Saturday, August 26, 2017

MONTEREY BAY PELAGIC TRIP: AUGUST 25, 2017


 EXILERATING DAY AT SEA
MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY
This is a trip report for Shearwater Journeys' August 25, 2017 Monterey Bay pelagic trip. Monterey seabirds did not disappoint! The highlight was a stunning HAWAIIAN PETREL which made repeated passes in the wake of our boat. Everyone on board saw this petrel, and many obtained photographs. We headed offshore to "Tinker's spot," then north to an area where we have found storm-petrels in past years, and then home. The Hawaiian Petrel was spotted about 1:30 p.m. as we were on our return leg. Two BLUE WHALES capped off the end of the day!
A SOUTHERN SEA OTTER dining on breakfast as we depart the harbor.
PIGEON GUILLEMOTS nest under the wharf. This individual might be feeding a sculpin to its young. 
Just off Point Pinots, we encounter our first RHINOCEROS AUKLET

David & Tammy McQuade from Florida joined us again this year!
See their images of the Hawaiian Petrel. 
BULLER'S SHEARWATERS arrived on the front line of warm water a few days ago.

Yve Morrell ticked the Hawaiian Petrel for a Life Bird.
She is doing a North America Big Year.
COMMON TERN flying over the stern.
Jim Holmes, Jr. and Jim Holmes, Sr. have been doing trips with Shearwater Journeys since 1988.
Jim Holmes Jr. is a leader on SJ trips.
An adult male POMARINE JAEGER flying over the stern.
We had a grand slam on all three species of jaegers. 
Happy smiles by Debi Shearwater and Yve Morrell.
Jennie Miller and Sahas Bavre in the background, both ornithologists.
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS were steady in our wake. 
The MEEP call of PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER!
Surely one of the world's most beautiful gulls, SABINE'S GULL.
Buddies for Life, Clay Kempf and Rick Fournier, both leaders for Shearwater Journeys.
A CASSIN'S AUKLET flying away. 
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES were a real crowd pleaser. 
Star Seabird of the day, HAWAIIAN PETREL
Star Leader of the day, Alex Rinkert who spotted the Hawaiian Petrel.
 We capped off the day with two mighty BLUE WHALES, the largest animal that has ever lived on Earth, bigger than any dinosaurs!

Many thanks to all of the wonderful and fun folks who joined us on the fabulous Monterey Bay pelagic trip! Birders hailed from Spain, Denmark, Canada, England, India and seven states in the USA.
The Shearwater team of leaders included: Alex Rinkert, Jim Holmes, Clay Kempf, Rick Fournier, and Debi Shearwater.

THE COMPLETE SPECIES LIST FOR SHEARWATER JOURNEYS AUGUST 25, 2017 MONTEREY BAY PELAGIC TRIP FOLLOWS:
MONTEREY/SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES:

PACIFIC LOON- 1/0
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 29/10
NORTHERN FULMAR- 2/2
**HAWAIIAN PETREL- 1/0
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 26/55
BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 17/4
SOOTY SHEARWATER- 779/990
ASHY STORM-PETREL- 1/0
BROWN PELICAN- 47/0
BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 316/0
BLACK TURNSTONE- 4/0
WILLET- 1/0
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 17/13
RED PHALAROPE- 3/1
POMARINE JAEGER- 8/3
PARASITIC JAEGER- 1/0
LONG-TAILED JAEGER- 0/1
HEERMANN'S GULL- 12/0
CALIFORNIA GULL- 15/25
WESTERN GULL-205/10
SABINE'S GULL- 4/2
ELEGANT TERN- 41/0
COMMON TERN- 1/1
COMMON MURRE- 505/60
PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 7/0
CASSIN'S AUKLET- 5/4
RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 39/29
SEA OTTER- 4
CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 120
HARBOR SEAL- 2
BLUE WHALE- 4
HUMPBACK WHALE- 13
HARBOR PORPOISE- 4
OCEAN SUNFISH- 1
SEA NETTLE- +

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO?
JOIN US ON OUR LABOR DAY WEEKEND TRIPS:
SEP 1 MONTEREY BAY
SEP 2 & 3 HALF MOON BAY
RESERVATIONS: EMAIL DEBI: debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

WE ARE COMING INTO THE PEAK OF FALL SEABIRD MIGRATION!
LIVING THE SALT LIFE & SEABIRDING FOR SCIENCE,
Debi Shearwater
Images by Beth Hamel & Debi Shearwater, copyright







HAWAIIAN PETREL IMAGES BY DAVE & TAMMY MCQUADE: AUG 25, 2017


David and Tammy McQuade from Florida, above, captured many images of the HAWAIIAN PETREL on Shearwater Journeys' August 25, 2017 Monterey Bay pelagic trip. 
All images, copyright, David McQuade and Tammy McQuade. 
Please do not use without permission. 
The above image captures the typically rolling flight of a Pterodroma petrel. 
 This Hawaiian Petrel was Dave's 700th  and Tammy's 699th Life Bird for North America. 
Typical silhouette shape for a Pterodroma petrel. 


Thank you, Dave & Tammy!
Looking forward to seeing you next season!
Living the Salt Life & SeaBirding for Science!



HAWAIIAN PETREL: MONTEREY BAY AUGUST 25, 2017


MONTEREY SEABIRDS ROCK!
Monterey seabirds dazzled birders from around the world during a spectacular Shearwater Journeys'pelagic trip on August 25, 2017. The highlight was a HAWAIIAN PETREL (Pterodroma sandwichensis) which sauntered, back and forth in our wake about 1:30 p.m.
The HAWAIIAN PETREL, or 'ua'u,' is a Federally Endangered Species which nests on Hawai'i Island within Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on lower alpine and subalpine slopes of Mauna Loa.  The largest known colony is located at Maui Island at Haleakala National Park with 450 - 650 breeding pairs. Pairs mate for life.
 'Ua'u chicks were harvested as a delicacy for Hawaiian royalty. Today, the species faces many threats including: pigs, goats, mongoose, feral cats, rats, and dogs. Young 'Ua'u become attracted to lights and "grounded" around the lights. Once grounded, they cannot fly. They also suffer collisions with buildings, antenna towers, electric and telephone lines.
Hawaiian Petrels are about 16 inches long, head to tail. Head, wings and tail are black. Back is slightly darker. Forehead and underparts are white. Feet are webbed, black at the toes and pinkish toward the heel. Calls can be heard at night. Sounds like: oo- A- oo, and makes yapping sounds like a small dog. Formerly called, Dark-rumped Petrel.
Numerous conservation efforts to save this species and other seabirds in the Hawaiian islands have been mounted by Island Conservation and the American Bird Conservancy and the Center for Biological Diversity
You are invited to join us on our upcoming pelagic trips! 
Who knows? You might even see a Hawaiian Petrel!

SHEARWATER JOURNEYS' UPCOMING MONTEREY BAY TRIPS & LEADERS
SEP 1 with Mary Gustafson, Nick Levendosky, Clay Kempf, Debi Shearwater
SEP 7 with Alex Rinkert, Jim Holmes, Mary Gustafson, Nick Levendosky, Debi Shearwater
SEP 8 with Jim Holmes, Mary Gustafson, Brad Keitt, Debi Shearwater
SEP 9 ALBACORE OFFSHORE with Alex Rinkert, Scott & Linda Terrill, Mary Gustafson, Nick Levendosky, Todd McGrath, Debi Shearwater: SOLD OUT
SEP 10 with Mary Gustafson, Todd McGrath, Debi Shearwater
SEP 14 with Debi Shearwater
SEP 22 with Hannah Nevins, Christian Schwarz. Clay Kempf, Debi Shearwater
SEP 24 with Nick Levendosky, Jim Holmes, Debi Shearwater
SEP 30 with Alex Rinkert, Scott & Linda Terrill, Nick Levendosky, Clay Kempf
OCT 8 with Scott & Linda Terrill, Nick Levendosky, Alex Rinkert, Clay Kempf

SHEARWATER JOURNEYS' UPCOMING HALF MOON BAY TRIPS & LEADERS
SEP 2 with Mary Gustafson, Debi Shearwater
SEP 3 with Peter Pyle, Mary Gustafson, Steve Tucker, Debi Shearwater
SEP 15 with Christian Schwarz, Dave Pereksta, Debi Shearwater
SEP 16 with Steve Hampton, Debi Shearwater
OCT 7 with Alex Rinkert, Steve Hampton, Nick Levendosky

Spaces are available on all of the above trips, except for the Albacore trip. A limited number of spaces are available on the September 7 & 8 trips. Book now!
RESERVATIONS: Email: debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

Many thanks to Alex Rinkert, ace leader with Shearwater Journeys for spotting, identifying and calling out the Hawaiian Petrel!
Many thanks to Beth Hamel for the Hawaiian Petrel images, copyrighted. Please do not use images without permission. 
To see more of Beth's images, click here

Living the Salt Life & SeaBirding for Science
Debi Shearwater