Shearwater Journeys' pelagic trip departing from Bodega Bay could be best described as, "Just another day in paradise." Highlights included: BLUE WHALES, a single TUFTED PUFFIN, over 50 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES, high counts of RED and RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, CASSIN'S AUKLETS, and a SALMON SHARK. The incredible, non-stop JAEGER show continued, with 85 LONG-TAILED JAEGERS, 29 POMARINE JAEGERS, and 4 PARASITIC JAEGERS tallied. This is the first trip of the fall season that we have missed South Polar Skua. Best part of the day was the weather, in total contrast to the marine forecast. A PEREGRINE FALCON flew over the dock at the end of the day.
The "New Sea Angler," the vessel that we regularly use was fully repaired. We departed the harbor about 7 am, and returned at 6:30 pm. The extensive mudflats were covered with shorebirds, White Pelicans, and other species. We made it well beyond the 1000 fathom line, to at least 1300 fathoms. Birdlife was much more abundant than the September 16th trip. This just goes to show you how readily the marine life changes in response to migration and food supplies. It is all the more reason why birders should book as many trips as possible during their visit. Just as migration on land changes daily, so it does at sea.
Many thanks to our wonderful participants. Leaders for this trip were: Lisa Hug, Oscar Johnson, Abe Borker, Wes Fritz, Todd McGrath, and Debi Shearwater.
We spent a some time in both Sonoma and Marin Counties. The complete species list follows;
18 SEPTEMBER 2009 BODEGA BAY
TOTAL/ SONOMA/MARIN
RED-THROATED LOON- 1/1/0
PACIFIC LOON- 5/5/0
WESTERN GREBE- 13/13/0
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 54/40/14
NORTHERN FULMAR- 11/4/7
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 79/21/58
BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 2/2/0
SOOTY SHEARWATER- 59/47/12
WILSON'S STORM-PETREL- 1/1/0
FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL- 7/7/0
ASHY STORM-PETREL- 22/18/4
BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 125/125/0
PELAGIC CORMORANT- 4/4/0
SURF SCOTER- 5/5/0
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 350/350/0
RED PHALAROPE- 800/800/0
POMARINE JAEGER- 29/15/14
PARASITIC JAEGER- 4/2/2
LONG-TAILED JAEGER- 85/49/36
JAEGER SP.- 2/2/0
HEERMANN'S GULL- 25/2/23
CALIFORNIA GULL- 50/30/20
WESTERN GULL- 60/45/15
SABINE'S GULL- 18/16/2
COMMON TERN- 1/1/0
ARCTIC TERN- 17/17/0
COMMON MURRE- 1250/1245/5
PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 8/8/0
CASSIN'S AUKLET- 700/690/10
RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 30/15/15
TUFTED PUFFIN- 1/1/0
CALIFORNIA SEA LION- +
NORTHERN FUR SEAL- 1
HARBOR SEAL- +
BLUE WHALE- 3
HUMPBACK WHALE- 10
OCEAN SUNFISH- 1
SALMON SHARK- 1
PEREGRINE FALCON- 1, in the harbor
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