Rare visitors, tropical wanderers, and dozens of people staring very intently.
Something unusual was happening near Asilomar on Wednesday.
Dozens of people carrying binoculars, enormous camera lenses, and expressions of intense concentration were wandering around looking up.
No, they weren’t searching for a lost drone.
They were birdwatchers. And apparently, some rather unexpected birds were in town.
November might seem an odd time to go looking for tropical birds along our famously chilly coastline. But for birders, autumn on the Monterey Peninsula can feel a little like opening a surprise package.
You never know what’s inside.
Birds Without Borders
Every autumn, millions of birds migrate across North America. Most follow reasonably predictable routes.
Others apparently missed the navigation briefing.
Birdwatchers call these unexpected visitors “vagrants”—birds appearing far outside their normal geographic ranges.
Some may be young and inexperienced navigators. Others might be pushed off course by weather, prevailing winds, or unusual atmospheric conditions.
Occasionally, birds normally associated with Mexico, Central America, or other warmer regions appear along California’s coast.
Take the Tropical Kingbird, for example. With its bright yellow belly and gray head, it’s a familiar sight farther south, but an occasional autumn visitor to coastal California.
For a dedicated birder, spotting an unusual species can mean adding a new entry to a lifetime bird list.
For the rest of us, it means trying to understand why someone just drove three hours to photograph a bird that looks suspiciously like another bird.
November Is Actually Prime Time
There’s another remarkable migration happening just offshore.
From November 1 through December 15, the Monterey Audubon Society conducts its annual Point Pinos Seawatch, counting migrating seabirds passing one of the most spectacular observation points on the California coast.
We’re talking loons, scoters, shearwaters, and other seabirds—sometimes moving past in extraordinary numbers.
And it’s not just a hobby. These observations contribute to our understanding of changing migration patterns, ocean conditions, and the health of our coastal ecosystems.
Want to Join the Flock?
You don’t need expensive equipment or a degree in ornithology.
Monterey Audubon is hosting a Beginning Birding at Asilomar outing on Sunday, November 8, from 9 to 11:30 AM.
There are also special morning Loon Hour and evening Scoter Hour outings at Point Pinos throughout November.
Bring binoculars, a warm jacket, and the willingness to spend 20 minutes staring at a branch because someone swears something extraordinary is sitting on it.
And if you’re lucky enough to see one of our unexpected tropical visitors, do let us know.
We’d love to learn exactly who’s visiting Monterey Bay this November.
After all, we’ve spent years inviting tourists to Monterey Bay. Apparently, the birds finally got the message.
Find outings and birdwatching information at MontereyAudubon.org.
From your friends at KRML 94.7 FM — keeping an ear on Monterey Bay, even when everyone else is looking up.