Refusal Rock

This rock, north of North Cascade Head nest site and south of Proposal Rock off the South Beach neighborhood of Neskowin, has probably had a pair of BLOY nesting on it for many years, mostly unnoticed and unmonitored. It is not possible to see the nest site most years or even the guard post or foraging areas.  In 2016 Jack Hurt, the monitor who lives part time at South Beach, saw the pair on top of the rock often in May but no nesting activity. I also saw them as I went by on my way to the North Cascade Head nest site and did see some pebble throwing and scratching but then they disappeared. My Nikon Coolpix P900 brings the distant rock up close.

On July 26, I again checked and found 2 on the skyline from a distant OP (undeveloped Lot 12) and they were flying in and out, apparently feeding chick(s). I went to a viewpoint (undeveloped Lot 10) where I could see one foraging area and saw an adult carry food behind the rock and out of sight. On August 2 I saw adults again and a chick briefly.

a little closer shows one adult on skyline left of center

chick is in front of adult

cropped photo shows chick in front of adult

 Adults seen in same area again on Aug. 10. Too foggy for photos. Again on Aug. 16. This time I called Jack. He came up and saw an adult on the skyline. It had just changed places with another adult that flew off. Presumably they were taking turns watching a chick(s) and feeding it (them).

On 8/25/16, two fledglings appeared with two adults on the mainland across from Refusal Rock.

cropped view of photo above. Adults have bright red bills and eyes

blurry photo but shows the dark tip to fledgling bill and no red around eye

In 2017, a pair nested right on top of the rock in plain view of a vacant lot. Jack Hurt kept close watch on the nest with 3 eggs. It failed. The pair laid 3 eggs again and almost made it to hatching but they disappeared before. Remarkably, they laid 2 eggs again but this nest also failed. Jack saw no evidence of predators disturbing the birds so has no idea what the nests failed.

Refusal Rock Nest Summary

2006 nesting suspected
2011 2 chicks, lost
2012 2 eggs, outcome unknown
2013 nesting unknown
2014 nesting unknown
2015 apparently did not nest
2016 fledged two chicks
2017 nested 3 times, all 3 failed