What They Said— Comments from 2012 Shearwater Journeys' Folks

Fork-tailed and Ashy Storm-Petrels by Doug Koch, copyright.

Please do not use without permission.

Howdy, Seabirders,

Shearwater Journeys will kick off the pelagic season with trips on July 27 & 28 departing from Half Moon Bay and August 2 departing from Monterey. Spaces are still available on these trips.

Below, please find comments that folks made about trips we did in 2012.

Shearwaters Forever,

Debi 

Great memories of our pelagic trip, October 26— got 13 life birds. Got one of the last flights into Dulles before hurricane Sandy hit. Lost electricity, wire down in driveway, fire truck outside, but OK now. 

Jon & Shirley

Thanks for the great look at the Hawaiian petrel and nice to meet you.  All the storm-petrels were pretty nice too.  Hope to get out on one of your trips again soon.

Do you ever attempt trips specifically for parakeet auklet, mottled petrel and/or Murphy's petrel?

Thanks,

Rob

I want to thank you for the two enjoyable days of seabirding with you on July 28th out of Half Moon Bay and August 3rd out of Monterey. For a landlubber like me, seabirding is a nice treat. I also want to thank your co-leaders, Todd McGrath, Clay Kemp (?), and Jennifer (sorry I can't remember her last name). They were alert and very helpful. Also thanks for posting Christian's photos of the trip.   

On another note, I saw several large plovers from afar on the rocks at Asilomar on Saturday morning. I could not tell whether they were Pacific or American Golden Plovers. Could you give me a clue, please?

Thanks again and I hope to be on several more of your trips in the coming years. 

Connie

We really enjoyed the boat trip and greatly appreciate your teaching, wisdom and enthusiasm.  Looking forward to another trip in the summer.  Have a great winter and spring.  Eli is psyched for the Christmas bird count.  Thanks again for your leadership in opening up a world of wonder for my son.

Josh

If there was a birding hall of fame, you'd be in it.  Thank you for some great experiences and memories.
I know what trip I'd like to take next year:  the Farrallons. Not sure when, but I'll be watching your website.
Bye for now, Reuben

Rough seas and their attendant discomforts notwithstanding, your knowledge (plus that of your fabulous leaders), combined with your enthusiasm, made for a fantastic trip.  Thank you!  I'm a dedicated Shearwater Journeys fan.

Pamela

We had so much fun and it was wonderful to meet you. We just got back to NJ and are exhausted, but very happy to have added 38 life birds on our CA trip - and 14 were thanks to YOU!
We will be out there again...and if you come to NJ, make sure you let me, Rob Fanning, and Lisa know, and we can take you to some fun places!
Take care,
Stephanie :)

I have admired what you have done over the past many years---and look forward to participating on one of your trips.  I live in Washington DC. 

Robert

Hi Debi - I had so much fun on the August 22 trip, I have to book another one!

If there is still a spot, I'll send in a check for the September 21 trip out of Bodega. 

- Jeff

There is a really good reason people come from all corners of the globe to go out with Shearwater Adventures. Just this past Friday she used her voodoo and got birds to appear on a verrrry quiet day until at one point we had 20+ Black-Footed Albatross happily paddling behind the boat like ducklings. The skuas, jaegers, storm petrels, auklets (I saw a Cassin's Auklet from the bow - did any one else?), phalaropes and, of course, shearwaters were not too shabby either. Her leaders are extremely well informed and personable and I got kicked up to a new level of seeing just taking it all in on Friday. Plus Debi has trips to place like Svalbard that are NOT the usual over-crowded Nat Geo boats.
Tom

 I just wanted to thank you for a fine first West Coast pelagic trip out of Half Moon Bay this past Monday. Hopefully my next trip to the west will again coincide with one of your trips and I can join you again. Many thanks again and best wishes for a terrific remainder of your pelagic season,Derek 

Thanks again for some great birding last week. Look forward to more great birding toward the end of September.
Best,  John

Here is my quote..."Even when the sea is rough and the wind is high, the birds still want to come by to check out Debi's boat, and we all had a fantastic adventure! "

all the best,

Beth

I just wanted to thank you so much for a trip of a lifetime out of Monterey! My parents and I saw birds we have wanted to see our entire lives! Albatrosses were everywhere that day...it's a bird I've wanted to see since I was a little girl. Jaegers and stormpetrels and a skua?? Wow!!!!

Anyway, we had an amazing time! I also loved hearing about your trip to Estonia...crap, that's where it was right? That's what I keep telling all my friends! My memory is so horrible! You are so adventurous and inspiring!! 

From your blog it looks like you are seeing amazing birds right in your back yard! A California Condor?? I didn't even think we had any hopes of seeing one while we were out there! 

Thanks again for a great trip! I  hope to make it back there one day soon!

Take care,

April