2021 Road's End

 Since easy access to The Thumb, where I have monitored BLOY for many years, was not accessible last year, 2020, I gave the monitoring to someone else who was willing to hike the 4 mile round trip from a parking area for The Knoll. However, thanks to Covid and a narrow trail, she only made it in twice. So this year, I volunteered to send reports whenever I was able to access from below, in the cove that the nest rocks sit off of. However only the South Rock and Middle Rock are visible from the cove. In extreme low minus tides, the North Rock is distantly visible.

Today, April 21, 2021, I hiked the beach into the cove on a .2 tide. At this level tide, entry to the cove requires a scramble over large boulders at the base of the cliff. At a minus tide, I can sometimes walk below the cliff. Luckily, two BLOY were visible from the south side before I had to go into the cove. They were foraging on the exposed tidal rocks at the south end of the cove when I arrived at 1:10 p.m. Then sat down some distance from each other but within  sight of each other, I'm pretty sure. One called once that I heard.

Road's End beach with exposed tidal rocks and Polly Island in distance

BLOY on tidal rock

BLOY resting on tidal rock

2nd BLOY was on flat rock center of photo

2nd BLOY (close up rock not so flat!)

Both BLOY were in this camera view but I can't pick them out. They were in line of sight range of each other but not close together

Inside the cove: big rock in center is South Nest Rock. Middle Nest Rock is partly visible to right of rock landward of South Rock

Polly Island in middle distance. Edge of South Rock visible on right

Middle Rock Two BLOY are on left side of rock left of and above whitewash

Pair of BLOY center of photo from left to right, just below top of rock

View a little farther back to show bump at top of rock

Close-up of two BLOY together

This seems early for pairs to be in their nest vicinities. I'll try to check again before the end of April, tide permitting.