Pigeon Guillemot, Cepphus columba

Pigeon Guillemots nest in the sandstone cliffs along West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz, as shown in the top three pictures.

Juveniles disperse along the coast in late summer and early Fall; I was lucky get two of them at close range just off the beach at Pillar Point, the north end of Half Moon Bay; see below.

The next four pictures show a dramatic scene I watched from Jetty Road at Moss Landing Harbor in August 2004. The adult Pigeon Guillemot had hauled out onto the beach, where it was approached by several gulls individually. I believe the guillemot was sick or disabled: it wouldn't normally be on the beach, and it didn't fly away when threatened. When a gull threatened it on land, it defended itself and the gull retreated. It then awkwardly made its way back to the water, and started swimming away. One of the gulls pursued it in the water, and again the guillemot defended itself, the gull retreating. The guillemot dived and disappeared. I fear it did not have good prospects, but the temporarily successful struggle for survival was impressive.