BEAT THE HEAT: SAVOR A SALTY BREEZE!

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER flying up the wake of the vessel.

Howdy, Birders,

Take a break from the sweltering heat and chill out on a pelagic trip! Shearwater Journeys’ first pelagic trips are coming up very soon. We could not be more excited to get out there with you! Over 65,000 birders and marine enthusiasts have participated on thousands of Shearwater Journeys’ trips over the past 40 years. 

Below, please find out full program including our stellar line up of leaders. All of our trips have spaces available.

FARALLON ISLANDS: 

AUGUST 7: Gerry McChesney, Mary Gustafson, John Garrett, Debi Shearwater

AUGUST 14: Gerry McChesney, Will Brooks, John Garrett, Debi Shearwater

Departs from Sausalito at 7:30 am on the beautiful catamaran, Outer Limits. Sail under the Golden Gate Bridge! 100% success rate on finding Tufted Puffins, the target bird for the day. Last year, we also saw the Northern Gannet, Brown and Blue-footed Boobies!

HALF MOON BAY TRIPS:

AUGUST 6: Peter Pyle, Mary Gustafson, Will Brooks, Steve Hampton, Debi Shearwater

AUGUST 13: Peter Pyle, Steve Tucker, Jim Holmes, Debi Shearwater

AUGUST 19: Nick Levendosky, Steve Tucker, Christian Schwarz, Debi Shearwater

SEPTEMBER 4: Mary Gustafson, Steve Hampton, Russ Bradley, Debi Shearwater

SEPTEMBER 16: Steve Tucker, Jim Holmes, Steve Hampton, Abe Borker, Debi Shearwater

SEPTEMBER 18: Jim Holmes, Alex Rinkert, Steve Hampton, Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Debi Shearwater

OCTOBER 2: Steve Tucker, Jim Holmes, Steve Hampton, Debi Shearwater

OCTOBER 9: Tim Miller, Nick Levendosky Abe Borker, Tim Miller, Steve Hampton, Debi Shearwater

MONTEREY BAY TRIPS:

JULY 29: Nick Levendosky, Will Brooks, Christian Schwarz, Alex Rinkert, Debi Shearwater

AUGUST 26: Nick Levendosky, Alex Rinkert, Scott Terrill, Debi Shearwater

SEPTEMBER 3: Nick Levendosky, Mary Gustafson, Debi Shearwater

SEPTEMBER 7: Mary Gustafson, Christian Schwarz, Debi Shearwater

SEPTEMBER 8: Scott Terrill, Christian Schwarz, Mary Gustafson, Debi Shearwater (limited spaces available)

SEPTEMBER 9: Mary Gustafson, Debi Shearwater ** This trip spends time in Santa Cruz County.

SEPTEMBER 10: ALBACORE GROUNDS: Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Mary Gustafson, Nick Levendosky, Alex Rinkert, Debi Shearwater (4 spaces available)

SEPTEMBER 11: Mary Gustafson, Debi Shearwater

SEPTEMBER 14, Rob Fowler, Debi Shearwater (newly added trip)

SEPTEMBER 15: Nick Levendosky, Jim Holmes, Debi Shearwater (limited spaces available)

SEPTEMBER 23: Nick Levendosky, Christian Schwarz, Debi Shearwater

SEPTEMBER 24: Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Abe Borker, Dena Spatz, Alex Rinkert, Tim Miller, Debi Shearwater

SEPTEMBER 25: Abe Borker, Nick Levendosky, Tim Miller, Debi Shearwater

OCTOBER 1: Jim Holmes, Nick Levendosky, Christian Schwarz, Alex Rinkert, Debi Shearwater

OCTOBER 2: Alex Rinkert, Tim Miller, Christian Schwarz, Debi Shearwater

OCTOBER 16: Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Nick Levendosky, Alex Rinkert, Debi Shearwater

Monterey trips meet at 7 am at Chris’ Fishing on Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey and return about 3 pm. The Albacore trip meets at 5:15 am and returns at 5:30 pm at Chris’ Fishing on Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey. Half Moon Bay trips meet at 7 am at H dock, Johnson Pier at Pillar Point, Half Moon Bay, El Granada and return between 4-6 pm. 

Note that additional leaders may be added to trips. Leaders may change without notice. All leaders are volunteers who absolutely love leading trips— that’s one reason why we have so many leaders on board. We will be tracking county lines and following eBird pelagic protocol for checklists. 

The latest sea surface temperatures are showing lots of cold and very cold water— and, we know what that means— food!! La Nina conditions are favored to develop as early as August - October. 

We’ve been out there in the wild blue through four decades of El Nino’s and La Nina’s— every single year has been different. Let’s see what is in store for this fall season! 

Advance reservations are highly recommended. Contact: debi@shearwaterjourneys.com. 

Living the Salt Life,

Debi Shearwater

HUMPBACK WHALE TAIL-SLPPING off Moss Landing, Monterey Bay.

Images, copyright, Beth Hamel. Please ask for permission to use.

DEBRA SHEARWATER

Shearwater Journeys, Inc.

PO Box 190

Hollister, CA 95024

831.637.8527

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

www.shearwaterjourneys.com

www.shearwaterjourneys.blogspot.com

41 YEARS OF CALIFORNIA SEABIRDING 

SHEARWATER JOURNEYS

Welcome to Shearwater Journeys, the premier seabirding company in North America which has served generations of birders. From Eureka in northern California to San Diego, Shearwater Journeys has, at one time or another offered offshore pelagic trips along the entire coastline. Indeed, we were the pioneers of such amazing trips to the Davidson Seamount in the 1970’s, now protected as part of the marine sanctuary. Many new seabird records for the State of California and North America have been discovered on our trips — more than any others, adding immensely to the avifauna data base. In recent years, we’ve concentrated our trips along the rich California Current, offering trips departing from Monterey, Half Moon Bay, and Sausalito. This is quite possibly the single most productive ocean area in the entire world. 

Forty years, thousands of trips, and tens of thousands of birders have joined our trips where we have observed hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of seabirds. There is no comparison. We have some 24 trips on offer for the coming fall season. Join the fun and exciting world of seabirds and marine mammals with Shearwater Journeys, the folks who have introduced generations of birders to this unique world. There is only one Shearwater Journeys! 

EXPEDITION VOYAGE: ENCHANTED GALAPAGOS, November 1- 14, 2017 is a charter voyage for only 15 guests. Join Debi as she returns to these fabulous islands. We shall target the endemic birds and wildlife, hiking on all of the key islands. UPDATE: Remarkably, this voyage sold out within 24 hours! I added second voyage, November 15 - 28, 2017 which has also sold out. We are now taking a WAITING LIST. To put your name on the wait list, please email Debi for more information: debi@shearwaterjourneys.com.

2016 CALENDAR OF TRIPS

May 27-Jun. 20 RUSSIA’S RING OF FIRE VOYAGE- SOLD OUT

Jun. 9 -20 RUSSIA’S SEA OF OKHOTSK VOYAGE- SOLD OUT                

Jul. 29, Fri. Monterey Bay: Albatrosses & Early Fall Seabirds $168

Aug. 6, Sat. Half Moon Bay: Albatrosses & Early Fall Seabirds $198

Aug. 7, Sun. Farallon Islands: Tufted Puffins & Breeding Seabirds $189

Aug. 13, Sat. Half Moon Bay: Albatrosses & Early Fall Seabirds $198

Aug. 14, Sun. Farallon Islands: Tufted Puffins & Breeding Seabirds $189

Aug. 19, Fri.   Half Moon Bay: Albatrosses & Fall Seabirds $198

Aug. 26, Fri. Monterey Bay: Albatrosses & Fall Seabirds $168

Sep. 3, Sat. Monterey Bay: Fall Seabird Classic $168

Sep. 4, Sun. Half Moon Bay: Albatrosses, Petrels & Storm-Petrels $198

Sep. 7, Wed. Monterey Seavalley: Fall Seabird Classic $168

Sep. 8, Thu. Monterey Bay: Fall Seabird Classic $168

Sep. 9, Fri. Monterey Seavalley: Fall Seabird Classic $168

Sep. 10, Sat. Albacore Grounds: Offshore Monterey $198

Sep. 11, Sun. Monterey Bay: Fall Seabird Classic $168

Sep. 15, Thu. Monterey Seavalley: Fall Seabird Classic $168

Sep. 16, Fri. Half Moon Bay: Fall Seabird Classic $198

 Sep. 23, Fri. Monterey Bay: Fall Seabird Classic $168

Sep. 24, Sat. Monterey Bay: Fall Seabird Classic $168

Sep. 25, Sun. Monterey Seavalley: Fall Seabird Classic $168

Oct. 1, Sat. Monterey Bay: Fall Seabird Classic $168

Oct. 2, Sun. Half Moon Bay: Fall Seabird Classic $198

Oct. 8, Sat. Monterey Bay: Fall Seabird Classic $168

Oct. 9, Sun. Half Moon Bay: Fall Seabird Classic $198

Oct. 16, Sun. Monterey Bay: Fall Seabird Classic $168

2017

Nov. 1-14 ENCHANTED GALAPAGOS ISLANDS VOYAGE $7990- SOLD OUT- TAKING WAITING LIST
Nov. 15-28: ENCHANTED GALAPAGOS ISLANDS VOYAGE $7990- SOLD OUT- TAKING WAITING LIST

The year 2015 was one of the single most amazing years along the central coast of California. We observed a record 20 species of tubenoses: albatrossses, petrels, shearwaters, and storm-petrels! One of many highlights was a WHITE-CHINNED PETREL on the September 15th Half Moon Bay trip that flew into the wake and sat on the water for 45 minutes! Our August 9th trip to the Farallon Islands not only saw scads of TUFTED PUFFINS, but also NORTHERN GANNET, BROWN BOOBY, and BLUE-FOOTED BOOBY! Our trips to the Farallon Islands have a 100% success rate in finding Tufted Puffins, and always sell out early. Departing from Sausalito on a very stable catamaran, we sail under the iconic Golden Gate Bridge for a unique perspective. Monterey Bay trips this past fall season were over the top with seabirds and lunge-feeding and breaching HUMPBACK WHALES. El Nino sent thousands of BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS to Monterey Bay and a handful of LEAST STORM-PETRELS. Every single day is completely different — just ask the folks who did 5 trips in a row from Monterey with us! Our friendly and knowledgable leaders are ready to enchance your day at sea! Join us!

DISCOUNTS: In recognition of our fourth decade of pelagic trips, we offer you a $40 per person, per trip discount on any Monterey trip on this schedule except for the September 10 Albacore trip; and a $20 per person, per trip discount on any Half Moon Bay and Farallon Island trip, if booked prior to JULY 1. Discounts must be deducted from your payment at the time of booking. All discounted trips are NON-REFUNDABLE for any reason. Note that all of our scheduled trips for 2014 and 2015 operated and none were canceled for lack of sign ups, neither were any of those trips weathered out. Many trips sold out well in advance: Farallon Islands, Albacore and many others. Book early!

RESERVATIONS: Payment, in full by check or money order, is required at the time of booking. Please include the name, home address, phone/email of each person in your party as required by the USCG. For payments outside of the USA, please email Debi. Send reservations to: Debi Shearwater, POB 190, Hollister, CA 95024. Email: debi@shearwaterjourneys.com. Please see our web site and blog for more information and updates. Please note: Debi will be out of the office from May 17 through June 24 while leading expedition voyages in the Russian Far East. You are encouraged to send in your reservation(s) during that period. Your reservation will be acknowledged after June 25. Looking forward to birding with you in our 41st year offshore! — Debi Shearwater

SHEARWATER JOURNEYS, INC.

PO BOX 190

HOLLISTER, CA 95024

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

831.637.8527

www.shearwaterjourneys.com

http://shearwaterjourneys.blogspot.com

Brown Booby image by Beth Hamel, copyright, Farallon Islands, August 9, 2015.

Please do not use without permission.

BREAKING NEWS: FIRST RECORD of WEDGE-RUMPED STORM-PETREL @ FARALLON ISLANDS

WEDGE-RUMPED STORM-PETREL

Image, courtesy and copyright, Dave Pereksta

THIS POST IS FROM POINT BLUE CONSERVATION SCIENCE'S FACEBOOK PAGE:

On April 19th, Point Blue Farallon biologist, Pete Warzybok and his field crew were conducting the first Ashy Storm-petrel netting session of the breeding season when they captured a rare visitor to the California Current. The unusual Storm-petrel that found its way into their mist-net was much smaller than the typical Ashy and Leach’s Storm-petrels that breed on the islands and it had an unusual triangular shaped white patch on the rump that didn't look right, even for the smallest races of Leach’s. Photos and measurements were taken, the bird was banded and then released to go about its way. Upon consulting with field guides and experts in the field of Storm-petrel identification, the identification was confirmed. They had captured the island’s first ever Wedge-rumped Storm-petrel (Oceanodroma tethys)! This particular small individual likely belonged to the kelsalli subspecies, also known as the Peruvian Storm-petrel, and is normally found in waters over the continental shelf between Mexico and Chile. This species is very rare off of California and the Farallon bird represents the farthest north they have ever been encountered. Interestingly, all records have occurred during periods of warmest ocean temperatures, providing further evidence for the unusual warming conditions observed in the Gulf of the Farallones this year.

Speaking of rare birds, this Saturday will mark the three-year Ganniversary of the Northern Gannet on the Farallones. The first, and as far as we know only, Gannet in the Pacific first arrived at the Farallones on April 25th 2012. With the exception of a few sightseeing visits to San Francisco, it has been present at the island almost every day since.

Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel is a mega rare seabird anywhere in the USA. Additionally, a TRISTRAM'S STORM-PETREL carcass was recently found on the Farallon Islands. Things are hot offshore! There could not be a better time to plan your trip. Shearwater Journeys' calendar of 2015 trips can be found at our web site. Book early, and book often! 

See you out there!

Storm-Petrels Forever, 

Debi Shearwater

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

MAMMAL BIG DAY FOR NORTH AMERICA: NEW RECORD SET: AUGUST 3, 2014

From left to right, Pat Kleeman, Floyd Hayes, and the intrepid, Peter Pyle on the Shearwater Journeys's pelagic trip, part of the Mammal Big Day for North America. 

FLOYD WRITES:

Yesterday I joined Peter Pyle (the mastermind) and Pat Kleeman for another mammal "big day," attempting to break our previous North American record of 30 species seen or heard in a single day, which we set last year. We began at Point Reyes at midnight, went on a pelagic trip to the Farallon Islands with Shearwater Journeys, and continued searching until 11:00 pm. We found our record-breaking 31st species at 10:35 pm. We were assisted by experts Sarah Allen and Gary Fellers during the morning and evening, and Debi Shearwater on her boat trip.

Here is a list of the native species, arranged by the time at which each was first detected followed by the number of individuals detected in parentheses:

1) 00:00 Northern Elephant Seal (10)
2) 00:01 “Black-tailed” Mule Deer (71)
3) 00:13 Striped Skunk (4)
4) 00:27 Raccoon (6)
5) 00:28 Badger (4)
6) 00:42 Coyote (1)
7) 00:47 Elk (3; heard only)
8) 01:35 Mountain Beaver (2; heard only at known burrows)
9) 01:51 Black-tailed Jackrabbit
10) 02:32 River Otter (2; heard only)
11) 02:12 Deer Mouse (2)
12) 04:02 Big Brown Bat (30)
13) 04:06 California Myotis (20)
14) 04:06 Gray Fox (2)
15) 04:21 Brazilian Free-tailed Bat (1; identified by bat detector)
16) 05:08 Townsend’s Big-eared Bat (2)
17) 06:12 Harbor Seal (95)
18) 06:16 California Vole (2)
19) 07:24 Western Gray Squirrel (2)
20) 08:14 Harbor Porpoise (50)
21) 09:36 California Sea Lion (400)
22) 10:37 Steller’s Sea Lion (25)
23) 11:12 Northern Fur Seal (400)
24) 14:37 Humpback Whale (3)
25) 13:30 Risso’s Dolphin (1; seen only by Peter Pyle)
26) 17:27 Muskrat (1)
27) 17:49 California Ground Squirrel (1)
28) 19:38 Brush Rabbit (2)
29) 20:48 Yuma Myotis (2)
30) 22:28 Pallid Bat (10)
31) 22:35 Fringed Myotis (1)

Participants in the photo (from left to right) include: Pat Kleeman, Gary Fellers, Sarah Allen, Peter Pyle and your's truly.

The group bested the 2013 record by one species!

Glad to be a part of this day!

Debi Shearwater

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

FARALLON ISLANDS, AUGUST 3, 2014 TRIP REPORT

Shearwater Journeys's pelagic trip to the Farallon Islands, August 3, 2014 to view TUFTED PUFFINS and many seabirds was a huge success that included: NORTHERN GANNET, BROWN BOOBY and LAYSAN ALBATROSS! 

Our target bird, the charismatic TUFTED PUFFIN, put on a good show, with the first individuals spotted before we even reached the islands. We have a 100% success rate for seeing puffins on this trip!

Our trip departs from Sausalito where we head out to the islands, ducking under a California icon, the GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE. 

Nearing the islands, the captain spotted a lot of juvenile rockfish, on the fish finder.

We saw rafts of PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, many carrying these rockfish to the island to feed their young. 

 

Heading straight to Sugerloaf, we immediately spotted the NORTHERN GANNET that has now been at the islands for 3 years! Our trips have been 100% successful in finding the gannet, although over recent months it has also roosted on Alcatraz Island. This is possibly the first gannet record for the West coast, and certainly the first for California. The gannet is the white blob in the photo, above. The head is not in view.

Not far from the gannet, we spotted a BROWN BOOBY! One or more, brown boobies have been hanging around the islands since last spring. Two days after our trip, a blue-footed booby showed up! We have seen brown booby on many of our past trips to the islands. 

The islands are part of the National Wildlife Refuge system. Landing on the islands is not permitted by the general public. These houses play host to a variety of biologists. 

BRANDT'S CORMORANTS above, and COMMON MURRES, below. 

After having lunch with the puffins, we headed to the edge of the Continental Shelf to look for other seabirds. This put us out in the shipping lanes with the big ones!

 

A half dozen BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES began following in our wake. 

A surprise was a gorgeous LAYSAN ALBATROSS which flew in and put on a good show!

Returning to the harbor, we passed under the bridge, again, and watched the shipping traffic, coming and going. 

And, had a chance to enjoy the beautiful SAN FRANCISCO SKYLINE.

Many thanks to all who joined us on this successful day at sea!

Special thanks to Golden Gate Audubon Society and my friend, Gerry McChesney. 

Leaders on this day were: PETER PYLE, NICK LEVENDOSKY & DEBI SHEARWATER.

Along with two friends, Peter, set a new Mammal Big Day for North America!

The COMPLETE SPECIES LIST for SHEARWATER JOURNEYS, AUGUST 3, 2014 FARALLON ISLANDS TRIP FOLLOWS: (ALL BIRDS OFFSHORE, SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY).

WESTERN GREBE- 100

LAYSAN ALBATROSS- 1

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 12

NORTHERN FULMAR- 6

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 30

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 400

*BROWN BOOBY- 1

**NORTHERN GANNET- 1

BROWN PELICAN- 10

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 2020

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT- 9

PELAGIC CORMORANT- 10

WANDERING TATTLER- 1

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 15

PARASITIC JAEGER- 6

HEERMANN'S GULL- 32

CALIFORNIA GULL- 10

WESTERN GULL- 550

ELEGANT TERN- 75

COMMON MURRE- 2020

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 325

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 20

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 12

TUFTED PUFFIN- 25

PEREGRINE FALCON- 2, at the islands, not nesting this year.

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 400

STELLER'S SEA LION- 30

NORTHERN FUR SEAL- 400

NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL- 7

HARBOR SEAL- 85

HUMPBACK WHALE- 2

RISSO'S DOLPHIN- 2

HARBOR PORPOISE- 8

OCEAN SUNFISH- 18

SHEARWATER JOURNEYS'S 2015 

FARALLON ISLANDS TRIPS: $187/PERSON

AUGUST 2: TUFTED PUFFINS & BREEDING SEABIRDS

OCTOBER 11: THE HUNT FOR GREAT WHITE SHARKS

View Shearwater Journeys's complete schedule for 2014, here. 

The season has just begun. We have trips departing from Monterey, Half Moon Bay and Bodega Bay. 

PUFFINS FOREVER,

DEBI SHEARWATER

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

SHEARWATER JOURNEYS'S 2014 PELAGIC SEABIRDING TRIPS

Howdy, Seabirders,

Shearwater Journeys is proud to offer 33 offshore seabirding trips for the 2014 fall season, our 39th year of operation! We are experts at what we do — finding seabirds and marine mammals. More than 60,000 folks have joined our trips over these many decades. We hope you'll join us this season! 

SHEARWATER JOURNEYS SCHEDULE OF TRIPS

There is something on offer for every birder, whether a beginner or seasoned salt, or a photographer. Our friendly and knowledgable leaders welcome all on board. Their worldwide sea birding experiences put them at the forefront of sea birding. More mega-rare seabirds have been discovered on Shearwater Journeys's trips than any other trips in North America. Shearwater Journeys offers the most comprehensive selection of seabirding trips on the West Coast. We offer trips departing from Monterey, Half Moon Bay, Bodega Bay and Sausalito to the Farallon Islands.

RESERVATIONS: Payment, in full by check or money order is required at the time of booking. (Credit cards are not accepted). The United States Coast Guard requires a name, address, cell/home phone and email for each person on the vessel. Please include this with your payment. All of the vessels that we charter are licensed and inspected by the US Coast Guard and have been working with Debi Shearwater for many years. All vessels have restrooms, known as the "head." You will be sent confirmation of your reservation by snail mail with full trip details. 

JUMP ON BOARD WITH US!

SHEARWATERS FOREVER,

DEBI SHEARWATER

A NEW MAMMAL BIG DAY FOR NORTH AMERICA

Howdy, Birders,

Below, please find a report on a new MAMMAL BIG DAY FOR NORTH AMERICA on August 4, 2004 by Sarah Allen, below and Peter Pyle, below on right and Floyd Hayes, below on left. Part of their day included the Shearwater Journeys' pelagic trip to the Farallon Islands.

On 4 August, Peter Pyle (the mastermind), Sarah Allen and I made an all-out attempt to break the previous mammal “big day” record for North America of 17 native species, set independently by Peter Pyle and Richard Stallcup. We began at Point Reyes at midnight and managed to break the record before dawn, recording our 18th species at 5:25 am! By the time we reached the dock in Sausalito at 7:15 am we had already tallied 21 species. We added 7 new seven species of marine mammals during a Debbie Shearwater pelagic trip to the Farallon Islands, where we saw the lingering NORTHERN GANNET (obviously our best bird of the day). After returning from the boat trip we spent another 6 hours searching for mammals but added only 2 more species, finishing our big day at 10:20 pm with 30 native mammals (29 detected by all; 3 heard only), 3 introduced mammals and 5 domesticated mammals. We used a bat detector, which converts ultrasound signals of bats to audible

frequencies, to aid in the identification of bats at known roosts. Our biggest misses were Coyote, Badger, Gray Whale, Blue Whale, Sonoma Chipmunk and Muskrat. We journeyed 171 miles by car in a Toyota Prius, 90 miles by boat and 2 miles by foot. Here is our list of species in three categories, arranged by the time each was first detected:

NATIVE SPECIES

1) 00:01 Mule Deer

2) 00:06 Northern Elephant Seal

3) 00:12 Striped Skunk

4) 00:33 Raccoon

5) 00:50 Elk

6) 01:09 Brush Rabbit

7) 01:29 Deer Mouse

8) 01:33 Bobcat

9) 01:55 Pacific Jumping Mouse

10) 02:10 River Otter (heard only)

11) 03:11 Gray Fox

12) 03:35 Brazilian Free-tailed Bat

13) 03:41 Black-tailed Jackrabbit

14) 04:10 Pallid Bat

15) 04:15 California Myotis (heard only)

16) 04:18 Big Brown Bat

17) 04:48 Dusky-footed Woodrat (heard only)

18) 05:25 Townsend's Big-eared Bat

19) 06:05 Harbor Seal

20) 06:11 Meadow Vole

21) 06:55 Western Gray Squirrel

22) 08:20 Harbor Porpoise

23) 10:30 California Sea Lion

24) 10:30 Steller's Sea Lion

25) 11:25 Northern Fur Seal

26) 12:02 Dall's Porpoise

27) 12:31 Humpback Whale

28) 15:33 Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin

29) 18:18 California Ground Squirrel

30) 19:55 Yuma Myotis

INTRODUCED MAMMALS

31) 12:58 Virginia Opossum

32) 04:41 Fallow Deer

33) 05:25 Human

DOMESTICATED MAMMALS

34 00:30 Cattle

35 03:51 Dog (heard only)

36 05:05 Horse

37 05:57 House Cat

38 18:32 Goat

Floyd Hayes

TRIP REPORT: AUGUST 4, 2013 FARALLON ISLANDS

GANNET & PUFFINS, OH MY!

Howdy, Seabirders,

Shearwater Journeys' pelagic trip to the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge on August 4, 2013 was packed full of action throughout the day. Highlights included: the continuing NORTHERN GANNET (see August 5, 2012 report), loads of TUFTED PUFFINS and other breeding seabirds; a great variety of pinnipeds; HUMPBACK WHALES and HARBOR and DALL'S PORPOISES, as well as BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS; and finally, that iconic symbol of California — the GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE. 

The morning fog enshrouded the GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, above. It is quite a treat to actually sail under the bridge, providing a completely different viewpoint.

We headed straight away in search of the NORTHERN GANNET, pictured flying above.

 No worries, as we found it quite easily on the rock known as "Sugarloaf," above.

 It was really neat to see the gannet both sitting on the rock and flying around. It was not on a nest. And, according to refuge personnel, it never built any kind of nest.

 We saw the first of 35 TUFTED PUFFINS right at Sugarloaf. 

 Eventually, Tufted Puffins were found sitting and diving right around our vessel. 

Most of the Refuge is a designated Wilderness Area where the forces of Nature predominate and its natural character is preserved for future generations. 

 

The Refuge is 141 acres and hosts 13 species of breeding seabirds. Some call it the "Galapagos" of California. This is the largest breeding seabird colony, south of Alaska, over 200,000 birds. We saw all of the diurnal breeding seabirds, see list below. 

 

These rock islands lie along the cold California Current, a rich and productive ecosystem that generates a large amount of food through upwelling. Food production has been very good this year. Cassin's Auklets are double-brooding. Food is plentiful. 

In 1971 Point Reyes Bird Observatory (now Point Blue) and Wildlife Service joined forces to provide protection, monitoring, research and management of the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge. Management activities include removing non-native plants that cover nesting burrows and creating habitat for crevice-nesting seabirds from unused concrete foundations. Visitors are not permitted to land on the islands. 

 Six species of marine mammals breed or haul out on the Refuge: Northern fur seal, Guadalupe fur seal, Steller's sea lion, California sea lion (above), harbor seal and Northern elephant seal. We saw all but the Guadalupe fur seal which is rare.

Finally, we make our way back to the harbor, going under the GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE once more.

Bicyclists riding across the bridge, above. 

 And, the iconic City of San Francisco, above, was lit up by sunlight.

No finer co-leaders could possibly be found for this fabulous day. Between the leaders, below, the breadth and depth of their knowledge of the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge is unmatched. 

Gerry McChesney, above, is currently the manager of this wildlife refuge. We have been friends for many decades. Gerry has a very keen interest in seabirds. 

Peter Pyle, above right, spent some 20+ years working at the islands as biologist. He has been involved with seabirds, marine mammals and great white sharks and other wildlife since he began bird banding with his father at age 4. Peter, along with Floyd, left above, and Sarah Allen, below, were doing a MAMMAL BIG DAY on this day! They recorded 30 species of native mammals in one day, setting a record. 

 Sarah Allen, above, is a author of the University of California Press book, A Field Guide to the Marine Mammals of the Pacific Coast, highly recommended.

 Our smiling Captain, Jim Robertson, above, absolutely essential in turning a good trip into a great trip!

Plus, the Outer Limits is one spotlessly clean, stable catamaran. 

And, those America's Cup folks — if they only knew what lay beyond —

Many thanks to all who joined us from near and as far away as Italy, and to the Golden Gate Audubon Society, and to Eli for chumming.

The complete species list for August 4, 2013 Shearwater Journeys follows: ALL for San Francisco County:

PACIFIC LOON- 1

WESTERN GREBE- 2

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 5

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER - 12

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 1000

NORTHERN GANNET- 1

BROWN PELICAN- 30

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 300

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT- 125

PELAGIC CORMORANT- 50

BLACK OYSTERCATCHER- 4

MARBLED GODWIT- 2

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 50

RED PHALAROPE- 6

HEERMANN'S GULL- 125

CALIFORNIA GULL- 10

WESTERN GULL- 700

ELEGANT TERN- 1000

COMMON MURRE- 300

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 200

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 25

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 3

TUFTED PUFFIN- 35

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 2000

STELLER'S SEA LION- 40

NORTHERN FUR SEAL- 300

NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL- 2

HARBOR SEAL- 50

HUMPBACK WHALE- 6

BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN- 6

HARBOR PORPOISE- 10

DALL'S PORPOISE- 15

THRESHER SHARK- 1

NEW THIS YEAR: SEABIRDS & GREAT WHITE SHARKS OCTOBER 20 

A few spaces still remain on this trip to the Farallon Islands. We are going in search of Great White Sharks and late fall seabirds. (You should not expect to see tufted puffin). See here, for reservations, or to get on the waiting list when full. Spaces are available on many of our departures from Monterey, Half Moon Bay and Bodega Bay. The season has just begun! 

PUFFINS FOREVER,

DEBI SHEARWATER