TRIP REPORT: SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 MONTEREY BAY

FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER

Image by Mark Rauzon, copyright. Please do not use without permission.

Howdy, Seabirders,

This is a trip report for Shearwater Journeys's pelagic trip departing from Monterey Bay, September 28, 2012. Monterey Bay seabirds put on quite a show! After several weeks of unusually tough sea conditions, especially for September which is normally the calmest month of the year, the stationary high pressure system moved, and calm conditions prevailed! This trip was handled by our loyal and able leader, Jennifer Green, as I was attending the Western Field Ornithologists's Conference in Petaluma. Below is what Jennifer reported:

A calm day on the bay started in style with 10 SURFBIRDS sprinkled along the coast guard jetty and a lucky 5 PIGEON GUILLEMOTS around Otter Point and the Hopkins Marine station. We had barely found our first sooty shearwater when the boat was circled by 2 BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS who sat in the wake and re-circled the boat for killer views. As we headed offshore we encountered strong numbers of PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, BULLER'S SHEARWATERS and then a FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER that sat with pink footed and circled the boat several times. After a show of DALL'S PORPOISE, the BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS started to appear. Calm conditions allowed intimate views of CASSIN'S and RHINOCEROS AUKLETS. At 26 miles offshore we picked up SABINE'S GULL and SOUTH POLAR SKUA, as well as HUMPBACK WHALES and PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS. On our way home we watched RISSO'S DOLPHINS, humpback mother and calf and a SEA OTTER, feeding on crab. The big bird news was the COMMON CUCKOO in Watsonville where many on the boat headed directly.
Thats the wrap,
Jennifer

View more of Mark Rauzon's images, including the record-making common cuckoo, here. 

Many thanks to all of the folks from near and far who joined our trip, including Australia, Canada, England and five different states. The leaders were: Jennifer Green, Rick Fournier, Christian Szhwarz, John Garrett and Ben Thompson.

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH on the gaff.

Image by Mark Rauzon, copyright. Please do not use without permission.

The complete species list follows. 

SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 

MONTEREY/SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

COMMON LOON- 1/0
EARED GREBE- 15/0
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 4/4
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 55/25
FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 2/0, excellent views!
BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 27/50
SOOTY SHEARWATER- 40/15
BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER- 2/0
ASHY STORM-PETREL- 2/0
BROWN PELICAN- +/+
BRANDT'S CORMORANT- +/+
PELAGIC CORMORANT- 2/0
SURF SCOTER- 1/0
BLACK TURNSTONE- 4/0
SURFBIRD- 10/0
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 50/50
RED PHALAROPE- 1/20
SOUTH POLAR SKUA- 2/1
POMARINE JAEGER- 14/5
PARASITIC JAEGER- 1/0
HEERMANN'S GULL- +/+
CALIFORNIA GULL- +/+
HERRING GULL- 0/1
WESTERN GULL- +/+
SABINE'S GULL- 2/8
ELEGANT TERN- 25/0
COMMON TERN- 1/3
COMMON MURRE- 200/75
PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 5/0
CASSIN'S AUKLET- 15/25
RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 60/60
SEA OTTER- +/0
CALIFORNIA SEA LION +
STELLER'S SEA LION- 0/1
NORTHERN FUR SEAL- 1/3
NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL- 0/1
HARBOR SEAL- 1/0
MINKE WHALE- 1/0
HUMPBACK WHALE- 2/2
RISSO'S DOLPHIN- 10/0
PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN- 0/12
DALL'S PORPOISE- 2/0
HUMMINGBIRD SP.-1
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH- 1
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD- 1
LESSER GOLDFINCH- 4
WARBLER SP.-1
PEREGRINE FALCON- 1

Shearwaters forever,

Debi Shearwater

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com