FARALLON ISLANDS AUG 2, 2009: AWESOME DAY!

Howdy, Seabirders,

Shearwater Journeys' annual trip to the Farallon Islands was a hands down success! This sold out trip was co-led by Peter Pyle, Alan Hopkins, Lisa Hug and Hugh Cotter. Highlights included: 45 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES, 1 BULLER'S SHEARWATER, 500 ASHY STORM-PETRELS, 1 FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL, 1 BLACK STORM-PETREL, 12 SABINE'S GULLS, all three species of jaegers, including 7 LONG-TAILED JAEGERS, 1 XANTUS' MURRELET and, of course, 15 TUFTED PUFFINS. Marine mammal activity was intense, with BLUE, MINKE, HUMPBACK, and GRAY WHALES spotted. 

Peter reported that they reached a warm water break 15 NM W of SEFI where the SST jumped from 56 to 60F!

The complete species list for the AUGUST 2, 2009 FARALLON ISLANDS TRIP FOLLOWS (west of the Golden Gate Bridge):

Seabirds:

Western Grebe 50

Clark's Grebe - 1

Black-footed ALbatross - 45

Northern Fulmar - 60

Sooty Shearwater - 150

Pink-footed Shearwater - 60

Buller's Shearwater - 1

Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel - 1

Ashy Storm-Petrel - 500

Black Storm-Petrel - 1

Brown Pelican - 70

Brandt's Cormorant - 60

Pelagic Cormorant - 15

Red-necked Phalarope - 45

Red Phalarope - 4

Western Gull - 500

California Gull - 60

Heermann's Gull - 18

Sabine's Gull - 12

Common Tern - 2

Elegant Tern - 10

Pomarine Jaeger - 1

Parasitic Jaeger - 2

Long-tailed Jaeger - 7

Common Murre - 1200

Pigeon Guillemot - 200

Xantus' Murrelet - 1

Cassin's Auklet - 150

Rhinoceros Auklet - 120

Tufted Puffin - 15

Migrants:

Short-billed Dowitcher - 20

Surfbird- 25

Mammals:

Blue Whale - 6

Minke Whale - 5

Humpback Whale - 15

Gray Whale - 3

Harbor Porpoise - 35

California Sea Lion - 200

Steller's Sea Lion - 1

Northern Fur Seal - 35 (most at colony on island)

Harbor Seal - 25

Northern Elephant Seal - 1

No sharks, mola, fish, etc.

Many thanks to all of the participants and to Golden Gate Audubon Society, as well as to the leaders, Peter, Alan, Lisa and Hugh. Our trips to the Farallon Islands continue to enjoy a 100% success rate for finding the TUFTED PUFFINS. This trip continues to sell out every year. Sign up early next year!

Puffins forever,

Debi