Watch for Raptors On Days Like This...

...They Like To Fly In From The South.  The rarest bird yesterday was a White-tailed Kite that made a brief appearance at the lighthouse during my sharkwatch.  Believe it or not, this kite was rarer than the Tennessee Warbler or the Black-throated Blue Warbler also seen on the Island yesterday.  Today is my last full day here on Southeast Farallon Island for the year 2011.  I have mixed feelings.  Both stoked and bummed to be moving on to the next adventure.  I don't know where TPAD is headed, but I will try to keep up on it for as long as I can.  

The super rare White-tailed Kite, coming in from the South.

I eventually caught the female Black-throated Blue Warbler.  This is the same bird that I posted a few days ago

Party's Over.

Yesterday was sad after such a nice Tuesday.  I slept up at the lighthouse again, and found no birds upon wakeup call.  It was a nice night, though.  Very clear.  I could see the lights of SF and there were lots of Cassin's Auklets and Burrowing Owls flying around.  

We caught a Merlin on Tuesday night, too.  Which is nice.

Female Black-throated Blue Warbler.  She stuck around since Tuesday, and is still here this morning as I write this.

Black Blue and Gray

Sunny skies again yesterday.  Massive crews from the media descended on the Island.  Cameramen, newspaper people, PR folks, and scientists were to be found in abundance.  I believe it was a great success.  Mostly I steered clear of all of the cameras.  By doing this, I lucked into a Black-throated Blue Warbler.  A male, and the only one so far this fall.  

Media Blitz!  They are all photographing an Ashy Storm-petrel chick.

Black-throated Blue Warbler.  Very nice, how much?