Shearwater Journeys's twelve hour August 16 pelagic seabirding trip from Half Moon Bay was filled with non-stop marine life action, from the smallest animals such as PTEROPODS to the a top predator, a SALMON SHARK. Seabirding was superb with highlights of BULLER'S and BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS; WILSON'S, ASHY and BLACK STORM-PETRELS; SOUTH POLAR SKUAS; one SABINE'S GULL; SCRIPPS'S MURRELETS and TUFTED PUFFINS! The appearance of three species of somewhat "tropical"marine mammals was very extraordinary: a school of LONG-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHINS and a DWARF/PYGMY SPERM WHALE and a presumed offshore BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN. The pinniped list was extensive: CALIFORNIA and STELLER'S SEA LIONS; NORTHERN FUR SEALS; NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL, and HARBOR SEAL. Todd McGrath was intent on keeping a jelly list which included: EGG YOLK JELLY, MOON JELLY, SEA NETTLE, LION'S MANE JELLY, PURPLE-STRIPED JELLY and BY-THE-WIND-SAILORS. There was something to look at all day long, for twelve solid hours!
We spent most of the day along the 100 Fathom Line, or edge of the Continental Shelf. It was very interesting that the storm-petrels were found along this contour because I haven't seen them in such shallow water for a great many decades. Usually, I have found them along the 500-800 fathom contour. Sea Surface Temperatures (SST's) ranged from 61 to 63 F.
PTEROPOD, above. From the 50 Fathom line to 100 Fathoms, the ocean was filled with plankton, including pteropods, salps and many jellies. Only a week ago, this was not the case. A pteropod is a gastropod or snail with a reduced or, no shell. They are also known as "sea butterflies."
SALPS in Debi's hand.
Image by Ann Nightingale
Salps form long, stringy colonies. They are barrel shaped planktonic tunicates. They move by contracting and pumping water through their gelatinous bodies. The jet propulsion of the slap is one of the most efficient in the animal kingdom. They have a complicated life cycle. We saw the part of the cycle that is called a blastozooid. They feed on phytoplankton — and, there seemed to be a lot of that around!
A solitary HUMPBACK WHALE was just outside of the harbor.
Image by Scott Terrill
Humpback Whales are commonly found during fall along our coast. However, the sighting of a DWARF/PYGMY SPERM WHALE is most unusual! In nearly forty years of trips off the California coast, I have only seen this animal once before. Only two of us on board saw it, myself and Scott Terrill. There are two species: Pygmy Sperm Whale and Dwarf Sperm Whale, both in the genus Kogia. I had five views of this unique animal at the surface, but could not be certain which species it was. We were on the Continental Shelf which is the presumed habitat of Pygmy Sperm Whale, but what I saw looked more like Dwarf Sperm Whale. I've seen both species on long ocean voyages in the Atlantic and Pacific, but this species was not on my radar! Very little is known about either species. And, of course, it will come as no surprise to anyone that this animal feeds on SQUID! I've been saying all weekend: "IT'S ALL ABOUT FOOD!" Something to look for on future trips this session!
SOOTY SHEARWATER
Image by Scott Terrill
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS
Image by Scott Terrill
A happy birder!
Checking off the Life Birds~
Francis Toldi has been doing pelagic trips with Shearwater Journeys since 1979!
Colin Marchant has been doing trips with Shearwater Journeys since 1988!
Marcel Holyoak with his camera & Richard Hall, above.
A school of LONG-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHINS, below.
Image by Linda Terrill
Closer views of LONG-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHINS.
Images by Scott Terrill
This species was another surprise, along with a "presumed" offshore BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN. (I would have preferred a closer view of that single dolphin, though). Long-beaked Common Dolphins are the prototypical dolphin in shape and proportions. The beak is long compared to the Short-beaked Common Dolphin, with Long-beaks having more sharp, pointed conical teeth. They have a bold, hourglass pattern on their flanks and are very gregarious. Long-beaked Dolphins are associated more with warmer and shallower water than the Short-beaked Dolphins. They almost always ride the bow, putting on a good show!
LONG-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHIN, below.
Image by Jim Holmes
OCEAN SUNFISH, Mola mola, below, have been numerous.
It has been a great fall for viewing the darling Ocean Sunfish, reported to be the heaviest bony fish in the world. Indeed, some that we have seen have topped 400 pounds, while the smaller ones we call "silver dollars." They feed primarily on jellyfish. Our Monterey captain saw them eating BY-THE-WIND-SAILORS earlier this summer! In turn, the sunfish is predated by sea lions, killer whales and sharks.
Image by Scott Terrill
One of four NORTHERN FUR SEALS that we encountered, most in the "jug handle" position.
Note the long ears and digits on the flippers.
Image by Scott Terrill
RED-NECKED PHALAROPES are more abundant than the RED PHALAROPES, right now.
Image by Scott Terrill
RISSO'S DOLPHINS which we are finding on almost every trip these days, both Monterey and Half Moon Bay, owing to the presence abundant squid which they feed on.
Image by Scott Terrill.
RISSO'S DOLPHIN, head-slapping. The rounded head is a field mark.
A SOUTH POLAR SKUA which our captain deftly brought the boat along side while it was sitting on the water, giving everyone great views!
Image by Scott Terrill
A HY HEERMAN'S GULL, below, apparently a rarity this fall.
Image by Jim Holmes
A surprise at the end of the day — a ten foot SALMON SHARK!
An apex predator in the Pacific Ocean, the Salmon Shark feeds on salmon, squid, sablefish and herring. Lots of squid have been around, as previously reported, and fishermen are still catching salmon just outside of Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay.
The fin shape and gray colored body with black spots are field marks for this amazing shark.
SALMON SHARK dorsal fin, showing black spots.
Image by Jim Holmes
SALMON SHARK
The shark swam around our vessel for a good five minutes.
Salmon Sharks have been followed by tagging and revealed some amazing results.
Images by Scott & Linda Terrill
Local birders, Jeff & Jeannine. He shot 1000 images!
Happy Birders on the way home after a fun-filled day!
Our darling bow-riding mascot, an HY BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD!
DID WE EVER HAVE SOME FUN! YOU BETCHA!
We thank all of the fabulous birders who came from near and far to join our pelagic trip.
The leaders were: Todd McGrath, Jim Holmes, Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Debi Shearwater.
THE COMPLETE TRIP REPORT FOR SHEARWATER JOURNEYS'S AUGUST 16, 2014 HALF MOON BAY PELAGIC TRIP FOLLOWS:
SAN MATEO/SAN FRANCISCO COUNTIES
RED-THROATED LOON- 1/0
PACIFIC LOON- 2/0
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 105/14
NORTHERN FULMAR- 2/0
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 830/65
BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 13/0
SOOTY SHEARWATER- 220/12
BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER- 42/0
WILSON'S STORM-PETREL- 1/15
ASHY STORM-PETREL- 0/13
BLACK STORM-PETREL- 5/450
BROWN PELICAN- 345/0
BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 185/0
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT- 135/0
PELAGIC CORMORANT- 4/0
BLACK OYSTERCATCHER- 4/0
WANDERING TATTLER- 3/0
BLACK TURNSTONE- 7/0
SURFBIRD- 2/0
WILLET- 1/0
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 135/15
RED PHALAROPE- 8/0
SOUTH POLAR SKUA- 1/1
PARASITIC JAEGER- 2/0
HEERMANN'S GULL- 108/0, one juvenile, photographed
CALIFORNIA GULL- 60/0
WESTERN GULL- 335/50
SABINE'S GULL- 0/1
ELEGANT TERN- 52/0
COMMON MURRE- 1570/0
PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 12/0, four migrating north
SCRIPPS'S MURRELET- 1/1
CASSIN'S AUKLET- 1/1
RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 6/0
*TUFTED PUFFIN- 1/1
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD- 4, one "flock" of three
CALIFORNIA SEA LION- +
STELLER'S SEA LION- 2
NORTHERN FUR SEAL- 4
NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL- 1
HARBOR SEAL- 10
HUMPBACK WHALE- 5, one just outside of the harbor
**DWARF/PYGMY SPERM WHALE- 1
**LONG-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHIN- 250
**BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN- 1, presumed, offshore: odd for a single animal
DALL'S PORPOISE- 4
HARBOR PORPOISE- 22
**SALMON SHARK- 1, about ten feet in length
OCEAN SUNFISH- 35
BY-THE-WIND-SAILORS- fewer
EGG YOLK JELLY- 3
SEA NETTLE- 6
MOON JELLY- ++, many very small individuals
PURPLE-STRIPED JELLY- 1
UPCOMING HALF MOON BAY TRIPS & LEADERS
AUG. 23: Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Steve Tucker, Will Brooks
SEP. 7: Steve Hampton, Steve Tucker, Will Brooks
SEP. 8: Tim Miller, Al DeMartini
SEP. 15: Steve Hampton, Nick Levendosky
SEP. 21: Steve Rottenborn, Steve Hampton, Marissa Ortega-Welch, Will Brooks
SEP. 24: Jon Dunn, Peter Pyle, Jim Holmes, Steve Hampton, Jim Danzenbaker, Jennifer Green
OCT. 5: Steve Tucker, Steve Hampton, Abe Borker, Dena Spatz, Courtenay Ray
OCT. 12: Steve Tucker, Steve Hampton, Courtenay Ray
UPCOMING BODEGA BAY TRIPS & LEADERS:
SEP. 1: Steve Howell, Lisa Hug, Tim Miller, Al DeMartini
SEP. 19: Steve Howell, Peter Pyle, Lisa Hug, Steve Tucker, Jennifer Green
Debi Shearwater will be co-leading on all trips
SQUID FOREVER,
DEBI SHEARWATER
debi@shearwaterjoureys.com
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