copyright 2005 Shearwater Journeys

Hello, Seabirders,

This is a trip report for Shearwater Journey's pelagic trips on October 7, 8, 9, and 10th. The October 7 & 8th trips departed from Monterey with very difficult weather conditions. Swells averaged 6-10 feet, with wind chop, "slop on the top." The PEREGRINE FALCON returned to the radio tower on Cannery Row on October 8th.

October 9th was our third albacore trip of the fall season, and the weather conditions had improved measurably. We went some 43 miles offshore in search of a warm water tongue that had showed up on the charts the night prior to our trip. It had dispersed, however. The highlight of that trip was 6 species of shearwaters: PINK-FOOTED, FLESH-FOOTED, BULLER'S, SOOTY, SHORT-TAILED, and MANX! On all three of the Monterey trips, we searched many areas for the storm-petrel flocks, but found none. These flocks are very ethereal, and move with the winds, night, and currents, or food supply. Its anyone's guess. Out of the four trips, only October 9th recorded one SABINE'S GULL, quite possibly the last one of the season. They normally peak earlier, in late August or mid-September.

The October 10th trip departed from Bodega Bay under beautiful sea conditions! This was just a gorgeous fall day at sea. The big news at the Cordell Bank was an outbreak of krill, well evidenced by the presence of over 500 CASSIN'S AUKLETS and 11 BLUE WHALES, both of which have been lacking this fall. Another highlight of this trip was great views of 3 TUFTED PUFFINS! BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES continued on all trips. This is not always the case in October, when they are thought to move offshore.

The full species list for October 7/8/9/10 follows:

PACIFIC LOON-0/2/2/0
COMMON LOON-1/3/1/2
EARED GREBE-1/1/0/3
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS-3/5/6/37
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER-33/55/125/62
FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER-0/0/2/3
BULLER'S SHEARWATER-4/2/6/148
SOOTY SHEARWATER-18/30/45/31
SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER-2/7/1/4
*MANX SHEARWATER-0/0/1/0
ASHY STORM-PETREL-15/1/134/0
BROWN PELICAN-+/+/+/+
BRANDT'S CORMORANT-+/+/+/+
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT-0/0/0/+
PELAGIC CORMORANT-1/4/0/+
SURF SCOTER-6/8/0/6
BLACK OYSTERCATCHER-0/0/0/3
RUDDY TURNSTONE-1/0/0/0
BLACK TURNSTONE-5/5/0/0
SURFBIRD-0/0/0/5
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE-12/0/11/0
RED PHALAROPE-2/0/0/0
SOUTH POLAR SKUA-2/5/8/6
POMARINE JAEGER-4/2/8/36
POMARINE/PARASITIC-2/0/5/2
PARASITIC JAEGER-2/0/1/1
HEERMANN'S GULL-+/+/+/8
CALIFORNIA GULL-+/+/+/+
HERRING GULL-3/0/1/2
WESTERN GULL-+/+/+/+
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL-3/0/0/2
WESTERN/GLAUCOUS-WINGED-2/0/0/0
SABINE'S GULL-0/0/1/0
COMMON MURRE-70/80/410/362
PIGEON GUILLEMOT-3/3/0/3
CASSIN'S AUKLET-0/0/1/558
RHINOCEROS AUKLET-16/18/27/35
TUFTED PUFFIN-0/0/0/3
SEA OTTER-+/+/+/0
CALIFORNIA SEA LION-+/+/+/+
NORTHERN FUR SEAL-0/0/1/2
BLUE WHALE-0/0/0/11
HUMPBACK WHALE-12/20/22/11
NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN-0/35/0/0
RISSO'S DOLPHIN-0/34/0/0
PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN-5/4/0/160
HARBOR PORPOISE-0/0/0/3
DALL'S PORPOISE-0/0/0/15
OCEAN SUNFISH-0/3/1/6
PEREGRINE FALCON-1/0/0/0
OSPREY-0/1/0/0


Once again, this impressive list of seabird and marine mammal species reveals how participating in all four trips yields the greatest results. Definitely the best bet for one traveling from out-of-state.

The leaders were: Oct 7-Mike Danzenbaker, Jennifer Green, Denise Wight, Clay Kempf, Don Doolittle, & Debra Shearwater;
Oct 8-Alan Hopkins, Nikolas Haass, Clay Kempf, Mike Danzenbaker, Don Doolittle, & Debra Shearwater;
Oct 9-Nikolas Haass, Jennifer Green, Don Doolittle, Matt Brady, & Debra Shearwater;
Oct 10-Lisa Hug, Todd McGrath, David VanderPluym, & Debra Shearwater.

We still have spaces available on our last three trips of the season. This coming weekend is a great combination trip: Friday, Oct 14th from Bodega Bay, and Sunday, Oct 16th from Fort Bragg. (Use Saturday, Oct 15th to landbird along Highway 1 from Bodega Bay to Fort Bragg. This is an excellent route for migrants). Both the Bodega Bay and Fort Bragg trips meet at 6:30 am. From Bodega Bay we use the New Sea Angler, and from Fort Bragg, the Trek II. Return time can range from 4-5:30 pm.

As I will not be home to answer your calls, or check email, please just show up at Port O'Bodega off East Shore Road, or at Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg near the Wharf Resturant, if you would like to go with us!
Leaders for the Oct 14th trip are: Steve Howell, Jennifer Green, Lisa Hug, & Debra Shearwater;
for Oct 16th: Steve Howell, Luke Cole, Lisa Hug, Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, David Vander Pluym, & Debra Shearwater.

Our very last trip of the fall season will be Friday, Oct 21 from Monterey. It runs from 7 am to 3 pm. This is a great time to see the remaining lingering fall migrants, and possibly arriving winter species. Leaders are: Clay Kempf, Mike Danzenbaker, Jennifer Green, & Debra Shearwater.

Shearwaters forever,
Debi