SEP 7, 2008 MONTEREY BAY PELAGIC TRIP REPORT

Hello, Seabirders,

Shearwater Journey's September 7, 2008 pelagic trip from Monterey Bay did not disappoint the many participants who traveled from near and far in search of seabirds. Light fog, a relief from the hot days on shore, greeted the morning, but broke up early in the day. Seabirds were in view throughout the entire day— PINK-FOOTED, SOOTY, & BULLER'S SHEARWATERS, BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS, NORTHERN FULMAR, all three species of jaegers— POMARINE, PARASITIC, and LONG-TAILED, SOUTH POLAR SKUAS, RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, COMMON MURRES, RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, and more. Highlights included 1200 ASHY STORM-PETRELS in one large raft (in Santa Cruz County), a juvenile SABINE'S GULL at the Coast Guard Breakwater at the end of the day, and two ARCTIC TERNS. HUMPBACK WHALES put on a show, while RISSO'S DOLPHINS were actively feeding, and PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS made a brief appearance. The sea surface temperature was a warm, steady 60F throughout the day, with no temperature gradients. It was a very pleasant day on a very "birdy" Monterey Bay. 

UPCOMING PELAGIC TRIPS WITH SHEARWATER JOURNEYS: Spaces are still available on many trips. As soon as a trip is sold out, it will be listed as "Sold Out" on our web site. Please contact Debra Shearwater immediately for reservations. Email is preferred. 

MONTEREY (7 am until 3 pm)

SEP 12 with leaders Clay Kempf, Brian Sullivan, Steve Howell, & Debra Shearwater.

*SEP 14 with leaders Linda Terrill, Scott Terrill, John Sterling, Clay Kempf, David Vander Pluym, Don Doolittle, & Debra Shearwater. Chummer: Lauren Harter.

SEP 22 with leaders David Vander Pluym, David Wimpfheimer, Luke Cole, Don Doolittle, & Debra Shearwater.

*SEP 25 with leaders Jim Danzenbaker, Steve Howell, & Debra Shearwater.

SEP 27 with leaders Linda Terrill, Scott Terrill, Steve Howell, Jim Danzenbaker, & Debra Shearwater.

*SEP 28 with leaders Denise Wight, Steve Howell, Jennifer Green, & Debra Shearwater.

*OCT 3 with leaders Clay Kempf, Jennifer Green, & Debra Shearwater.

*OCT 4 with leaders Clay Kempf & Debra Shearwater.

*OCT 11 leaders TBA.

*OCT 18 with leaders Linda Terrill, Scott Terrill, Clay Kempf, & Debra Shearwater.

MONTEREY (7 am until 4:30 pm)

*SEP 15 with leaders Luke Cole, Clay Kempf, Steve Howell, Don Doolittle, & Debra Shearwater

MONTEREY ALBACORE (5:30 am until 5:30 pm)

*SEP 13 with leaders Linda Terrill, Scott Terrill, John Sterling, Brian Sullivan, David Vander Pluym, & Debra Shearwater. Chummer: Lauren Harter.

*OCT 5 with leaders Linda Terrill, Scott Terrill, & Debra Shearwater.

SANTA CRUZ (7 am until about 3:30 pm)

SEP 26 with leaders Steve Gerow, David Suddjian, Jennifer Green, Steve Howell, Alan Hopkins, & Debra Shearwater. SOLD OUT- WAIT LIST ONLY.

OCT 12 with leaders Clay Kempf, Linda Terrill, Scott Terrill, Jennifer Green, John Sterling, Don Doolittle, & Debra Shearwater.

BODEGA BAY (6:30 am until about 4-5 pm)

*OCT 9 with leaders Lisa Hug, John Sterling, Steve Howell, Jim Danzenbaker, & Debra Shearwater. 

*OCT 17 with leaders Lisa Hug, John Sterling, Steve Howell, Jennifer Green, & Debra Shearwater.

*These trips are especially recommended for photographers. 

We thank all of the participants who helped make the September 7 trip a success. The complete species list follows:

SEPTEMBER 7, 2008 MONTEREY BAY:

EARED GREBE-1 summering in the harbor

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 48

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 330 

BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 12

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 2400

ASHY STORM-PETREL- 1200

BROWN PELICAN- 35

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 140

PELAGIC CORMORANT- 2

BLACK TURNSTONE- 8

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 1080

SOUTH POLAR SKUA- 8

POMARINE JAEGER- 4

POMARINE/PARASITIC JAEGER- 2

PARASITIC JAEGER- 3

LONG-TAILED JAEGER- 1

HEERMANN'S GULL- 55

CALIFORNIA GULL- 115

WESTERN GULL- 400

SABINE'S GULL- 3

ELEGANT TERN- 47

ARCTIC TERN- 2

FORSTER'S TERN- 1

COMMON MURRE- 66

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 1

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 62

SEA OTTER- 5

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 100

NORTHERN FUR SEAL- 1

HUMPBACK WHALE- 10, breaching & pectoral flipper slapping

RISSO'S DOLPHIN- 22

PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN- 6

OCEAN SUNFISH- 1

BLUE SHARK- 2

Shearwaters forever,

Debra Shearwater

Debra Shearwater

Shearwater Journeys, Inc.

PO Box 190

Hollister, CA 95024

831.637.8527

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

www.shearwaterjourneys.com

*Antarctica, South Georgia, & The Falkland Islands, January 5-24, 2010* 

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