FIELD NOTES Doug Bell July 5, 1985 Location: Sugarloaf Rock (on beach just ashore from this rock), Cape Mendocino, Humboldt Co., California. WEATHER: low fog, but clearing. TIME: 14:00 -> sunset Maren and I obtained permission from the property owner: Mr. Joe Russ, Ocean View Ranch, Ferndale, CA. 95536, to go on to his land west of the road and head for the beach just east of Sugarloaf Rock. Hordes of Cliff Swallows nesting under the bridge at the highway. Barn Swallows, Brewers Blackbirds, Northern Orioles at Joe Russ's house & ranch yard (Ocean House on top map). House finches, Am. Goldfinches, White-crowned Sparrows on hillsides behind beach. Lots of gulls waiting about. On Sugarloaf Rock: Western Gulls (hundreds), Cormorants, Pigeon Guillemots abound. Strangely enough, no Puffins were seen. I positioned myself on the beach just south of Sugarloaf Rock, 410 using #9 skeet loads. No gulls flew within range in over an hour. I noticed the gulls kept flying to the mouth of the creek to rest & bathe. So I went down there. This creek outflow is ca. 1 mi. south of Sugarloaf Rock. The gulls seem to search it out for a preferred water source. After a couple misses, I managed to ding a very small ad. ? in the wing (048 043). She dropped into the surf - I was able to grab her only after going in up to my waist. Spent the late afternoon preparing this bird. We ate at the Yellow Rose in Petrolia. Camped on level ground just behind the beach SE of Sugarloaf Rock (ca. 1/2 mi. away from the rock). Lots of Turkey Vultures & Red-tails out here.