THE MIXING ZONE: HALF MOON BAY PELAGIC TRIP REPORT

AUGUST 13, 2016

Shearwater Journeys' August 13, 2016 pelagic trip departing from Pillar Point, Half Moon Bay was simply put— over the top — with very exciting seabirds, whales and dolphins. Highlights included: the NORTHERN GANNET at Pillar Point; a BROWN BOOBY on a rusting barrel offshore; a GRAND SLAM: POMARINE, PARASITIC, LONG-TAILED JAEGERS & SOUTH POLAR SKUA; SABINE'S GULLS; ARCTIC TERNS; and SCRIPPS'S & CRAVERI'S MURRELETS; ASHY, WILSON'S and FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS. Cetacean highlights included: 11 BLUE WHALES, 4 FIN WHALES, 120 HUMPBACK WHALES; 350 PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS and 4 NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHINS.

The sea surface temperature chart showed a messy area of mixing temperatures near the weather buoy. Indeed, we tracked temperatures throughout the day as they rose from 54 F to 59.45 F. The "mixing zone" turned out to be loaded with feeding seabirds and marine mammals. 

Chart used by permission of Terrafin, a service that I subscribe to.

SCRIPPS'S MURRELET, above, was one of two that we observed. 

Two CRAVERI'S MURRELETS popped off the water almost immediately as they were called out. They did what so many murrelets do: fly over the edge of the Earth! 

At least a few lucky and fast birders saw and photographed them. 

The dusky wing-linings are a definitive ID characteristic.

An adult BROWN BOOBY was sitting on a rusty barrel well offshore.

Brown Boobies have not been as common this season as last year.

Some high flying folks were on board. 

OLAF DANIELSON who is doing a BIG YEAR, above with L.

CHRISTIAN HAGENLOCHER, who is also doing a BIG YEAR, above with good friend, Casey.

This was the first trip of the season to hit a GRAND SLAM:

POMARINE, PARASITIC (above), & LONG-TAILED JAEGERS

& 

SOUTH POLAR SKUA

A POMARINE (right) and PARASITIC JAEGER (left).

A great group of fun, young birders on board!

Many thanks to all of the fun participants who joined us from near and far for this almost 12 hour pelagic trip. This was an excellent day at sea for both seabirds and marine mammals. 

It takes a team to make such a day. Leaders on this trip included: PETER PYLE, STEVE TUCKER, JIM HOLMES, WILL BROOKS, and DEBI SHEARWATER. This trip was submitted to eBird following pelagic eBird protocol. 

THE COMPLETE SPECIES LIST FOR SHEARWATER JOURNEYS'

AUGUST 13, 2016 HALF MOON BAY PELAGIC TRIP FOLLOWS:

SAN MATEO/SAN FRANCISCO COUNTIES:

COMMON LOON- 4/0

WESTERN GREBE- 2/0

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 20/40

NORTHERN/PACIFIC FULMAR- 0/5

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 75/150

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 2,000/250

WILSON'S STORM-PETREL- 1/0

ASHY STORM-PETREL- 10/20

FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL- 1/1

BROWN BOOBY- 0/1

NORTHERN GANNET- 1/0

BROWN PELICAN- 30/0

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 15/0

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT- 2/0

PELAGIC CORMORANT- 2/0

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 80/30

RED PHALAROPE- 10/2

SOUTH POLAR SKUA- 0/1

POLMARINE JAEGER- 0/1

PARASITIC JAEGER- 1/1

LONG-TAILED JAEGER- 0/3

HERRMANN'S GULL- 10/0

CALIFORNIA GULL- 10/8

WESTERN GULL- 200/25

SABINE'S GULL- 0/12

COMMON TERN- 0/1

ARCTIC TERN- 0/3

COMMON MURRE- 400/40

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 7/0

SCRIPPS'S MURRELET- 2/0

CRAVERI'S MURRELET- 1/2

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 450/450

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 7/2

BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD- 0/1, offshore

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 35

STELLER'S SEA LION- 2

NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL- 3

MINKE WHALE- 1

BLUE WHALE- 11

FIN WHALE- 4

HUMPBACK WHALE- 120

NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN- 4

PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN- 350

HARBOR PORPOISE- 20

UNIDENTIFIED CETACEAN-1 (thought to be a large dolphin, best left unidentified)

OCEAN SUNFISH- 4

UPCOMING TRIPS DEPARTING FROM HALF MOON BAY

AUGUST 19

SEPTEMBER 4, 16, 18

OCTOBER 2, 9

UPCOMING TRIPS DEPARTING FROM MONTEREY BAY

AUGUST 26

SEPTEMBER 3, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14, 15, 23, 24, 25

OCTOBER 1, 8, 16

GREAT TIME TO HEAD OFFSHORE!

LIVING THE SALT LIFE,

Debi Shearwater

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

Seabird images by Nathan Goldberg

WHY YOU SHOULD DO A PELAGIC TRIP IN SEPTEMBER 2015 !

From Monterey Bay to Half Moon Bay to Bodega Bay — the shear numbers of seabirds and marine mammals is UNPRECEDENTED! 

Not simply the streaming SOOTY SHEARWATERS, but many other species as well. 

The diversity amongst seabirds in this area this season has been astounding. 

During the past forty years, I have seen a lot of stuff — but, never anything like this! 

And, we've only just begun.

SEPTEMBER is the single best month of the entire year to see seabirds based on my forty years of experience. Get thee on a boat, post haste!

September offers the greatest diversity of seabirds & marine mammals.

There is no better month of the entire year!

September generally has the best marine weather.

Shearwater Journeys has some 14 trips on offer during September!

Like a gigantic mixing bowl of warm water, swirling cold water currents, bubbles, and eddies are making this year very special. Seabirds seldom found along the Central California Coast, are turning up. These GUADALUPE MURRELETS, above, are one of the most prized of all murrelet species. We may not see this species in our area again for another decade!

Get out there! 

Image, courtesy and copyright, Steve Howell. 

LAYSAN ALBATROSS, above,  is not easily found — there is no reliable time of year for this species. 

However, recent trips have recorded a number of these gorgeous albatrosses, especially off Bodega Bay. 

All Laysan images, courtesy and copyright, Steve Howell. 

The year 2014 saw a huge influx of BROWN BOOBIES, such as this one on the Half Moon Bay weather buoy. Their displacement continues this season. 

STORM-PETRELS which were virtually absent last fall, have been showing up in good numbers on some trips. 

Image, courtesy and copyright, Debi Shearwater.

The image below is a mixed species flock as seen on our August 2, 2015 Half Moon Bay trip. 

BODEGA BAY has been the main stomping grounds for the vast majority of storm-petrels.

We once recorded a record breaking flock of 12,350 mixed species flock! 

True to my prediction and post, STREAMING SHEARWATERS, SCHOOLING FISH & COLD WATER, rafts of thousands of storm-petrels were found near Cordell Bank within days of that post. 

Image, courtesy and copyright, Will Brooks. 

 Within those flocks, one or two WEDGE-RUMPED STORM-PETRELS were found, August 21-23, 2015!

This species has not been found in our area since the early 1980's!

There are fewer than a dozen records for the ABA area of this species!

You may recall that Point Blue banded two individual WEDGE-RUMPED STORM-PETRELS at the Farallon Islands this past spring!

Sure enough — they are out there — somewhere — a needle in a haystack, but you could get lucky!

Image, courtesy and copyright, Dave Pereksta. 

Thousands SOOTY SHEARWATERS are following the cold water streams. 

Image, above, at Bodega Bay. 

Image courtesy and copyright, Steve Howell. 

HAWAIIAN PETREL, above, was seen on one Bodega Bay trip during August this season.

There are September records, and one of these rare petrel may well be spotted again. 

We have recorded HAWAIIAN PETRELS at Monterey, Half Moon, and Bodega on previous trips. 

Image, courtesy and copyright, Scott Terrill. 

In addition to the seabirds, marine mammals have been very present and exciting. 

BLUE WHALE, above, is not as abundant as the HUMPBACK WHALES this season, but they are around. 

Image, courtesy and copyright, Dave Pereksta. 

BAIRD'S BEAKED WHALE, spyhopping, above. This large and rarely seen toothed whale was spotted on our Monterey Albacore trip last year, and again, this year at Bodega Bay. 

Image, courtesy & copyright, Steve Howell.  

Somewhere, "out there," is likely a mega-rare seabird, a WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER, above, and/or a

RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD, below. 

These warm water species are very possible. 

We did find a Red-billed Tropicbird on our September 21, 2014 Half Moon Bay trip.

 Both images, courtesy and copyright, Dave Pereksta.
Tropical whales may show up, for instance, last year we saw a DWARF/PYGMY SPERM WHALE.

COOK'S PETREL, below.

Image, courtesy and copyright, Scott Terrill. 

Early fall, 2009, record numbers of COOK'S PETRELS were found on Shearwater Journeys' trips from Monterey. 

I strongly encouraged everyone to get on a trip — saying what we were seeing was unprecedented —

COOK'S PETRELS within reach of a one day pelagic from Monterey —

Many birders heeded that advise and had splendid views of Cook's Petrels.

Some birders, decided to "wait for next year."

Well, next year came and went, and the next, and the next, and the next. 

So, here we are — some six years later — and it has not happened, again. 

Birders lamented: I should have followed your advise.

Oh, well. 

MORAL OF THE STORY:

WHEN EVENTS ARE UNPRECEDENTED — GET OUT THERE!

My good friend, Todd McGrath, has a ball cap with this embroidered on the back:

NO WHINERS!

There is no excuse for not getting on a September pelagic trip! 

Next year: LA NINA is already being forecast!

Finally, the BBC & PBS were so certain that Monterey Bay would produce marine life that they filmed, live: BIG BLUE LIVE. Part 2 is tonight, and Part 3 tomorrow night. 

UPCOMING TRIPS & LEADERS:

SEP 5, SAT: MONTEREY with Nick Levendosky, Jennifer Green, Clay Kempf, Mel Preston, Tim Miller, Alex Rinkert
SEP 6, SUN: HALF MOON BAY with Gerry McChesney, Jim Holmes, Will Brooks, Steve Tucker. SOLD OUT.
SEP 8, TUE: MONTEREY BAY with Rick Fournier, Christian Schwarz
SEP 9, WED: MONTEREY BAY with Tim Miller, Nick Levendosky, Christian Schwarz, Mel Preston
SEP 10, THU: MONTEREY BAY with Nick Levendosky, Christian Schwarz, Jennifer Green
SEP 11, FRI: MONTEREY BAY with Mary Gustafson, Jennifer Green, Christian Schwarz
SEP 12, SAT: MONTEREY ALBACORE with Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Nick Levendosky, Mary Gustafson, Rick Fournier. SOLD OUT. Wait list, email Debi.
SEP 13, SUN: MONTEREY BAY with Mary Gustafson, Chris Wood, Jessie Barry, Clay Kempf. Debi's Birthday Trip!
SEP 15, TUE: HALF MOON BAY with Mary Gustafson, Chris Wood, Jessie Barry, Tim Miller, Marisa Ortega-Welch SOLD OUT
SEP 16, WED: MONTEREY BAY with Tim Miller, Chris Wood, Jessie Barry, Annie Schmidt
SEP 18, FRI: BODEGA BAY with Nick Levendosky, Peter Pyle, Abe Borker, Steve Tucker, Steve Howell. SOLD OUT. Wait list, email Debi.
SEP 20, SUN: HALF MOON BAY with Gerry McChesney, Nick Levendosky, Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Steve Hampton
SEP 25, FRI: MONTEREY BAY with Rick Fournier, TBA.
SEP 26, SAT: MONTEREY BAY with Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, TBA.
SEP 27, SUN: MONTEREY BAY with Nick Levendosky, Alex Rinkert.
OCT 3, SAT: MONTEREY BAY with Tim Miller, Dena Spatz, Jennifer Green
OCT 4, SUN: HALF MOON BAY with Steve Hampton, Will Brooks, Annie Schmidt, Christian Schwarz
OCT 10, SAT: MONTEREY BAY with Todd McGrath, David Vander Pluym, Lauren Harter, Jennifer Green
OCT 11, SUN: HALF MOON BAY with Todd McGrath, Jim Holmes, Tim Miller, Will Brooks, David Vander Pluym, Lauren Harter, Marissa Ortega-Welch
OCT 18, SUN: FARALLON ISLANDS GREAT WHITE SHARK & SEABIRDS with Peter Pyle, Gerry McChesney, Jim Holmes, Steve Tucker

Do whatever you can to get on a boat trip this month — call in sick, take a personal holiday — but, get out there! And, October — well, the Southern Hemisphere seabirds have departed for the next breeding season. That thins the shearwaters out quite a bit, making is so much easier to spot mega-rarities. October mega-rare seabirds are one story for the book — but, that's another blog post!

LIVING THE SALT LIFE,

DEBI SHEARWATER

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

ALBACORE TRIP REPORT: SEP 13, 2014

THE BEST JAEGER SCHOOL

64 JAEGERS & 2 SOUTH POLAR SKUAS, Oh My!

OUR 2015 ALBACORE TRIP  SEPT. 12

Monterey seabirds and marine mammals delighted and thrilled folks on the Shearwater Journeys' offshore albacore trip on September 13, 2014. Because the marine forecast was excellent, we headed south toward the Sur Canyon area. Highlights were non-stop: BROWN BOOBY, MANX SHEARWATER, SCRIPPS'S MURRELETS, SABINE'S GULLS, ARCTIC TERNS, BLUE WHALES, BAIRDS' BEAKED WHALES, GRAND SLAM on the JAEGERS: POMARINE, PARASITIC, and LONG-TAILED putting on an amazing show to the delight of all! The albacore trip is a specialty trip, being 12 hours long, as compared to the classic trip which is 7.5 hours long. IF you can only make one trip in Monterey, make it this one! Shearwater Journeys is the only company that offers this trip. 

At daybreak, already many miles offshore, the first bird was a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, above.
It was also the last seabird of the day when we returned to the dock!

LONG-TAILED JAEGER, above, is often a very difficult to find nearshore, and even more difficult to photograph. Read on!


The best reading from Terrafin, a service I subscribe to that provides SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES, above, was a blended map due to fog. The warm water 'blob' was present everywhere. This is not necessarily good for birding. Finding the edges of where cooler water meets the warmer water is important for seabirding.

Storm-petrels have been largely absent all fall, probably feeding at some extremely distant location not reached by daily pelagic trips. However, this BLACK STORM-PETREL, above offered some nice views. A handful of endangered ASHY STORM-PETRELS allowed for flight comparisons.

One indication of exactly how flat-calm the seas were is the number of NORTHERN FUR SEALS that were observed (8). This fur seal is resting in what is called, "the jug handle position," locking its hind flipper with its fore flipper. 

A handful of LONG-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHINS entertained us. This species is usually associated with offshore warm water. 

We were definitely very lucky to find two BLUE WHALES because all of the blue whales along the nearshore of the central coast of California departed about July 10th, when the krill disappeared! Blue whales are the largest animals to have ever lived on Earth, larger than any of the dinosaurs. It is difficult to grasp their size most of the time — three school buses long! Above, Beth Hamel beautifully captures the steely-blue colored flank and small dorsal fin.

The blow of a BLUE WHALE shoots some 30 feet high in the sky! 

I once saw a peregrine falcon flying through the blow of a blue whale!

Some 29 miles offshore, a BROWN BOOBY made a pass at our stern!

This fall brown boobies staged a major invasion along the coast with many reports continuing into winter/spring 2015. 

Remarkably, only one BULLER'S SHEARWATER was found. Typically, we find hundreds on the albacore trip. The masses of them must have been feeding at a temperature break that we could not reach on a one day trip. Still, one is better than none!

And the chase is on. And, on. And on!

The word "jaeger" is of German origin, meaning "hunter."

We certainly did see a lot of them hunting!

The larger jaegers, pomarines, especially, seem to chase SABINE'S GULLS. 

LONG-TAILED JAEGER, below. 

Long-tailed Jaegers often chase ARCTIC TERNS, below. 

LONG-TAILED JAEGER, subadult, above. 

Sub-adult PARASITIC JAEGER, above. 

POMARINE JAEGER, adult male, above. 

Males are smaller than females. 

A number of low, bushy blows are spied, and I'm sure we have BAIRD'S BEAKED WHALES! 

This is a major specialty of trips that venture far offshore! 

In the images, above and below, Beth Hamel captures the "beaks" of these whales. 

Like all odontocetes, these toothed whales have a single blowhole, visible in the image, below. 

Females can reach 40 feet in length. Army brown in coloration, they show many scars. 

BAIRD'S BEAKED WHALES, Berardius bairdii, travel in tight groups, blowing and diving synchronously, and often touching each other with their beaks. 

They could be capable of diving deeper than 9000 feet. 

They eat squid and deep dwelling fish. Indeed, we came across the remains of their food which was being consumed by BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES, in the image, below!

Nearly a constant companion, PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS often follow in the wake of our vessel. 

A Grand Prize of any albacore trip is murrelets, especially sitting on the water for great views! 

This SCRIPPS'S MURRELET was one of two that were positively identified. 

It has been a big fall for the BY-THE-WIND-SAILORS, Velella velella, above.

Many thanks to the wonderful group of birders who joined us on this day who hailed from England, Texas, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Washington, Georgia, Minnesota, and California. It was a gorgeous day at sea. Leading this offshore trip were: Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Jennifer Green, and Debi Shearwater. 

The complete species list follows. All records are for Monterey County. SST's ranged from 63F to 60-59F. Beaufort .5 to 1.5, glassy seas, excellent conditions. We went south to the "weenie."

13 SEPTEMBER 2014 MONTEREY BAY OFFSHORE TRIP TO THE ALBACORE GROUNDS

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 25

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 430

FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 1 (only seen by two birders)S

BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 1

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 970

*MANX SHEARWATER- 1 (photos)

BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER- 218

ASHY STORM-PETREL- 5

BLACK STORM-PETREL- 13

*BROWN BOOBY- 1 29 miles offshore; SST 60.8F

BROWN PELICAN- 40

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 40

PELAGIC CORMORANT- 8

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 180

RED PHALAROPE- 4

SOUTH POLAR SKUA- 2

POMARINE JAEGER- 12

POMARINE/PARASITIC JAEGER- 2

PARASITIC JAEGER- 12

PARASITIC/LONG-TAILED JAEGER- 2

LONG-TAILED JAEGER- 36

HEERMANN'S GULL- 40

CALIFORNIA GULL- 90

WESTERN GULL- 225

ELEGANT TERN- 17

COMMON TERN- 12

COMMON/ARCTIC TERN- 4

ARCTIC TERN- 11

FORSTER'S TERN- 1

COMMON MURRE- 66

*SCRIPPS'S MURRELET- 2; SST 63.8F

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 11

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 15

MURRELET SP.- 4

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- +

NORTHERN FUR SEAL- 8

BLUE WHALE- 2

HUMPBACK WHALE- 1

BAIRD'S BEAKED WHALE- 12 (2 groups)

LONG-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHIN- 8

OCEAN SUNFISH- 20

VARIOUS JELLIES- +++

ALBACORE TRIP REPORT: SEP 12, 2009 WITH COOK'S PETRELS

ALBACORE TRIP REPORT: SEP 13, 2008

ALBACORE TRIP REPORT: SEP 10, 2006

ALBACORE TRIP REPORT: SEP 12, 2004

ALBACORE TRIP REPORT: SEP 13, 2002

ALBACORE TRIP REPORT: OCT 6, 2001 with STREAKED SHEARWATER

JOIN US ON OUR SEPTEMBER 12, 2015 ALBACORE TRIP! 

Another Great Birthday Trip for Me,

Debi Shearwater

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

All images, except Baird's Beaked Whales, by Beth Hamel, copyright. 

Baird's Beakded Whales by Debi Shearwater, copyright.

Please ask permission to use. 

To see more of Beth Hamel's images, click here. 

WINTER SEABIRDING: MONTEREY BAY PELAGIC TRIP REPORT: FEBRUARY 22, 2015

BLUE SHARK

Howdy, Seabirders,

It has been a long time since we have offered a winter pelagic trip. This February 22, 2015 Monterey Bay seabirding trip was offered by Shearwater Journeys in conjunction with the Pacific Seabird Group Annual Meeting in San Jose, California although the trip was open to anyone. It sold out quickly. We enjoyed a very warm and sunny day! Hardly seemed like winter, especially considering that many parts of the USA are experiencing an "Arctic Freeze." Highlights of the trip included: excellent views of BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS; PINK-FOOTED, SOOTY and BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS; 2 BROWN BOOBIES; PIGEON GUILLEMOT; COMMON MURRE; SCRIPPS'S MURRELET; RHINOCEROS and CASSIN'S AUKLETS; TUFTED PUFFIN. Marine mammals included: GRAY and HUMPBACK WHALES; LONG-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHIN; HARBOR PORPOISE; SEA OTTER; CALIFORNIA SEA LION; HARBOR SEAL. Quite possibly, the rarest marine animal of the day was one BLUE SHARK. We seldom observe this once common shark these days. The sea surface temperature was a warm 58 F. The fish finder was showing lots of mackerel and rock fish. All images below, copyright, Mark Rauzon. Please do not use without permission. 

HEERMANN'S GULL, just outside of the harbor.

SOUTHERN SEA OTTER

 MARK RAUZON & KUNIKO OTSUKI

Kuniko, from Japan, does research with Hiroshi Hasagawa on the endangered Short-tailed Albatross. However, the Black-footed Albatrosses on this trip were the first albatrosses she has ever seen!
Mark Rauzon has been seabirding with Shearwater Journeys for decades, dating back to at least December 20, 1987 when the Pacific Seabird Group held their annual meeting in Monterey. 

To view more of Mark's images, please click, here. 

TWO BROWN BOOBIES

For more than a year now, Brown Boobies have staged a major invasion along the California coast. As many as nine have recently been reported on the Farallon Islands, some carrying nesting material.

 Gerry McChesney, manager of the Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge and Kim Nelson. Abe Borker, Ph.D. candidate at UCSC, on the right. Debi Shearwater and Harry Carter in the background.

PELAGIC CORMORANT in high breeding plumage.

 BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER

 GRAY WHALE

Many thanks to all of the folks, from near and far who joined our seabirding trip, including Japan, Ecuador, Sweden and England. The leaders on this trip were; Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Dave Pereksta, Gerry McChesney, Abe Borker, John Garrett, and Debi Shearwater. 

THE COMPLETE SPECIES LIST FOR SHEARWATER JOURNEYS'S MONTEREY BAY FEBRUARY 22, 2015 TRIP FOLLOWS: Note that this was a shorter trip of only 4.5 hours, all in Monterey County.

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 5

NORTHERN FULMAR- 3

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 1

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 1

SOOTY/SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER- 1

BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER- 14

*BROWN BOOBY- 2, maybe 3

BROWN PELICAN- 10

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 125

PELAGIC CORMORANT- 45

SURF SCOTER- 70

BLACK TURNSTONE- 2

SURFBIRD- 2

HEERMANN'S GULL- 40

MEW GULL- 5

CALIFORNIA GULL- 20

HERRING GULL- 8

WESTERN GULL- 75

GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL- 10

COMMON MURRE- 90

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 2

SCRIPPS'S MURRELET- 2, unusual for winter

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 3

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 30

TUFTED PUFFIN- 1

SEA OTTER- 5 

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 100

HARBOR SEAL- 6

GRAY WHALE- 9

HUMPBACK WHALE- 5

LONG-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHIN- 150

HARBOR PORPOISE- 1

OCEAN SUNFISH- 1

BLUE SHARK- 1 *rarely seen in recent decades

To view a calendar of all of the Shearwater Journeys's 2015 fall seabirding trips, please click here. BTW, we are offering two trips to the Farallon Islands this season: August 8 & October 18. These trips are experiencing heavy bookings right now! Blue Shark image credit: NOAA.

SHEARWATERS FOREVER,

DEBI SHEARWATER

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com