copyright 2006 Shearwater Journeys

Greetings, Seabirders,

Shearwater Journeys had its first pelagic trip of the summer/fall season in Friday, July 28th from Monterey. After ten days of sweltering heat and record-breaking temperatures, the marine layer returned and fog greeted us the morning of our trip. Never dense, it burned off with good visibility and perfect uniformly, high overcast skies. There was a bit of a swell to the seas, but no wind. We went about 24-25 miles offshore. The sea surface temperature was above normal at 58-61F, with no "hard edges."

We saw most of the seabird species typical for this time of year, albatrosses being a highlight, and the first SABINE'S GULLS of the season. Birds of interest were a sprinkling of first year RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, not usually found on pelagic trips, and a few father/chick pairs of COMMON MURRES. BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES (photo) put on a good show. One unidentified jaeger caused great discussion among the leaders who never came to an agreement on its identity, a lesson that not all seabirds can be identified! (Photo by Peter LaTourrette North American Bird Photography Gallery) Marine mammals were well represented with nine species being recorded.

The leaders for this trip were: Alan Hopkins, Luke Cole, Brian Sullivan, Jennifer Green, and Debra Shearwater. David Vander Plyum was our chummer. The complete species list follows.

JULY 28, 2006 MONTEREY BAY

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS-16
NORTHERN FULMAR-4
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER-30
SOOTY SHEARWATER-2800
BROWN PELICAN-+
BRANDT'S CORMORANT-400
PELAGIC CORMORANT-2
SANDERLING-3
WHIMBREL-1
BLACK TURNSTONE-1
WESTERN SANDPIPER-3
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE-160
PARASITIC JAEGER-1
JAEGER sp.-2
HEERMANN'S GULL-15
CALIFORNIA GULL-1
WESTERN GULL-70
SABINE'S GULL-6
ELEGANT TERN-20
COMMON/ARCTIC TERN-3
COMMON MURRE-250
PIGEON GUILLEMOT-16
CASSIN'T AUKLET-5
RHINOCEROS AUKLET-30
SEA OTTER-+
CALIFORNIA SEA LION-+
NORTHERN FUR SEAL-5
NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL-1
HARBOR SEAL-+
HUMPBACK WHALE-2
RISSO'S DOLPHIN-29
PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN-80
DALL'S PORPOISE-4
OCEAN SUNFISH-1
BLUE SHARK-4

UPCOMING TRIPS: Spaces are available on most of our upcoming trips. Trips from Monterey Bay: August 11, 18; September 3, 9, 10, 11, 22, 23, 29, 30; October 1, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 22, and 28. Albacore/Offshore Monterey trips are scheduled for September 10 and 30, and October 7 and 15. Trips from Bodega Bay are scheduled for: August 15 and 28; September 8, 15, 24; October 9 and 13. Trips from Fort Bragg to search for Mega-rarities are scheduled for August 13, 25, 26; September 17. The August 27th trip from Monterey has been canceled. Reports of seabirds at the Cordell Bank have been very high, both in numbers and diversity, already this season. The August 6 trip from Sausalito to the Farallon Islands is SOLD OUT.

If you haven't seen the latest issue of North American Birds, try to get hold of one from the American Birding Association. The cover features an image of one of several records of STELLER'S or SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSSES for the central California coast last fall. The cover photo was shot by Don Doolittle on the Shearwater Journey's August 12th pelagic trip from Monterey Bay. Many seabird articles are featured as well, along with one by Peter Pyle, "Offshore Pacific Highlights in Summer-Fall 2005: Just Another Year, " and "First Record of Parkinson's Petrel for the Continental United States" by Rich Stallcup and Eric Preston. Great bedtime reading material!

Shearwaters forever, Debi