TRIP REPORT: AUGUST 18, 2013 HALF MOON BAY

Howdy, Birders,

This is a trip report for Shearwater Journeys' August 18, 2013 nearly 11 hour, pelagic trip departing from Half Moon Bay. Highlights included: 2 SCRIPP'S MURRELETS and 3 very fine TUFTED PUFFINS. The seas calmed down quite a bit from the previous day. In fact, the offshore region was quite amazing. Lines of convergences had formed where two currents meet, trapping a lot of bull kelp. This kelp provided a resting spot for migrating ARCTIC TERNS, see below. LONG-TAILED JAEGERS put on a good show, with 31 tallied for the day. We traveled 31 miles offshore, reaching 600 fathoms and covering many canyon edges. There was a warm band of 60 F degree water, but it was inshore. Inshore, the water was "salmon brown" while offshore it was a clear blue, but not the deep turquoise or nearly black water necessary for albacore. At the "601" a high spot to the south, anglers caught a few albacore a couple of days ago. One angler caught a yellowfin tuna, rare for our area, but common off of San Diego. As I write this report, we are experiencing offshore weather conditions pushing northward from Southern California. This could lead to some fine seabirding on our next offshore trips, August 23 (Monterey), 25 (Half Moon Bay) and 30 (Bodega Bay). All images, copyright, Todd McGrath. Please do not use without permission. 

Todd's image of the PIGEON GUILLEMOT, above, gives one a good idea of how dreamy the seas were on this day. 

The SOOTY SHEARWATER, BROWN PELICAN, ELEGANT TERN, HEERMANN'S GULL mixed flock was still feeding near the harbor. 

 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS were our companions most of the day.

 Offshore, we encountered a few BULLER'S SHEARWATERS and very surprisingly a Selasphorus hummingbird buzzed right up to our vessel some 28 miles out. 

 A group of three adult TUFTED PUFFINS put on quite a show. 

ARCTIC TERNS resting offshore on bull kelp.

 ARCTIC TERN in flight, above, and SABINE'S GULL, below. 

Both are High Arctic nesters migrating south.

 PARASITIC JAEGER, below, another High Arctic nesting species heading south.

We had a wonderful day at sea with folks from eight different states and Italy. Many thanks to all. The leaders on this trip were: Todd McGrath, Jim Holmes and Debi Shearwater. Great conversations. Loads of fun, too.
The complete species list for SAN MATEO/SAN FRANCISCO COUNTIES follows.
AUGUST 18, 2013 SHEARWATER JOURNEYS
WESTERN GREBE- 17/0
CLARK'S GREBE- 1/0
WESTERN/CLARK'S GREBE- 14/0
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 19/11
NORTHERN FULMAR- 0/2
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 49/31
BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 0/2
SOOTY SHEARWATER- 8851/482
WILSON'S STORM-PETREL- 0/1
ASHY STORM-PETREL- 17/13
BLACK STORM-PETREL- 0/1
BROWN PELICAN- 2100/29
BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 14/1
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT- 27/0
PELAGIC CORMORANT- 3/0
BLACK OYSTERCATCHER- 4/0
WANDERING TATTLER- 1/0
WHIMBREL- 1/0
MARBLED GODWIT- 1/0
BLACK TURNSTONE- 24/0
SURFBIRD- 8/0
WILLET- 1/0
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE-19/1
RED PHALAROPE- 29/124
POMARINE JAEGER- 0/6
LONG-TAILED JAEGER- 0/31
HEERMANN'S GULL- 129/7
CALIFORNIA GULL- 0/3
WESTERN GULL- 235/92
SABINE'S GULL- 0/5
ELEGANT TERN- 761/2
COMMON/ARCTIC TERN- 0/4
ARCTIC TERN- 0/19
COMMON MURRE- 1169/14
PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 7/0
SCRIPP'S MURRELET- 0/2, excellent views, sitting on the water
CASSIN'S AUKLET- 7/14
RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 9/48
TUFTED PUFFIN- 0/3, excellent photo ops
SELASPHORUS HUMMINGBIRD- 0/1, about 28 miles offshore
CALIFORNIA SEA LION-+
HARBOR SEAL- 2
HUMPBACK WHALE- 6 to 8
PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN- 125
HARBOR PORPOISE- 4
OCEAN SUNFISH- 12

Spaces are available on many of our trips.

See Shearwater Journeys for the schedule.

Shearwaters Forever,

Debi