Baker Island notes from Harrington 1 s Journal 
15 October* 
Landed at 1U30. No problems, although I expected them# Party 2 Cam 
Kepler and myself# Setting up camp took close to two hours due to difficulties 
with wind# Then ate supper# 
On the lighthouse there are 3 or I4. Hawaiian Noddies At 1715 
went out for walk on island# Saw a Wandering Tattler catch and eat a skink 
in a rockpile near the lighthouse# He swallowed it whole! Never thought their 
throat would be big enough# Saw several Golden Plover in nearpbreeding plumage, 
also several which appeared to be immatures# Saw total of ca# 50 Goldens# Turn¬ 
stone ca# 50 also# 1 Bristle-thighed ^urlew# Also had I4. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 
which were distinctly different from all those seen (or so identified) to date# 
These were quite buffy and reminded me slightly of a Golden Plover in fall (or 
immature) plumage# The eyeline appeared slightly whiter than Pectoral# The bill 
straight and thin at distal ^# Pectoral seems to have thicker distal h which 
also tends to droop slightly# I know think it possible that the birds collected 
to date may be Pectoral# Also these birds this evening had a single weak 
whistle for a call# Total of 8 Erolia seanf while walking around# 
At night went out at 2030 for banding boobies# Color-marked the pair 
on one egg, then went to club of about 15 birds and caught 7, 2 of which were 
from Howland last month (had blue streamers)# 
16 October 2 
Cam found a Bar-tailed G 0 dwit this morning which I tried, but failed, to 
collect# It was feeding on the outside beach# 1 saw it again in the afternoon 
and Cam tried to collect it# Extremely wary bird# 
Spent the day yaking activity observations# Not much activity# Vegetation 
here is similar to other islands, with a few different plants# Tribulus is 
common as is Digitaria # Ipomea in some spots# Boerhavia is common as is Portulaca 
Lepturu s grass is also abundant# Some kind of ^imosaT Ts present which I have 
not seen on any of the southern islands# Also there is some grass which looks 
like a tall Bermuda grass, but beyond this it is totally unfamiliar to me# 
Skinks are abundant, and there are also Geckos on the island unlike others Pve 
seen# They are very dark gryy-brown on the topside and have somewhat of a warty 
appearance# 
At about midnight last night we had a downpour# Damned leaky tenty we 
have/ (All which can ! t be stuffed in an ammo box is wet)# Then more rain (hard) 
ca 1100 until 1300, and off and on drizzle for the remainder of the day# Not 
very comfortable, but keeps things cool# . 
We have tried to fix our radio but no luck# Maybe we will be able 
to reach the Howland Island camp, though and they can relay our messages to the 
ship which is off runningja grid right now# 
In the evening went over to the ^lue-faced Booby club after radio check 
at 2000# The club was very jumpy and we got only h birds# Then went over 
to the lagoon# Shorebirds aplenty, but couldn f t catch any# In course of the 
night (circled whole island) we saw k cats# ^o bed at 2230# 
