Shearwater Journeys' last pelagic trip of the fall season took place on November 22, 2011, departing from Half Moon Bay. Swell was from the northwest at 2 to 4 feet while winds were from the southwest. We barely snuck this trip in between storms bookending the day, although our day at sea was quite doable. Highlights were arriving winter seabirds, including flocks of ANCIENT MURRELETS, one BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, several SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATERS and in the nearshore, huge flocks of migrating PACIFIC and RED-THROATED LOONS. We observed six species of alcids and nine species of gulls. We headed out to the weather buoy and the 200 fathom line beyond that. Remarkably, no albatrosses at all were observed. (This is the time when adults are returning to their breeding islands).
BROWN PELICAN by Debi Shearwater
Many thanks to all of the birders who came from near and far our last, sold out, fall pelagic trip. Several birders reported "life birds," including as many as five new ticks for one person! The leaders on this day included: Jon Dunn, Peter Pyle, Matt Brady, Tristan McKee, Abe Borker and Debi Shearwater.
The complete species list follows, with totals given. We spent a brief time in San Francisco County. Most birds were in San Mateo County.
NOVEMBER 22, 2011 HALF MOON BAY
RED-THROATED LOON- 430
PACIFIC LOON- 355
COMMON LOON- 25
HORNED GREBE- 15
EARED GREBE- 20
WESTERN GREBE- 150
CLARK'S GREBE- 20
NORTHERN FULMAR- 65
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 45
SOOTY SHEARWATER- 165
SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER- 6
BROWN PELICAN- 375
BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 40
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT- 100
PELAGIC CORMORANT- 15
SURF SCOTER- 100
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER- 4
BLACK OYSTERCATCHER- 2
WHIMBREL- 2
MARBLED GODWIT- 15
BLACK TURNSTONE- 8
WILLET- 35
RED PHALAROPE- 42
BONAPARTE'S GULL- 5
HEERMANN'S GULL- 75
MEW GULL- 20
CALIFORNIA GULL- 120
HERRING GULL- 60
THAYER'S GULL- 5
WESTERN GULL- 250
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL- 45
WESTERN/GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL- 15
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE- 1
COMMON MURRE- 500
PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 1
MARBLED MURRELET- 4
ANCIENT MURRELET- 30
CASSIN'S AUKLET- 350
RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 250
CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 60
STELLER'S SEA LION- 1
HARBOR SEAL- 1
HUMPBACK WHALE- 2
PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS- 12
HARBOR PORPOISE- 8
More and more photographers are enjoying our trips. We make every effort possible for folks on board to obtain images. Below, are a few of the photographers who joined this trip.
Stay tuned for our full 2012 schedule!
Shearwaters forever,
Debi Shearwater
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