Photographer, Jeff Bleam, was able to capture these images on the Shearwater Journeys' August 16, 2015 pelagic trip departing from Half Moon Bay, California. Please enjoy!
Just inside of the edge of the Continental Shelf, we encountered many flocks mostly comprised of PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS. One FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER was amongst such a group. This is a prized species, not often seen.
Returning to the harbor, we passed a different buoy which had both CALIFORNIA and STELLER'S SEA LIONS loafing on top.
More than 1200 ELEGANT TERNS were roosting on the jetties.
Very small numbers of BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS breed on the jetties.
This halibut fishing vessel dates from the year 1908!
We saw her on our way into the harbor.
Over 400 BROWN PELICANS were using the jetties for a roost.
Up close views of PIGEON GUILLEMOTS which nest in the crevasses of the jetties.
A straggler single GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL on the jetty.
An aberrant HEERMANN'S GULL with white wing patches, often referred to as the Heermann's "Jaeger."
Just outside of the harbor, we encountered some 90,000 circling and feeding SOOTY SHEARWATERS.
COMMON MURRES which breed on the nearby Farallon Islands, were also feeding on schools of anchovies.
A FATHER (left) and CHICK (right) COMMON MURRE PAIR.
The fathers take the chicks to sea and care for them for 4-6 weeks, vocalizing back and forth.
Such a delightful sound.
CALIFORNIA LIZARDFISH, a warm water visitor due to the El Nino.
COMMON MURRE
SOOTY SHEARWATER, a familiar sight, but a declining species.
No other group of birds in the world is more threatened than seabirds.
A fly-by TUFTED PUFFIN, above.
Contrast with the RHINOCEROS AUKLET, below.
Both species breed at the Farallon Islands, north of Half Moon Bay.
One of some 75 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES.
NORTHERN FULMAR is a visitor from Alaska where it breeds
It seems that the fulmars which are around right now are non-breeders.
We witnessed a herd of some 400 CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS traveling as a group.
TUFTED PUFFIN, below.
A fly-by offshore SURFBIRD.
In the harbor, we return to the sounds of begging young ELEGANT TERNS.
In most years, this species breeds on islands in Baja, Mexico.
However, this year, the colony moved to Southern California where food was more plentiful due to the warm, El Nino waters in Mexico.
More than 1200 ELEGANT TERNS were roosting on the jetties.
And so another great day at sea along the rich and productive Central Coast of California comes to an end. We hit the dock about 6 p.m.
We saw her on our way into the harbor.
Wish you were there!
SHEARWATERS & ALBATROSSES FOREVER,
DEBI SHEARWATER
debi@shearwaterjourneys.com
All images, copyright, JEFF BLEAM.
Please enquire to use images.
PHOTOGRAPHER, JEFF BLEAM & HIS DOG, KAJA
To see more of Jeff's images, click here.
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