More Birds, Fewer Portraits

     Today we had moderate numbers of birds [Note: I have included a link to the list of birds seen today on the island at the bottom of this post--look for this in all future posts], including some new island birds for yours truly; Black-bellied Plover, American Pipit, and Band-tailed Pigeon--but few new portraits were made. I blame the high barometric pressure.  But, fear not--my portraiture skills are extant, and more bird faces, torsos, and bodies are in our future.

Until that future is the present--here is an insect.  This is the famous Farallonophilus cavernicolous, an endemic cricket that makes its living in caves (note specific name) on the Farallones.  We must have similar tastes, as I am also a Farallonophile.  This was taken outside of the famous Rabbit Cave.

 This is a Swainson's Thrush that is likely upset at its migration decisions/fate.  These thrushes like verdant riparian habitat;  this is not that.  The poor fellows spend lots of their time here in caves and crevices (as evidenced here) or in Veery's Roost atop the lighthouse, acting sullen.  I don't blame them.  Jim had a high count of seven today--there are probably 100 scattered in nooks and crannies about the island.

Today's eBird checklist