copyright 2003 Shearwater Journeys

Hello, Seabirders,

Even though this report is a few days overdue, the Shearwater Journey's pelagic trip from Monterey Bay on August 23rd was so much fun, I thought a description of our trip would still interest many of you.

The day started out bright and sunny, without the usual marine layer that is typical at this time of year. That was our first clue that it would be a different sort of day. We didn't even make our usual run to the Coast Guard Jetty, as some of our passengers spotted BLUE WHALES while we were just coming out of the harbor! We took a spin over to the Blues, and had fantastic views which pleased our many British participants immensely. Next, we encountered one of the highlights of the day‹KRILL balls at the surface. These giant red balls are usually down in the water column, but were jumping at the surface on this day. Just as I was mentioning this, and to be on the look-out for Blue Whales lunge-feeding at the surface, the whales did exactly that! We brought some krill on board, and some folks sampled it on their saltines. In all, our conservative count of Blue whales for the day was 27.

Whales weren't the only creatures feeding on the krill. Hundreds of SABINE'S GULLS were inshore, feeding on these nutrient rich animals. 2050 Sabine's Gulls for the day. ARCTIC TERNS began to show up in some numbers, 26 for the day's total. 2000 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were along the inner part of the bay, while 24 RED PHALAROPES were offshore. ELEGANT TERNS (34) being pursued by PARASITIC JAEGERS (26), COMMON MURRES (553, many dad/chick pairs), PIGEON GUILLEMOTS (7, including a couple juveniles), and a few CASSIN'S AUKLETS (5) were all found in the inner part of the bay.

The prize seabirds were 2 CRAVERIS' MURRELETS and 4 XANTUS' MURRELETS, all of which were found sitting on the water, providing excellent views of these difficult-to-see/find alcids! Birders thrilled to have knock-out studies of these murrelets. The sea surface temperature was 62-63.4F, with glassy seas, the absolute best conditions. At least one participant had rerouted her flight to take in this trip, specifically to see the Craveri's' Murrelets. She was not disappointed! For the past two years, only one central California trip has found the Craveri's' Murrelet‹the Shearwater Journeys' albacore trip in September. So, it is a real treat to find them this year on so many trips. An additional 7 murrelets were seen flying away, and not identified to species.

We headed off Point Pinos which was teaming with shearwaters to the edge of the canyon, when Ryan Terrill spotted a single male ORCA! We followed the orca for awhile, and alerted the whalewatching boats to it, but we had more birds to chase. Quickly, Linda Terrill spotted a SOUTH POLAR SKUA, sitting on the water! More Sabine's Gulls, and POMARINE (23) and LONG-TAILED (21) JAEGERS cruised into our chum. BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS (17), NORTHERN FULMAR (12), PINK-FOOTED (27), BULLER'S (311), and SOOTY SHEARWATERS (19155) rounded out our tubenose list. DALL'S PORPOISES (35), PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS (250), NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHINS (25), RISSO'S DOLPHINS (10), NORTHERN FUR SEAL (1), and NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL (2), HARBOR SEAL, CALIFORNIA SEA LION, and SEA OTTER rounded out our marine mammal list for the day.

We returned to the harbor, with the northwest winds picking up, quite happy with our day. Just as we were entering the harbor, we got a report of a Streaked Shearwater, and then a Cory's Shearwater off of Pt. Pinos. Knowing that our best chances of refinding these reported birds was to turn around and go back out, about a dozen of us did just that! By now, the northwest wind was blowing 20 knots. We put out a cod liver oil slick, but neither of the shearwaters materialized. Such is a birders life, chasing seabirds! Who knows, these shearwaters may show up once again. For a report on the first live, documented CORY'S SHEARWATER in the Pacific Ocean, see Shearwater Journey's August 9th report from Bodega Bay.

Our next Monterey trips with spaces available are: August 31; September 7, 15, 26; October 3, 5, 11, 17; and November 29.

Our 12 hour Albacore-Offshore Monterey trip on September 14th still has space available. This is a really great trip to see Xantus' & Craveri's' Murrelets, lots of jaegers (all 3 species), South Polar Skua is just about guaranteed, and possibly a rare bird. Red-tailed Tropicbird has been found on two of our past September Albacore trips. We might even catch some albacore! The October 4 Albacore trip is tentatively sold out.

Our next trips from Santa Cruz are: September 13 & 27; October 12.

Trips from Fort Bragg with spaces open: September 21 & October 15.

Trips from Bodega Bay to the Cordell Bank: September 12 (3 spaces only), 19 (1 space only), 28 (1 space only); October 13 & 19.

The entirely pelagic Christmas Bird Count will take place on December 15, departing from Monterey. Winter is a great time for albatrosses‹Black-footed, Laysan, and the very rare, Short-tailed Albatross has been recorded on the December CBC.

We have a winter trip scheduled from Monterey on January 24th.

This is just about the best selection of trips along the central California coast. For folks coming a long distance, it is possible to make multiple trips in one long weekend, and well worth the effort, considering this is the peak of the fall seabird migration! Check our schedule for updates.

Debi Shearwater

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