Those pterodromas just keep on cookin'! On this day, a magnificent HAWAIIAN PETREL joined the many COOK'S PETRELS that we were watching as they darted back and forth across our menhaden oil and beef fat slick. For at least two hours, everyone on board was able to watch these rare gems, as Wes Fritz and Oscar Johnson constantly replenished our slick which broke up in the howling winds and swells. Each time, our skipper repositioned the vessel and the parade of tubenoses continued, as we had close up views of ASHY STORM-PETRELS, FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS, and a solitary WILSON'S STORM-PETREL. Hoards of LONG-TAILED JAEGERS, as many as 125 throughout the day, hovered overhead, and sat on the water. Wes talked to the albatrosses, asking them to come in for a "group shot" as the cameras clicked away. Even point and shoot cameras were clicking. Maybe there is such as thing as an "Albatross Whisperer"! If so, that would be Wes. The first COOK'S PETREL was spotted in only 500 fathoms, but most of the birds were over the 1000 fathom line, where the water changed color from the murky brown of the morning to clear blue in the afternoon. We also had a temperature break. There is no reliable time, nor place to find Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels in California. To see them at such close range was marvelous— not to mention the close range shots of all of the Long-tailed Jaegers. We could not be sure if one or two Hawaiian Petrels were involved, as one flew away, the boat drifted, and quite some time later, another/or same Hawaiian Petrel returned.
The morning began with fly-away XANTUS' MURRELETS and BLUE WHALES, and the usual suspects. At the end of our time on the slick, we turned on our heading toward Bodega Harbor. A LAYSAN ALBATROSS was spotted in the distance. In all, we counted 11 species of tubenoses. No question about it— it was a wet, wild, and very satisfactory day!
Many folks traveled a long distance for this trip, hooking up with the two trips from Fort Bragg on August 14 & 16. Unfortunately, both of the Fort Bragg trips had to be canceled due to the boat breaking down. We hope to reschedule these trips, as we are certain that some interesting seabirds will be found on the Fort Bragg trips. Meanwhile, many folks headed up to Humboldt County to search for the Long-billed Murrelets in the harbor. We thank all of the folks who ventured out for this trip, from many states across the USA, as well as from Switzerland.
The success of such a difficult trip depends on many things. I attribute this trip's remarkable success to the following: 25% of the boat consisted of leaders; a skipper who was willing and able to get us out there; and the Magic Brew chum that Wes Fritz brought on board. Leaders on this day were: Peter Pyle, Tristan McKee, Lisa Hug, Sophie Webb, Jon Dunn, Steve Howell, John Sterling, Matt Brady, Oscar Johnson, Wes Fritz, and Debra Shearwater.
The complete species list for AUGUST 12, 2009 BODEGA BAY FOLLOWS:
All birds were in Sonoma County
RED-THROATED LOON- 1
PACIFIC LOON- 5
COMMON LOON- 2
LAYSAN ALBATROSS- 1
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 40
NORTHERN FULMAR- 28
*HAWAIIAN PETREL - 1 or 2
COOK'S PETREL- 11
Pterodroma sp.- 3
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 50
BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 16
SOOTY SHEARWATER- 60
WILSON'S STORM-PETREL- 1, first of the fall
FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL- 40, first of the fall
ASHY STORM-PETREL- 150
BROWN PELICAN- 2
BRANDT'S CORMORANT- +
PELAGIC CORMORANT- 4
RED-NECKED/RED PHALAROPE- 5
RED PHALAROPE- 2
POMARINE JAEGER- 3
POMARINE/PARASITIC JAEGER- 1
LONG-TAILED JAEGER- 125
HEERMANN'S GULL- 25
CALIFORNIA GULL- 10
WESTERN GULL- 110
SABINE'S GULL- 9
ARCTIC TERN- 4
COMMON MURRE- 500
PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 100 (no, that is not a typo)
XANTUS' MURRELET- 2
CASSIN'S AUKLET- 80
RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 20
CALIFORNIA SEA LION- +
STELLER'S SEA LION- 1
BLUE WHALE- 7
NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN- 12
PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLHIN- 20
DALL'S PORPOISE- 6
Debra Shearwater
Shearwater Journeys, Inc.
PO Box 190
Hollister, CA 95024
831.637.8527
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