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
www.shearwaterjourneys.com
*Antarctica, South Georgia, & The Falkland Islands, January 5-24, 2010*
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