TRIP REPORT: JULY 28 & 29, 2012 HALF MOON BAY

DIAMONDS & RUST

Howdy, Seabirders,

This is a trip report for Shearwater Journeys' pelagic trip departing from Half Moon Bay, July 28, 2012. Let's face it folks, not every day at sea presents enjoyable weather. This was a such a day with some tough sea conditions which only continued to get worse, causing the canceling of the Sunday, July 29th trip. It was a good call, as wind and sea conditions were much worse the next day. Make no mistake about it— there are many good days at sea! One needs only to check out our July 31, 2010 trip report! 

On July 28th, we managed to get nearly 20 miles out of the harbor before strong winds and waves caused us to turn around. Highlights of the day included: BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS; POMARINE, PARASITIC and LONG-TAILED JAEGERS; ASHY STORM-PETRELS; ARCTIC TERN; MARBLED MURRELETS; and a small (3-4 foot) LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE. At least some of the birds were Life Birds and some were county birds for some of the folks on board. Two birders celebrated their birthdays at sea. The photographers had stunning views and opportunities to shoot the Marbled Murrelets. All images, below, copyright, Todd McGrath.

We thank all of the birders who traveled from near and far, including folks from Great Britain, Switzerland, Finland, Australia and thirteen states. The leaders for this trip were: Todd McGrath, Clay Kempf and Debi Shearwater.

The complete species list follows. All birds were in SAN MATEO COUNTY. 

JULY 28, 2012: 

OUTSIDE OF HARBOR/INSIDE OF HARBOR:

RED-THROATED LOON- 2/2

PACIFIC LOON- 0/1

COMMON LOON- 4/2

WESTERN GREBE- 3/0

CLARK'S GREBE- 2/0

WESTERN/CLARK'S GREBE- 2/0

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 1/0

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 7/0

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 95/0

ASHY STORM-PETREL- 35/0

BROWN PELICAN- 30/50

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 25/40

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT- 0/60

PELAGIC CORMORANT- 2/3

SURF SCOTER- 2/12

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER- 0/2

GREAT EGRET- 0/1

GREAT BLUE HERON- 0/1

SNOWY EGRET- 0/1

BLACK OYSTERCATCHER- 0/6

WANDERING TATTLER- 0/2

WHIMBREL- 0/7

BLACK TURNSTONE- 1/12

SURFBIRD- 0/12

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 8/0

RED PHALAROPE- 125/0

POMARINE JAEGER- 5/0

PARASITIC JAEGER- 2/0

LONG-TAILED JAEGER- 1/0

HEERMANN'S GULL- 15/20

CALIFORNIA GULL- 3/0

WESTERN GULL- 60/70

WESTERN/GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL- 0/1

ELEGANT TERN- 30/40

ARCTIC TERN- 2 (first summer)/0

CASPIAN TERN- 1/1

COMMON MURRE- 200/0

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 4/0

MARBLED MURRELET- 5/0

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 500/0

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 6/0

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 4/0

HARBOR SEAL- 0/2

HARBOR PORPOISE- 2/0

LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE- 1/0

When reading pelagic trip reports, one should not have to read between the lines to ascertain that certain trips were just not that great— heck, it is no different than birding on land. Certainly one encounters tough days of birding on land. As the saying goes, "Some days are diamonds and some days are rust." I'm sure that we have some sparkling days ahead of us!

SPACES AVAILABLE ON UPCOMING TRIPS:

Departing from HALF MOON BAY: AUGUST 12 & 27; SEPTEMBER 9*, 10, 22, 23; OCTOBER 1*, 7, 28; NOVEMBER 20.

Departing from MONTEREY BAY: AUGUST 3, 10, 17; SEPTEMBER 7*, 8*, 11, 12*, 13, 14, 15, 16, 28; OCTOBER 6, 14.

Departing from FORT BRAGG, searching for HAWAIIAN PETREL: AUGUST 24 & 25.

Departing from BODEGA BAY: AUGUST 22; SEPTEMBER 21; OCTOBER 26.

* INDICATES LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE. The following trips are SOLD OUT: AUGUST 5 & SEPTEMBER 30 FARALLON ISLANDS; SEPTEMBER 27 BODEGA BAY & PHOTOGRAPHER'S BODEGA BAY. 

RESERVATIONS: Contact Debi Shearwater at debi@shearwaterjourneys.com; 831-637-8527. Send your check or money order to: Shearwater Journeys, POB 190, Hollister, CA 95024.

Shearwaters forever,

Debi Shearwater

 Three species of cormorants, copyright, Todd McGrath.

 A banded black oystercatcher, copyright, Todd McGrath.

A leatherback sea turtle about 3 to 4 feet long, copyright, Todd McGrath.