copyright 2003 Shearwater Journeys

Hello, Seabirders,
Shearwater Journeys concluded the fall season (August 1-November 30) with its last boat trip from Monterey, yesterday, just prior to arrival of the latest rainy storm. It was a very successful day, and we were delighted that the storm stalled for a day. We began the morning with glassy seas covered with NORTHERN FULMARS just outside of the harbor. The usual BLACK TURNSTONES were found along the Coast Guard Jetty. The male HARLEQUIN DUCK was spotted by Ryan Terrill along Cannery Row, and the PEREGRINE FALCON was sitting on top of the highest silver stack at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Two HUMPBACK WHALES were feeding on schools of anchovies or small sardines just off of Point Pinos. Incredibly, a single XANTUS' MURRELET was in the same area. Our skipper, Tinker, informed us that a large bubble of warm water, up to 60F had pushed into the area last week. Perhaps the murrelet, and the numbers of unexpected BULLER'S SHEARWATERS were related to the remnants of this warm water. Only 3 miles off the coast, we spotted our first CASSIN'S AUKLETS and 2 ANCIENT MURRELETS. Lots of whitewater in the distance indicated hundreds of RISSO'S DOLPHINS, breaching and head-slapping. Soon, we also caught up with them and some NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHINS and PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS. The trip was shaping up to be a very fine day.

We headed south along the coast, as the wind was just beginning to pick up, causing some small swells. This way, we would have following seas on our return trip to the dock, making for a very pleasant ride. The views of the Big Sur coastline were just beautiful. At Sobrannes Canyon, we encountered quite a number of tubenoses, including 4 different FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, and excellent studies of a SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER, diving in our wake. Occasional Buller's Shearwaters continued to fly by, and several POMARINE JAEGERS made passes at the large flock of gulls collecting at our stern. BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES cruising by, as well.

We turned northward for our trip home, when leader Alvaro Jaramillo spotted a couple of ORCAS! Now, we did an about face in the mounting south winds, and were able to find the male orca again! Heading home, we encountered the morning's dolphins on their way south. Like a traffic jam out there! All in all, a very excellent day for a late November trip. Few trips at this time of year see both Xantus' and Ancient Murrelets! One puzzling aspect of the trip was that the black-footed albatrosses seemed to have moved away from Monterey Bay for the past 3 weeks. Also, there were very few common murres, when they would normally be abundant in November.

Our next trips are: the entirely pelagic Christmas Bird Count on Monday, December 15th. We will meet at 7:30 am at Chris' Fishing Shop on Fishermans' Wharf in Monterey. We will return at 3:30 pm. Bring lunch and dress warmly. As the office will be closed until Dec. 14th, please just show up, if you are interested in this trip. You will be assured a place on the boat. The boat fee is $80 and there is a $5 count fee that is paid to National Audubon Society. We've found some great seabirds on this trip, including Short-tailed Albatross, Yellow-billed Loon, Laysan Albatross, etc. Many of the Shearwater Journey's leaders will be on board: Alan Hopkins, Luke Cole, Jennifer Green, Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Steve Howell, Peter Pyle, and Debra Shearwater.

Shearwater Journey's winter trips include the regular trip on Saturday, January 24th, running from 7 am until 3 pm. And, we have added a shorter version for those folks who might want to just have a first experience, or a shorter day, on Sunday, January 25th from 8:30 am until noon. Please see our web site for these trips, or call after December 16th for more information.

The complete list for the NOVEMBER 29, 2003 trip follows:

RED-THROATED LOON-6
PACIFIC LOON-1040
COMMON LOON-13
EARED GREBE-18
WESTERN GREBE-1
NORTHERN FULMAR-837
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER-106
FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER-4
BULLER'S SHEARWATER-11
SOOTY SHEARWATER-7
SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER-4
BROWN PELICAN-450
BRANDT'S CORMORANT-450
PELAGIC CORMORANT-15
RED PHALAROPE-4
POMARINE JAEGER-6
BONAPARTE'S GULL-5
HEERMANN'S GULL-109
MEW GULL-42
CALIFORNIA GULL-118
HERRING GULL-27
THAYER'S GULL-1
WESTERN GULL-2000+
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL-8
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE-11
COMMON MURRE-5
PIGEON GUILLEMOT-1
XANTUS' MURRELET-1
ANCIENT MURRELET-2
CASSIN'S AUKLET-118
RHINOCEROS AUKLET-367


SEA OTTER-8
CALIFORNIA SEA LION-100+
HUMPBACK WHALE-2
ORCA-2-3
NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN-80
RISSO'S DOLPHIN-400+
PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN-6
OCEAN SUNFISH-6


HARLEQUIN DUCK-1
GREAT EGRET-1
SNOWY EGRET-1
GREAT BLUE HERON-1
BLACK OYSTERCATCHER-3
BLACK TURNSTONE-7
PEREGRINE FALCON-1
SURF SCOTER-50

Shearwaters forever,
Debi

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