copyright 2006 Shearwater Journeys

Hello, Seabirders,

Shearwater Journeys has just completed three days, in a row, of intensive pelagic trips from Bodega Bay on Sep 8th, from Monterey on Sep 9th, and from Monterey to the Albacore Grounds, today, Sep 10th. Each and every one of these trips has been completely spectacular, with each trip exceeding the previous day.

Today's trip departed from Monterey at 5:30 am sharp for offshore waters. The albacore grounds are reported to be 90 miles offshore this year. Nevertheless, we DID manage to find and see one albacore! But, the birding highlights were sensational:

It was quite a day. We found flocks of storm-petrels again, today. Puddles of Buller's Shearwaters in flocks of several hundreds were sleeping on the water. Today was one of the highest counts for Buller's on the central coast. Surprising, was a group of Orcas, and a large shark, thought to be a great white. Flesh-footed Shearwaters were fantastic! Each individual was counted separately, and not recounted for a total of 10! Anyway, it was a knock out day. Great seas and weather.

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS-7
NORTHERN FULMAR-6
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER-485
FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER-10!
BULLER'S SHEARWATER-1543
SOOTY SHEARWATER-860
*MANX SHEARWATER-1
ASHY STORM-PETREL-1848
BLACK STORM-PETREL-457
LEAST STORM-PETREL-1
BROWN PELICAN-18
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT-1, offshore
BRANDT'S CORMORANT-300
PELAGIC CORMORANT-1
HARLEQUIN DUCK-1, female in the harbor
MARBLED GODWIT-1, offshore
RUDDY TURNSTONE-1
BLACK TURNSTONE-3
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE-67
RED PHALAROPE-3
SOUTH POLAR SKUA-6
POMARINE JAEGER-152
POMARINE/PARASITIC-11
PARASITIC JAEGER-16
PARASITIC/LONG-TAILED-4
JAEGER SP.-18
CALIFORNIA GULL-45
WESTERN GULL-250
SABINE'S GULL-35
COMMON/ARCTIC TERN-1
COMMON MURRE-125
PIGEON GUILLEMOT-2, in the harbor
CASSIN'S AUKLET-2
RHINOCEROS AUKLET-51
SEA OTTER-2
CALIFORNIA SEA LION-180
NORTHERN FUR SEAL-3
NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL-2
HARBOR SEAL-10
HUMPBACK WHALE-5
KILLER WHALE-13
NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN-2
RISSO'S DOLPHIN-35
DALL'S PORPOISE-7
OCEAN SUNFISH-3
BLUE SHARK-1
GREAT WHITE SHARK-1, possible
brown-headed cowbird-1
chipping sparrow, 1 juv. on board the boat all day
yellow warbler-1

Our next trips with spaces available are: tomorrow, Sep 11th from Monterey. Also, Sep 15th from Bodega Bay, Sep 17th from Fort Bragg, and Sep 29 & 30 from Monterey. Our Sep 22 & 23 trips from Monterey are sold out. Spaces are open on ALL of our October trips! Please call, or email me at the info in my signature.



Good seabirding,
Debi