[Tweeters] Pigeon Guillemot in Breeding Plumage in Early February?

[Tom Benedict]

Many thanks for all the responses. It's particularly satisfying when I’m able to post something that stimulates interesting discussion.

BTW, I also spotted two Rhinoceros Auklets off Brown’s Point, still very much in winter plumage.

Tom Benedict
Seahurst, WA


> On Feb 5, 2023, at 10:43, Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson at comcast.net> wrote:

> 

> Thanks, Shelley. Not as extensive a molt as in the alcids, but indeed all three of the cormorants start putting on breeding plumes surprisingly early in the year, well before their breeding seasons. Someone should be taking blood samples to see if their hormone levels are rising already.

> 

> Dennis Paulson

> Seattle

> 

>> On Feb 5, 2023, at 8:35 AM, Shelley Evans <shelley.a.evans at gmail.com <mailto:shelley.a.evans at gmail.com>> wrote:

>> 

>> During the PSSS Survey yesterday, we saw a pigeon guillemot in breeding plumage from Point Robinson on Vashon Is.  

>> 

>> The cormorants (both Pelagic and Brandt's) at the Vashon Ferry Terminal were showing some breeding plumage.  I saw the white flank patches on Pelagic Cormorant, and you could see some of the white, whisker-like plumes in the faces of the Brandt's Cormorants.  I don't know whether this is typical for this time of year.

>> 

>> In both cases, it seems like signs of spring and the breeding season to come. 

>> 

>> Shelley Evans

>> Seattle

>> 

>> On Sun, Feb 5, 2023 at 8:05 AM Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson at comcast.net <mailto:dennispaulson at comcast.net>> wrote:

>>> Alcids are the only group among our birds that may molt into breeding plumage very early in spring, i.e., mid- to late winter. I have seen this in Common Murres, Pigeon Guillemots, and Rhinoceros Auklets in this area, always a surprise.

>>> 

>>> I wish I knew why they were the exception, as I don’t think they are ready for breeding yet. They are not appearing at breeding sites. Usually the molt into breeding plumage is moderated by day length and hormones, but something else seems to be going on here.

>>> 

>>> Dennis Paulson

>>> Seattle

>>> 

>>>> On Feb 4, 2023, at 7:40 PM, Stephen Elston <stephen.elston at gmail.com <mailto:stephen.elston at gmail.com>> wrote:

>>>> 

>>>> I was at several saltwater sites along the Eastern shore of Puget Sound today and saw quite a few PIGus in breeding plumage and a number of others that were still molding into breeding plumage.  Given my experience, I would not be surprised to see a few at Brown's Point. 

>>>> 

>>>> On Sat, Feb 4, 2023 at 7:30 PM Tom Benedict <benedict.t at comcast.net <mailto:benedict.t at comcast.net>> wrote:

>>>>> Shortly after posting I found this report <https://racerocks.ca/return-of-the-pigeon-guillemots/> from last Thursday, Feb 2, 2023 at Race Rocks, off of Victoria, BC. It includes a photo of 8 PIGU titled “Shifting from winter plumage to summer plumage". Most are still “variable” and “smudgy”, but a couple are quite “black and white”. 

>>>>> 

>>>>> So I guess it’s not too early for our “resident” PIGU in the southern Puget Sound to be putting on their new suits. 

>>>>> 

>>>>> Tom Benedict

>>>>> Seahurst, WA

>>>>> 

>>>>>> On Feb 4, 2023, at 19:19, Tom Benedict <benedict.t at comcast.net <mailto:benedict.t at comcast.net>> wrote:

>>>>>> 

>>>>>> Today, Feb 4th, 2023, at Brown’s Point Lighthouse I spotted, about 300 meters offshore, two black seabirds with white wing patches. They had the shape, bill and general disposition of a Pigeon Guillemot, so that’s what I called them.  I’m quite sure these were not White-Winged Scoters. The head and bill were not the right shape, and there were no other scoters around.

>>>>>> 

>>>>>> However, now that I’m home and reviewing my observations, I’m wondering if it’s reasonable to have a Pigeon Guillemot in what looked to me like breeding plumage in early February? The were definitely not the “variable” or “smudgy” plumage of a winter PIGU.

>>>>>> 

>>>>>> Anyone else seeing Pigeon Guillemots these days? Are they "black and white" or “smudgy”?

>>>>>> 

>>>>>> Tom Benedict

>>>>>> Seahurst, WA

>>>>> 

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