Bubbling Bushtits

A family of fledged Bushtits has been frequenting my yard for the
past few weeks. Today, I snapped a picture of one feeding on tiny
nits on the butterfly bush! I admit it — I'm a sucker for small, cute
animals!
Debra

SAN BENITO COUNTY BIRDING: JUNE 27/28

Hello, Birders,

After Shearwater Journeys' Monterey Bay pelagic trip yesterday, we headed to Phil's Fish Market in Moss Landing for some great fish dinners. Returning to Hollister with my friends, Claudio Vidal and Rodrigo Bustamante from Chile, we made a couple of brief birding stops in San Benito County at the end of the day. On Quien Sabe Road, we saw an adult GOLDEN EAGLE hunting ground squirrels on a grassy hill, several LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES, BLACK PHOEBES, and one CASSIN'S KINGBIRD. On Santa Anita Road, I was shocked to see a BADGER scurrying down the road, and up the hillside! Now, I ask you — How often does one see a HORNED PUFFIN and a BADGER in the same day — a live badger, at that? Not road-killed. My Patagonian friends jumped out of the car for some quick photographs. Continuing down the road, we had some nice views of newly fledged YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIES and numerous ACORN WOODPECKERS on the fence post, and in the road, and several WESTERN KINGBIRD, BUSHTIT, ROCK WRENS, CALIFORNIA TOWHEE, and WESTERN BLUEBIRD families. A full grown, but still dependent GREAT-HORNED OWL chick sat in an oak tree with its parent nearby. We also saw a WHITE-TAILED KITE.

After a coffee stop at Starbuck's this morning, we headed to Paicines Reservoir where two adult BALD EAGLES,  a male & female, were perched in the small oak tree on the levee. The water level is dropping rapidly. We did not see anything else of note. On Quien Sabe Road, two GOLDEN EAGLES (1 adult, 1 sub-adult), were hunting ground squirrels. On Lone Tree Road, we found male and female BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, male LAZULI BUNTING, CALIFORNIA QUAIL with young, WILD TURKEY with young, TURKEY VULTURES, AMERICAN KESTREL, MOURNING DOVES, ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS, ACORN WOODPECKER, WESTERN KINGBIRDS, WESTERN SCRUB JAYS, YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIES, AMERICAN CROW, RAVEN, heard HUTTON'S VIREO and STELLER'S JAYS, TREE & VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, OAK TITMOUSE, HOUSE FINCH, LESSER GOLDFINCH, and BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS. Real highlights were families of newly fledged GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS (8), LARK SPARROWS (6), and RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS. I also saw DARK-EYED JUNCOS, and heard SPOTTED TOWHEES. A young COYOTE ran across the road! 

All in all, for only a couple of hours' worth of birding, it was very productive!

Sparrows forever,

Debra

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* 

Shearwater Journeys' Exclusive Charter

MONTEREY BAY PELAGIC TRIP: JUNE 27, 2008

Howdy, Seabirders,

Yesterday, June 27, 2008, Shearwater Journeys had a pretty good pelagic trip from Monterey. We departed from Fisherman's Wharf at 7:30 am, amidst the smokey skies due to the 1,000 wildfires that are currently burning in California. The smoke cast a haze over the skies for miles and miles. Surprisingly, the (BBB) leaders found both  HARLEQUIN and LONG-TAILED DUCKS sitting on the same rock in the harbor! Along Wharf No. 2, we had great views of PIGEON GUILLEMOTS. (They nest under the wharf and along Cannery Row). A commercial fishing vessel that is not in use was covered with nesting BRANDT'S CORMORANTS, as was the Coast Guard jetty. Many young cormorants were being fed by their attentive parents. Along Cannery Row, we saw a mother/calf pair SHORT-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHINS. This is pretty unusual, both for the location and the fact that only two of these normally gregarious dolphins were seen. The calf repeatedly jumped! As we headed out into the bay, the winds picked up. However, we were able to find most of the wildlife concentrated in one area where huge balls of bait (anchovies and, possibly sardines) showed on the fish finder. All of the seabirds and marine mammals were active in this single spot — BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES, SOOTY  and PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, a few ELEGANT and CASPIAN TERNS, COMMON MURRES, RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, and a fair number of CASSIN'S AUKLETS — along with breaching and tail slapping HUMPBACK WHALES, RISSO'S and NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHINS. On our return to the dock, we headed off the Monterey Beach Hotel, where a number of HARBOR PORPOISES were found. Pulling a rabbit out of the hat at the last minute on the trip, David Pearson of Arizona, spotted a HORNED PUFFIN!! What a great ending to a darn good June pelagic trip. 

Shearwater Journeys thanks all of the participants who came from far and wide for this journey, including Debra's Patagonian friends, Claudio Vidal and Rodrigo Bustamante from Chile. (Their birding company is Fantastico Sur). The leaders for this trip were: Jennifer Green, Matt Brady, Oscar Johnson, Ryan Terrill, John Hiles, Don Doolittle, and Debra Shearwater. 

Our next pelagic trips from Monterey are: JULY 25; AUGUST 15, 22, 29; SEPTEMBER 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22, 25, 27, 28; OCTOBER 3, 4, 5, 11, 18; NOVEMBER 29. Trips departing from Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor on the north side of Monterey Bay are scheduled for: SEPTEMBER 26 & OCTOBER 12. Trips from Bodega Bay are scheduled for: AUGUST 1 & 12; SEPTEMBER 19; OCTOBER 9 & 17. And, trips from Fort Bragg are scheduled for: AUGUST 8 & 10. All of these trips have spaces available. Our August 10th trip from Sausalito to the Farallon Islands is SOLD OUT. (waiting list available).

The complete species list for JUNE 27, 2008 MONTEREY BAY PELAGIC TRIP FOLLOWS:

PACIFIC LOON- 1

COMMON LOON- 5

EARED GREBE- 1, in the harbor

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 35

NORTHERN FULMAR- 4

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 18

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 6000

BROWN PELICAN- 85

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 2600

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT- 1

PELAGIC CORMORANT- 1

HARLEQUIN DUCK- 1, in the harbor

SURF SCOTER- 3

LONG-TAILED DUCK- 1

BLACK OYSTERCATCHER- 1

HEERMANN'S GULL- 200

CALIFORNIA GULL- 40

WESTERN GULL- 400

ELEGANT TERN- 7

CASPIAN TERN- 5

COMMON MURRE- 75

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 15

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 30

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 4

HORNED PUFFIN- 1

GREAT BLUE HERON- 1

BARN SWALLOW- 2, out at sea

SEA OTTER- 25

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 25

HARBOR SEAL -18

HUMPBACK WHALE- 8

SHORT-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHIN- 2

NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN- 12

RISSO'S DOLPHIN- 14

HARBOR PORPOISE- 6

Shearwaters forever,

Debra

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* 

Shearwater Journeys' Exclusive Charter

PENGUINS OF THE WORLD

Greetings, Birders,

I would like to invite you to join me this evening at the Monterey
chapter meeting of the American Cetacean Society at Hopkins Marine
Station in Pacific Grove, CA. At 7:30 pm, I will present a program,
"Penguins of the World" which will include images of all of the
world's nineteen species of penguins. Endearing and adorable marine
birds, penguins are tough creatures, surviving in some of the most
extreme conditions anywhere in the world! To date, I've seen eighteen
species of the world's penguins, most recently adding Northern
Rockhopper Penguin on a Zodiac cruise near Gough Island while I was
on the Atlantic Odyssey voyage this past spring. Next year, on the
Cape (Ushuaia) to Cape (CapeTown) voyage, I hope to tick my last
species, the South African or Cape Penguin! Interested in having this
program presented to your group? Please contact me. —Debra

JUNE 27 MONTEREY PELAGIC TRIP

Howdy, Seabirders,

Spaces are still available on Shearwater Journey's Friday, June 27th trip departing from Fishermans' Wharf in Monterey at 7 am, and returning about 3 pm. Several weeks ago, krill was being reported by offshore research vessels. (In addition to a few Murphy's Petrels off Point Arena). We usually don't have too many summer trips, but occasionally, we have turned up some very unusual seabirds — North America's first Bulwer's Petrel (Monterey) and Crested Auklet (Bodega Bay) stand out. Both seabirds were discovered on Shearwater Journeys' trips. Rare seabirds, or not, we should have a great showing of Black-footed Albatrosses, while the nesting Brandt's Cormorants on the Coast Guard Jetty should be very busy. 

Scheduled leaders include: Jennifer Green, who has been living in a yurt and riding horses across Mongolia, Don Doolittle who will be testing out his new Canon 300 mm lens, and Debra Shearwater. Guest, and friend of Debra & Don, Claudio Vidal will also be on board. Claudio and Debra met on a voyage to Antarctica, South Georgia, and The Falkland Islands in 2001. Claudio is the author of many books, best known among them being: Birds of Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego & Antarctic Peninsula and Birds of the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn. (both with Enrique Couve).

Please contact Debra Shearwater for a reservation. Join us!

Shearwaters forever,

Debra

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* 

Shearwater Journeys' Exclusive Charter

Offshore Report: Murphy's Petrels

Howdy, Seabirders,

My friend, Sophie Webb, who is offshore on a research cruise just reported today that they saw 3 MURPHY'S PETRELS 20 to 40 miles off Point Arena! The adult White-capped Albatross was found in this same area, only closer to shore—about 8 miles off Point Arena. Upwelling seems to be good in this area, at least in some years. Sophie also reported many FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS offshore Bodega Bay within the past week, along with one HORNED PUFFIN. Patches of krill were also found. Let's hope this portends for a productive fall season! Debi

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* 

Shearwater Journeys' Exclusive Charter

SAN BENITO COUNTY TODAY

Hello, Birders,

Grabbed my latte, and headed out for some local birding this morning. Seems like most of my birding is outside of the country these days. Didn't find anything terribly unusual, but had a lot of fun watching all of the newly fledged residents. Areas I birded: PAICINES RESERVOIR (PR), BROWN'S VALLEY ROAD (BV), SANTA ANITA ROAD (SA), SANTA ANA VALLEY ROAD (SAV), LONE TREE ROAD(LT). I spent most of my time on Lone Tree Road, and tallied a nice bird species list and one live RATTLESNAKE, coyote, and black-tailed deer.

Highlights of the day included:

BALD EAGLE- adult male & adult female at PR; and one adult circling high on SAV. The nesting pair did not nest this year, at least not in the nest that they have used since our discovery in 2004.

WESTERN GREBE-5 at PR, unusual in summer (?).

ROCK WREN-6 with fledged young on BV. First time that I have seen them on this little-traveled, grassland road.

SAY'S PHOEBE-4 with fledged young on BV.

WESTERN BLUEBIRD-32, many fledged young on SA.

GRASSHOPPER SPARROW-2 singing on SA. First time on this road for me. 6 on LT, at the usual spot where they have nested for the past 12 years. 

OAK TITMOUSE-23 on SA, many fledged and dependent young.

YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE-8 on LT, many fledged young.

GOLDEN EAGLE-1 adult on LT.

CHESNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE-14 on LT, a few fledged young. I don't know when they began nesting in this location, but they seem to be extending their range in the county.

HUTTON'S VIREO-1 on LT.

WARBLING VIREO-3 on LT. 

ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER-2 on LT.

LAZULI BUNTING-2 on LT.

RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW-1 on LT.

CALIFORNIA THRASHER-3 on LT.

EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE-2 on LT.

BLACK PHOEBE-3 on LT with one dependent young.

BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK-1.

Lots of the usual suspects around, including many BULLOCK'S ORIOLES, WESTERN KINGBIRDS, etc. It was disappointing to see that someone dozed the coyote bushes at the pullout at Paicines Reservoir. It was only a few bushes, but this was a great migrant "trap" in fall migration, and exactly where I saw the Palm Warbler last August. It looks very, very dry everywhere!

Here comes summer,

Debra

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* 

Shearwater Journeys' Exclusive Charter