copyright 2006 Shearwater Journeys

Hi, Seabirders,

Shearwater Journeys' pelagic trip from Bodega Bay on Sunday, September 24, 2006 was just about socked in with fog all day long. The seas were very calm, and winds were very light. We went about 29 miles offshore. Nevertheless, highlights included SIX SPECIES OF ALCIDS: XANTUS' MURRELET (1) spotted by Alan Hopkins, sitting on the water, giving excellent views to the entire boat load of birders; TUFTED PUFFIN (1), also sitting on the water on the Cordell Bank on the 50 fathom line; CASSIN'S AUKLET (6), some allowing great views (this species has largely been absent this year due to the lack of krill); RHINOCEROS AUKLET (145); PIGEON GUILLEMOT (8), mostly in the harbor area; COMMON MURRE (250), many chicks still with their dads. Other highlights included a great show in the jaeger department, some nice photo-ops of SABINE'S GULLS sitting on the water; one BLUE-WINGED TEAL about 19 miles offshore; 1 or 2 WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS only 12 miles offshore, feeding; a good show on the BULLER'S SHEARWATERS; and two FRIENDLY HUMPBACK WHALES who checked out our vessel! Whale snot!

Finally, I want to say that we saw some of the most tremendous schools of ANCHOVIES breaking the surface of the flat-calm seas. These were some of the largest schools of anchovies that I have ever seen, covering huge areas of the ocean. BLUE SHARKS were also very evident. The presence of these two fish in such numbers indicates to me that there is a huge plankton bloom, and maybe, just maybe we will see some krill. If so, we could see some Blue Whales, and more murrelets. Time will tell, if the seas and weather hold up for our last two trips from Bodega Bay on October 9 & 13.

The leaders for this trip were: Lisa Hug, Linda Terrill, Scott Terrill, Ryan Terrill, Alan Hopkins, & Debra Shearwater. The complete species list follows:

PACIFIC LOON-3
NORTHERN FULMAR-20
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER-100
BULLER'S SHEARWATER-225
SOOTY SHEARWATER-60
WILSON'S STORM-PETREL-1-2
ASHY STORM-PETREL-2
BROWN PELICAN-40
BRANDT'S CORMORANT-100's
PELAGIC CORMORANT-2
SURF SCOTER-1
BLUE-WINGED TEAL-1
WANDERING TATTLER-1
BLACK TURNSTONE-6
SURFBIRD-1
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE-5
RED PHALAROPE-1
SOUTH POLAR SKUA-3
POMARINE JAEGER-10
POMARINE/PARASITIC-4
PARASITIC JAEGER-2
PARASITIC/LONG-TAILED-1
JAEGER sp.-2
HEERMANN'S GULL-25
MEW GULL-1
CALIFORNIA GULL-30
WESTERN GULL-225
SABINE'S GULL-4
ELEGANT TERN-3
COMMON TERN-2
ARCTIC TERN-1
COMMON MURRE-250
PIGEON GUILLEMOT-8
XANTUS' S MURRELET-1
CASSIN'S AUKLET-6
RHINOCEROS AUKLET-145
TUFTED PUFFIN-1
CALIFORNIA SEA LION-+
STELLER'S SEA LION-1
NORTHERN FUR SEAL-4
NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL-1
HARBOR SEAL-1
HUMPBACK WHALE-5
DALL'S PORPOISE-18
OCEAN SUNFISH-2
BLUE SHARK-7


Anchovies forever,
Debi