

16 April

Migration today was similar to previous days, with moderate movements of Surf Scoter, Loons, Common Murres and Gulls. Highlights of the day was the whales seen close to shore. Counting time: 06:10-12:10. 31 species of seabirds counted. Weather was sunny with some haze far in the horizon. Moderate wind 5 m/s (11 mph) from west turning to northwest.

Common loon (Gavia immer)

Bird species list:
Brant (Branta bernicla)	4
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)	1
Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis)	2
Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)	10
Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)	218
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi)	7
Black Scoter (Melanitta americana)	2
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)	4
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)	1
Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata)	94
Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)	265
Common Loon (Gavia immer)	16
Loon sp.	7
Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)	1
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)	7
Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)	4
Brandt’s Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus)	91
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)	116
Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus)	86
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)	169
Western/Least Sandpiper	13
Common Murre (Uria aalge)	2078
Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba)	41
Rhinocerous Auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata)	7
Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)	1
Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)	4
Mew Gull (Larus canus)	30
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)	15
Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)	235
California Gull (Larus californicus)	34
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)	50
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)	14
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)	124

Whale species list:
Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus)	6
Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)	9

15 April

A calm day at Boiler Bay with very low numbers of migrating birds. However, this gave good opportunities to watch migrating gray whales and at least four could be counted moving north. Another Fork-tailed Stom-petrel was seen today giving good  views at the same distance as yesterday. Counting time:06:10-11:10. 31 species of seabirds counted. Weather, sunny and hazy with moderate wind, 5 m/s (11mph) from west.

Black oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani)

Bird species list:
Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii)	1
Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)	93
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi)	11
Black Scoter (Melanitta americana)	2
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)	1
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)	12
Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata)	149
Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)	224
Common Loon (Gavia immer)	6
Loon sp.	24
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)	6
Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)	7
Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus)	17
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma furcata)	1
Brandt’s Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus)	90
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)	50
Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus)	71
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)	48
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)	3
Western/Least Sandpiper	4
Common Murre (Uria aalge)	1327
Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba)	19
Marbled Murrulet (Brachyramphus marmoratus)	4
Rhinocerous Auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata)	6
Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)	3
Mew Gull (Larus canus)	5
Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)	188
California Gull (Larus californicus)	12
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)	37
Thayer’s Gull (Larus thayeri)	3
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)	15
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)	22

Whale species list:
Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus)	4
Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)	5
Small whale sp.	1