AUGUST 26, 2016
Shearwater Journeys' August 26, 2016 pelagic trip departing from Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey, California documented the first of the season push of marine life from the southerly regions. Sometime in between late July and late August, we seem to get a warm water stream from southern California. We had ample evidence of this today. PELAGIC RED CRABS in the harbor at the start of the day and BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS at the end of the day were telltale signs of life from the southern regions moving into Monterey Bay.
Monterey's seabirds did not disappoint! Highlights included: awesome views of over 100 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS; NORTHERN/PACIFIC FULMAR hanging around the vessel; PINK-FOOTED, SOOTY, and the first BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS of the season; RED PHALAROPES and thousands of RED-NECKED PHALAROPES; POMARINE, PARASITIC, and some stunning LONG-TAILED JAEGERS right over our heads; almost 100 SABINE'S GULLS; good views of CASSIN'S and RHINOCEROS AUKLETS; a get-away MURRELET and more. Marine mammals included: HUMPBACK and BLUE WHALES; RISSO'S DOLPHINS and DALL'S PORPOISE.
PELAGIC RED CRABS, Pleuroncodes planipes, were visible right in the harbor before we even untied at the dock! These crabs, also known as "tuna crabs" usually reside off Baja California.
Off Wharf No. 2, we saw HY PIGEON GUILLEMOTS and a number of SEA OTTERS resting or having breakfast. The Coast Guard Pier hosted loads of BRANDT'S CORMORANTS, a few BLACK TURNSTONES, and one SURFBIRD. Along Cannery Row, an early PEREGRINE FALCON was enjoying breakfast on the radio tower. ELEGANT TERNS hovered over our vessel along Cannery Row.
A father COMMON MURRE with a PELAGIC RED CRAB in its beak!
Only 4 miles off Point Pinos we encountered our first BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES at nine a.m. We pretty much had albatrosses in view the entire day after that. Father/hatchling COMMON MURRES were around, vocalizing back and forth to each other. HUMPBACK WHALES seemed to be all around us as we reached the edge of the Monterey Submarine Canyon. Someone spotted a BLUE WHALE — and, a few CASSIN'S AUKLETS were up next. This was no surprise since both species are krill feeders. Thousands of RED-NECKED PHALAROPES and tens of RED PHALAROPES were flying about in large flocks, sometimes high in the sky. Sometimes, they were pursued by PARASITIC or LONG-TAILED JAEGERS. PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS were decidedly the common offshore shearwater.
At the end of the day, we were treated to the first of the season, BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS just off Cypress Point. They had just arrived at Monterey Bay during the last hour of our trip! Perfect timing! This inshore species of shearwater breeds to the south of area, on six islands off the west coast of Mexico.
A group of RISSO'S DOLPHINS were just off the Monterey Bay Aquarium, almost certainly feeding on the abundant squid that has been present for this fall.
Many thanks to all of the folks who traveled from near and far to join Shearwater Journeys on this exciting day at sea. The Monterey Bay is truly a world class seabirding and marine mammal destination. Today very much proved that!
The leaders were: SCOTT TERRILL, ALEX RINKERT, NICK LEVENDOSKY and DEBI SHEARWATER. Special thanks to my very long time friend, JERI LANGHAM.
THE COMPLETE SPECIES LIST FOR SHEARWATER JOURNEYS' AUGUST 26, 2016 MONTEREY BAY PELAGIC TRIP FOLLOWS. Note that estimated numbers are below, but precise numbers are contained in eBIRD CHECKLISTS.
MONTEREY/SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES:
COMMON LOON- 1/0
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 95/60
NORTHERN/PACIFIC FULMAR- 2/0
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 25/70
SOOTY SHEARWATER- 325/65
BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER- 13/0
BROWN PELICAN- 45/0
BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 140/0
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT- 1/0
PELAGIC CORMORANT- 12/0
BLACK TURNSTONE- 5/0
SURFBIRD- 1/0
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 500/2000
RED PHALAROPE- 25/50
POMARINE JAEGER- 2/4
PARASITIC JAEGER- 4/3
LONG-TAILED JAEGER- 0/5
JAEGER SP.- 2/2
HERRMANN'S GULL- 30/0
CALIFORNIA GULL- 75/30
WESTERN GULL- 50/25
SABINE'S GULL- 2/95
ELEGANT TERN- 50/1
COMMON TERN- 2/6
ARCTIC TERN- 0/1
COMMON MURRE- 200/100
PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 20/0
SCRIPPS'S/CRAVERI'S MURRELET- 0/1
CASSIN'S AUKLET- 10/45
RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 10/30
PEREGRINE FALCON- 1/0, on the radio tower, Cannery Row
SEA OTTER- 6
CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 100
NORTHERN FUR SEAL- 1
BLUE WHALE- 3
HUMPBACK WHALE- 50
RISSO'S DOLPHIN- 60
DALL'S PORPOISE- 12
OCEAN SUNFISH- 2
PELAGIC RED CRABS- ++ in the harbor and off Point Pinos
To view more of Beth Hamel's lovely images from this day, click here.
UPCOMING TRIPS DEPARTING FROM MONTEREY
SEPTEMBER 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14, 15, 23, 24, 25
OCTOBER 1, 8, 16
GET IN ON THE FALL SEASON OF SEABIRDS
LIVING THE SALT LIFE,
Debi Shearwater
debi@shearwaterjourneys.com
Images by Beth Hamel, copyright
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