copyright 2006 Shearwater Journeys

Hi, Seabirders,
This is the trip report for Shearwater Journeys' Sep 15 and 17 pelagic trips. The Sep 15th trip from Bodega Bay was weathered out at the port the morning of the trip. Gale force winds had began blowing after midnight on the 14th. It was impossible to take the boat out the next morning. Although boat trips from Bodega Bay can be weathered out any time of the year, usually September is our best weather month. We had just had 45 days of very calm seas, so I guess it was bound to happen.

Many of the birders who had signed up for the trip on the 15th, were also scheduled for the Fort Bragg trip on the 17th. So, those of us who were, birded our way north along Highway 1 from Bodega Bay to Fort Bragg on the 16th. Many out-of-state birders headed up to Mountain View Road to successfully find MOUNTAIN QUAIL. A few lucky birders also found NORTHERN PYGMY OWLS on this road, and in Van Damme State Park.

On Sep 17th the swells were still quite large, and winds were from the northwest at 15-20 knots. Highlights of our trip included BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS, MARBLED MURRELETS off Usal River mouth, and two BLUE WHALES. Leaders on the 17th were: Lisa Hug, Jim Danzenbaker, Scott Terrill, & Debra Shearwater. Our species list is unusually low due to the difficult weather conditions.

Species recorded on Sep 17th from Fort Bragg:

PACIFIC LOON-8
COMMON LOON-1
WESTERN GREBE-3
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS-4-5
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER-325
BULLER'S SHEARWATER-18
SOOTY SHEARWATER-468
BROWN PELICAN-80
BRANDT'S CORMORANT-45
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT-2
PELAGIC CORMORANT-2
WANDERING TATTLER-3
RUDDY TURNSTONE-2
BLACK TURNSTONE-8
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE-35
RED PHALAROPE-9
SOUTH POLAR SKUA-1
POMARINE JAEGER-1
HEERMANN'S GULL-180
CALIFORNIA GULL-38
WESTERN GULL-350
WESTERN/GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL-12
SABINE'S GULL-2
COMMON MURRE-1524
PIGEON GUILLEMOT-5
MARBLED MURRELET-4
RHINOCEROS AUKLET-43
HARBOR SEAL-5
MINKE WHALE-1
BLUE WHALE-2
HUMPBACK WHALE-3
PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN-2
HARBOR PORPOISE-15-20
VAUX'S SWIFTS flying over Noyo Bridge while the boat was at the dock.

Thank you, one and all,
Debra Love Shearwater
PO Box 190
Hollister, CA 95024 USA
831/637-8527

Click on the Murrelet to find out how to reserve a trip.