This is a trip report for the September 16, 2009 Shearwater Journeys' pelagic trip departing from Bodega Bay.
The day began at 6:15 am with the skipper of our vessel up to his elbows in grease, down in the engine room. Not a good sign! Emerging from the engine room, we agreed to meet again at 9:30 am to assess the situation, while the skipper drove off to Santa Rosa to try to get an alternator for the boat. Some birders went off in search of early morning birds, while others, including myself went to breakfast. Reconvening at 9:30 am, I announced that the skipper was not able to get the parts and his boat would not be operable. Instead, he and I had made arrangements to take another vessel out, the ProFishn't. I also reminded folks that during past trips with these sorts of problems, we had encountered meg-rare seabirds. I doubt that anyone put much faith in this at that moment, though. Trouble was, the replacement boat could only take 29 passengers, maximum. Immediately, two of the Shearwater Journeys' leaders were knocked off the trip. Those passengers who had signed up first for the trip were given the option to join us. (Remarkably, some declined! One gracious couple from Pennsylvania, who were also signed up for Friday's and Sunday's trips, offered their spots to two young ladies who could only go out on Wednesday). So, lesson learned: sign up early! The later sign ups had to "walk the plank" as one of them put it, and forego the trip.
At 9:45 am, we were off and running out of the foggy harbor. The fog very soon gave way to completely clear conditions! We could see for miles, but there was precious little to see. Not very many seabirds or marine mammals were around. It was hot, warmer than I can remember in about ten years. We did not even wear coats or jackets. Soon, we were over Bodega Canyon and approaching the 1000 fathom line. I laid out one slick here. A few LONG-TAILED JAEGERS and ASHY STORM-PETRELS came in, along with one FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL. BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES were all around. We continued along the 1000 fathom line, heading for the Cordell Bank. Nearing the Bank, hundreds of RED PHALAROPES were flushing off the water. My co-leader, Steve Howell, wanted me to put out another slick. After nagging me a second time, I did so. And, that's when the SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS flew in! It sat around for a long time with the other albatrosses. The lucky young ladies who garnered their slots from the Pennsylvania folks could not believe the magic of it all! Probably half the folks on board had cameras and were shooting lots of images of this albatross gem. Images will be posted as soon as possible. Photos © Tom Blackman. It was about 3:30 pm and time to head for the harbor. The return ride turned out to be quite tough with spray and water running through the gunnels for nearly two hours solid! Nevertheless, we were all happy campers on board, especially when we looked in our wake to find the SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS still following us at 4:30 pm.
I would like to thank my co-leader, Steve Howell, for joining me on this trip at some inconvenience for him, since he had a flight to catch immediately after the trip. I also thank all of the participants who hailed from ten different states in the USA. And, I thank everyone for remaining patient with our morning situation.
The complete species list for SEPTEMBER 16, 2009 follows:
RED-THROATED LOON- 2
PACIFIC LOON- in the harbor
COMMON LOON- in the harbor
WESTERN GREBE- 4
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 47
*SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS- 1, immature (14-16 months old, approx.)
NORTHERN FULMAR- 8
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 48
SOOTY SHEARWATER- 36
FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL- 1
ASHY STORM-PETREL- 15
BROWN PELICAN- in the harbor
BRANDT'S CORMORANT- +
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT- in the harbor
PELAGIC CORMORANT- in the harbor
SURF SCOTER-2
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 150
RED PHALAROPE- 2000
SOUTH POLAR SKUA- 4
POMARINE JAEGER- 22
PARASITIC JAEGER- 1
LONG-TAILED JAEGER- 21
JAEGER sp. - 4
HEERMANN'S GULL- 40
CALIFORNIA GULL- 45
WESTERN GULL- 150
SABINE'S GULL- 8
COMMON/ARCTIC TERN- 1
COMMON MURRE- 300
PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 6
CASSIN'S AUKLET- 200
RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 40
CALIFORNIA SEA LION- +
STELLER'S SEA LION- 1
HARBOR SEAL- +
LARGE WHALE SP.- 2
HUMPBACK WHALE- 4
PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN- 10
DALL'S PORPOISE- 6
BLUE SHARK- 1
SALMON SHARK- 1
Remember: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!
Albatrosses forever,
Debi
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