copyright 2003 Shearwater Journeys

Hello, Birders,
The January 24th pelagic trip from Monterey began auspiciously as every one of the boat trip leaders was awakened by a pounding rain at 3 am. We all thought, "Uh, oh, is that rain?" We drove to Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey in the pouring rain! Miraculously, as the boat departed from the dock at 7:30 am, the rain stopped. The day turned out to be one of glorious weather‹flat, calm seas, and even sunshine in the afternoon! The lack of any wind kept the tubenoses down on the water, and we might not have found any albatrosses if it were not for the fact that they were hanging around two drag boats. NORTHERN FULMARS were still plentiful, but shearwaters were very scarce, as they have been since mid-October. The highlights of the day were over a thousand RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, knock-out views of an ANCIENT MURRELET, sitting off the bow, 3 FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, 3 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES, and 9 species of gulls (including a Ring-billed Gull which was photographed). The sea surface temperature was averaging 54F, slightly above average for this time of year. We went about 7 miles off Pt. Pinos.

The PEREGRINE FALCON was on top of one of the stacks at the Monterey Bay Aquarium along Cannery Row. The normal handful of BLACK TURNSTONES were on the Coast Guard Jetty. NORTHERN FULMARS were close in the bay, as were many RHINOCEROS AUKLETS. This is the highest count of rhinos that I have seen for many months. They sported their facial breeding plumes and horns were obvious on many. Almost immediately, we spotted a huge herd of RISSO'S DOLPHINS with some PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS mixed in over a range of several miles! Most of the tubenoses were concentrated around two commercial fishing vessels that had already pulled their nets. It was here that the SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATERS and many PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS flew into the chum of our boat. Shortly, leader Jennifer Green was shouting out the first of three FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATERS! This species is not easily seen in the winter. It was lifer #713 for one of the participants!! All on board had excellent views. Chumming brought many gulls to our wake, including BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE and several POMARINE JAEGERS. Mid-day, we were treated to outstanding views of PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS riding with groups of GRAY WHALES. The photo-ops were wonderful. On the way home, we checked the inner shoreline and tallied RED-NECKED GREBE, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, PIGEON GUILLEMOT, and the male HARLEQUIN DUCK in the harbor. All in all, just a wonderful day at sea. Beats winter in most of the country, right now!

The leaders for this successful trip were Clay Kempf, Jennifer Green, Steve Howell, Don Doolittle, David Vander Plymn, and Debra Shearwater. Participants hailed from 11 different states and the UK.
Our complete list follows:

RED-THROATED LOON-2
PACIFIC LOON-110
COMMON LOON-16
RED-NECKED GREBE-8
EARED GREBE-60
WESTERN GREBE-55
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS-3
NORTHERN FULMAR-250
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER-20
FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER-3
SOOTY SHEARWATER-2
SOOTY/SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER-2-3
SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER-2
BROWN PELICAN-+
BRANDT'S COROMORANT-+
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT-3
PELAGIC CORMORANT-+
RED PHALAROPE-1
POMARINE JAEGER-2
HEERMANN'S GULL-150
MEW GULL-30
RING-BILLED GULL-1
CALIFORNIA GULL-400
HERRING GULL-30
THAYER'S GULL-5
WESTERN GULL-1000
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL-20
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE-12
COMMON MURRE-15
PIGEON GUILLEMOT-1
ANCIENT MURRELET-8
CASSIN'S AUKLET-4
RHINOCEROS AUKLET-1000+
BLACK TURNSTONE-4
PEREGRINE FALCON-1
BUFFLEHEAD-4
HARLEQUIN DUCK-1
SURF SCOTER-250
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER-5
SEA OTTER-20+
CALIFORNIA SEA LION-+
GRAY WHALE-40
PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN-125

Shearwaters forever,
Debi

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