SHEARWATER JOURNEYS' TRIP REPORTS: OCT 9, 11, & 12, 2008

Howdy, Seabirders,

This report covers Shearwater Journey's pelagic trips on October 9, 11, & 12, 2008. The October 9 trip which was set to depart from Bodega Bay was canceled due to a gale warning by NOAA on October 8th at 12:30 p.m. Everyone was refunded their full fare for this trip. Turns out it was a very wise decision. The October 11th trip departed from Monterey as planned since the forecast for Monterey Bay was much better that day. Being half-moon shaped, the bay is somewhat protected from the prevailing northwesterly winds. Highlights of this trip included one HARLEQUIN DUCK in the harbor, 35 WHITE-FRONTED GEESE (!), and a great show of 5 KILLER WHALES with HUMPBACK WHALES near Moss Landing. The October 12th trip departed from Santa Cruz on the north side of Monterey Bay. Highlights included great views of MARBLED MURRELETS just outside the harbor, 25 SURFBIRDS on the jetty, 1 or 2 FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, and a great show of RISSO'S DOLPHINS.

We would like to thank all of the participants who traveled with us on these trips. The leaders were: October 11: Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Gerry McChesney, & Ryan Terrill; October 12: Clay Kempf, Linda Terrill, Scott Terrill, John Sterling, Don Doolittle, Jennifer Green, Jim Danzenbaker, & Debra Shearwater.

Our last two trips of the fall season are scheduled for October 17 from Bodega Bay with leaders John Sterling, Lisa Hug, Jennifer Green, Alan Hopkins, Steve Howell, David Vander Pluym, David Wimpfheimer, & Debra Shearwater, and Lauren Harter, chumming; and for October 18 from Monterey Bay with leaders Clay Kempf, Linda Terrill, Scott Terrill, David Vander Pluym, and chummer, Lauren Harter. Spaces are still available on both trips. Our next scheduled trips from Monterey are November 29 and January 17.

The complete species list follows: 

OCTOBER 11 MONTEREY COUNTY/ OCTOBER 12 SANTA CRUZ COUNTY:

PACIFIC LOON- 5/3

COMMON LOON- 0/2

EARED GREBE- 0/20

WESTERN GREBE- 0/102

CLARK'S GREBE- 0/20

WESTERN/CLARK'S- 0/25

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 6/10

NORTHERN FULMAR- 7/6

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 165/180

FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 1/1or 2

BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 38/85

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 105/29

SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER- 2/0

BROWN PELICAN- 225/125

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 250/75

PELAGIC CORMORANT-2/2

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT-0/1

HARLEQUIN DUCK-1/0

SURF SCOTER- 85/20

WHITE-FRONTED GEESE- 35/0

CANADA GOOSE- 0/6

SNOW GOOSE- 0/1

RUDDY TURNSTONE- 0/1

BLACK TURNSTONE- 6/3

SURFBIRD- 0/25

WILLET- 0/3

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 15/8

RED PHALAROPE- 1/ 2

SOUTH POLAR SKUA- 0/7

POMARINE JAEGER- 0/3

POMARINE/PARASITIC- 0/2

BONAPARTE'S GULL- 1/5

HEERMANN'S GULL- 155/85

CALIFORNIA GULL- 150/120

HERRING GULL- 0/2

WESTERN GULL- 155/250

GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL- 2/0

WESTERN/GLAUCOUS-WINGED- 10/0

ELEGANT TERN- 6/3

ARCTIC TERN- 1/0

COMMON MURRE- 53/850

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 1/1

MARBLED MURRELET- 0/10

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 45/16

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 60/77

SEA OTTER- 6/27

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 140/+

NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL- 1/1

HARBOR SEAL-3/20

HUMPBACK WHALE- 20/18

KILLER WHALE- 5/0

NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN- 0/7

RISSO'S DOLPHIN- 12/18

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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