Fall seabird migration marches forward! On our August 1 pelagic trip from Bodega Bay to Bodega Canyon and Cordell Bank, we recorded the first SOUTH POLAR SKUA of the fall season, along with FLOCKS of JAEGERS— all three species— LONG-TAILED, PARASITIC, and POMARINE! It was a grand slam on the jaeger family. The jaegers put on a good show, circling and circling around the boat as we sat on a menhaden oil chum slick for one and a half hours. Photographers were delighted. Additionally, STORM-PETRELS were a major highlight of this trip, with large numbers of FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS, ASHY STORM-PETRELS and one WILSON'S STORM-PETREL!
We departed the harbor at very low tide, with the mudflats very exposed. Several hundred SURFBIRDS and many other shorebirds and WHITE PELICANS were on the flats. Just outside of the harbor, PIGEON GUILLEMOTS and many father/chick pairs of COMMON MURRES were found. For the most part, we did not see very many seabirds until we approached the canyon. There, we encountered BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES, NORTHERN FULMARS, SOOTY and PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, and the flocks of jaegers. The chum slick worked very well, continuing to attract seabirds for the entire time, while we sat there photographing them or eating lunch. Plagued by light fog, off and on throughout the day, it miraculously lifted as soon as the chum slick went out. On the far side of the Cordell Bank, we encountered the flocks of storm-petrels. Back in the fog, the storm-petrels were more difficult to approach, but many of the Fork-tails flew straight at the boat! Owing to the tough weather conditions, we did not find much in the way of cetaceans. A few DALL'S PORPOISES showed up, but would not bow ride, and one distant HUMPBACK WHALE was seen by its blow. The seas were confused and mixed, but everyone on board did very well, with no seasick casualties. The sea surface temperature was a chilly 52F. We were surprised to find a RED-NECKED GREBE on our return to the harbor.
We thank all of the participants who came for this trip. The leaders were: Lisa Hug, Jennifer Green, Steve Howell, Alan Hopkins, Matt Brady, Ryan Terrill, Don Doolittle, and Debra Shearwater.
Our next trips with spaces available are as follows:
AUG 8 FORT BRAGG with Lisa Hug, Clay Kempf, Al de Martini, & Debra Shearwater leading.
AUG 10 FORT BRAGG with Lisa Hug, Clay Kempf, Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Don Doolittle, Al de Martini, & Debra Shearwater leading.
AUG 12 BODEGA BAY with Gerry McChesney, Lisa Hug, John Sterling, Alan Hopkins, Steve Howell, & Debra Shearwater leading.
RESERVATIONS FOR THE ABOVE TRIPS must be made with Debra Shearwater by 10 pm on August 6th. For last minute information, email Debra Shearwater: debi@shearwaterjourneys.com.
Spaces are still available on the following MONTEREY PELAGIC TRIPS:
AUG 15 with Linda Terrill, Clay Kempf, & Jennifer Green leading.
AUG 22 with Clay Kempf, John Sterling, Brian Sullivan, Jennifer Green & Debra Shearwater leading.
AUG 29 with Linda Terrill, Clay Kempf, & Jennifer Green leading.
SEP 7 with Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Clay Kempf, Jennifer Green, & Debra Shearwater leading. ONLY 2 SPACES OPEN.
All other trips on the schedule are open. Please note the following change: September 19 Bodega Bay has been canceled.
THE COMPLETE SPECIES LIST FOR AUGUST 1, 2008 BODEGA CANYON & CORDELL BANK FOLLOWS:
RED-THROATED LOON-1
COMMON LOON-2
RED-NECKED GREBE-1
WESTERN GREBE-15
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS-23
NORTHERN FULMAR-22
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER-40
SOOTY SHEARWATER-65
WILSON'S STORM-PETREL-1
FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL-250 to 280
ASHY STORM-PETREL-150
BROWN PELICAN-+
BRANDT'S CORMORANT-+
PELAGIC CORMORANT-2
SURF SCOTER-8
BLACK OYSTERCATCHER-2
BLACK TURNSTONE-5
SURFBIRD-100's in the harbor
RED KNOT-1 in the harbor
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE-37
SOUTH POLAR SKUA-1
POMARINE JAEGER-6
PARASITIC JAEGER-5
LONG-TAILED JAEGER-26
JAEGER sp.-3
HEERMANN'S GULL-10
CALIFORNIA GULL-20
WESTERN GULL-100
WESTERN/GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL-1
SABINE'S GULL-12
ELEGANT TERN-2, many in the harbor
CASPIAN TER- in the harbor
COMMON MURRE-70
PIGEON GUILLEMOT-14
CASSIN'S AUKLET-5
RHINOCEROS AUKLET-2
CALIFORNIA SEA LION-+
HARBOR SEAL-+
HUMPBACK WHALE-1
DALL'S PORPOISE-5
Shearwaters forever,
Debra
Debra Shearwater
Shearwater Journeys, Inc.
PO Box 190
Hollister, CA 95024
831.637.8527
www.shearwaterjourneys.com
*Antarctica, South Georgia, & The Falkland Islands, January 5-24, 2010*
Shearwater Journeys' Exclusive Charter
