Los Farallones
In the fall, sharks migrate to the coast of California, including the Farallon Islands, to feed on pinnipeds (seals or sea-lions) when the abundance of immature animals is at its peak. This gives us a unique opportunity to study them. On September 27 as we were watching from the Lighthouse atop Southeast Farallon Island, a swarm of gulls began to circle and a pool of blood was observed in Fisherman’s Bay, indicating that a shark had just found a meal.
September 5 was a day to remember. Throughout the day, western migrants and eastern vagrants continued arriving at the island. It all started with a Connecticut Warbler on the kitchen windowsill as I was finishing breakfast. I ran outside for a better look and immediately heard a Mourning Warbler (another uncommon bird for the island). By the end of the day, we had tallied 15 species of warblers alone, including an Ovenbird, four Tennessee Warblers, a male American Redstart, and a Blackpoll Warbler. Read on to find out what else we have seen lately and to learn about one particularly special visitor to the Farallon Islands.
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