THE GREAT SOUTHERLY PUSH: MONTEREY BAY PELAGIC TRIP REPORT

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

MONTEREY SEABIRDS with SHEARWATER JOURNEYS

FORTY YEARS OF MONTEREY SEABIRDING

Monterey seabirds are well know, the world over, in no small thanks to Shearwater Journeys which pioneered pelagic seabirding forty years ago. For more years than any other individual person or business, Shearwater Journeys has been the single leading seabird company offering more annual departures for both novice and expert sea birders. 

More than 60,000 birders and lovers of marine life from all over the world have participated on Shearwater Journeys' trips. 

Your ocean birding trip begins right in the harbor where we may see PIGEON GUILLEMOT, BRANDT'S and PELAGIC CORMORANTS. Along the Coast Guard Jetty, we look for BLACK TURNSTONE, SURFBIRD, WANDERING TATTLER, and perhaps, the first RED-NECKED PHALAROPES in the kelp beds. Let's not forget the CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS piled up on the jetty, or the squeals of a young SEA OTTER, or an adult enjoying breakfast, below. 

Large concentrations of seabirds, sometimes in the thousands, as happened last fall with BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS, or more often, SOOTY SHEARWATERS, feed on the nutrient-rich waters of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary each fall. 

Above, one of thousands of BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS just outside the harbor on many of our 2014 fall trips. Amongst them, we found several MANX SHEARWATERS, a much rarer species, below. 

This sanctuary is contiguous with the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, forming the largest protected areas in the United States. the main feature at Monterey is the huge submarine canyon which bisects the bay. This canyon is as deep as the Grand Canyon and plays a major part in the huge upwelling which brings cold, nutrient-rich waters to the surface, feeding everything from BLUE WHALES to CASSIN'S AUKLETS. Monterey Bay is one of only a few such rich marine ecosystems in the world. Many marine ecologists consider it to be the top such system. 

ANCHOVIES, below, are the stuff of life and a keystone species of this system. 

Monterey Bay is a terrific starting point for beginner sea birders. The bay is half-moon shaped lending protection from the prevailing northwest winds. This means that we generally have very good to excellent marring weather conditions, especially during fall migration. Veteran sea birders know that Monterey Bay can turn up a MEGA-RARE seabird any day. Just ask SANDY KOMITO for whom the HAWAIIAN PETREL, was a LIFE BIRD!

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, above and below, often fly right up the wake of our vessel, giving excellent views and photographic opportunities. Other shearwaters we often encounter include: SOOTY, FLESH-FOOTED, BULLER'S, and rarely, STREAKED, WEDGE-TAILED and GREAT. 

By now, we have probably glimpsed the strange OCEAN SUNFISH, (Mola mola), basking at the surface. 

A large "blob" of warm water settled along the California coast last fall. With it came some species of seabirds that we haven't observed for a few years, including this SCRIPPS'S MURRELET, below. It looks like 2015 will continue the warm water trend. 

Typically, when we stop to look at a RHINOCEROS AUKLET, the BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES fly into the wake. They often sit on the water for close inspection, as below. 

 Off Point Pinos, during fall migration we find SABINE'S GULL, below, and ARCTIC TERNS, sometimes in large flocks. These birds are usually pursued by POMARINE, PARASITIC and LONG-TAILED JAEGERS, as well as SOUTH POLAR SKUAS. 

 Often we head to the northern canyons which lie off the coast of Davenport because this is where the STORM-PETREL FLOCKS were last found. These flocks can include the following species of storm-petrels: ASHY, BLACK, LEAST, WILSON'S, sometimes FORK-TAILED, and rarely, LEACH'S and WEDGE-RUMPED. 

 In addition to seabirds, marine mammals can be quite spectacular in Monterey Bay. A huge variety of whales, including HUMPBACK, BLUE, GRAY, MINKE, FIN (rarely); BAIRD'S BEAKED WHALES, ORCAS/KILLER WHALES (above and below) and dauphins: RISSO'S, PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED, NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE and BOTTLENOSE, as well as HARBOR and DALL'S PORPOISES. Many of these species are observed on our Monterey Bay trips. We often spot the whales for the whale watching boats!

KILLER WHALES, above two images, often approach our vessel very closely, especially when they have made a kill. This can be quite spectacular! 

 Over the past four decades nothing has changed more in Monterey Bay than the return of the HUMPBACK WHALES. For the past two years, no fewer than 100 HUMPBACK WHALES have been photographed, feeding on schooling fish in the bay! The Humpback above, is breaching just off the Pacific Grove coastline!

Returning to the harbor after a most enjoyable day, checking our checklists, and relaxing in the afternoon sunshine, we see the sailboats out doing the same thing. Oh, well, maybe not checking their checklists!

We present, below, the 2015 Shearwater Journeys' fall schedule of pelagic trips departing from Monterey. These trips can easily be combined with trips departing from HALF MOON BAY, SAUSALITO (to the FARALLON ISLANDS), or possibly BODEGA BAY, for a well rounded pelagic experience. It is always best to book more than one trip, from different ports, if possible. Debi Shearwater will be on every trip. By being out there on so many different trips that cover such a large area of the Central Coast, Debi can develop a good picture of how and where the seabirds are distributed — something that changes every year, and even within the season. The ALBACORE, September 12th trip which departs from Monterey is a specialty trip. Please note that on all of the trips, we shall not be out of the sight of land, unless it is fogged in. You can also view the complete schedule on on web site. Or, view it in calendar format, here. Generally, Monterey Bay trips head north, while Monterey Seavalley trips head south. However, we always go where we think we'll find the best diversity of seabirds!

MONTEREY BAY & SEAVALLEY 2015

JUL. 31 FRI. 

AUG. 7, FRI.

AUG. 21, FRI.

SEP. 5, SAT.

SEP. 8, TUE.

SEP. 9, WED.

SEP. 10, THU.

SEP. 11, FRI.

SEP. 12, SAT. - ALBACORE: OFFSHORE

SEP. 13, SUN. 

SEP. 16, WED.

SEP. 25, FRI.

SEP. 26, SAT.

SEP. 27, SUN.

OCT. 4, SUN.

OCT. 10, SAT.

DETAILS FOR MONTEREY BAY TRIPS:

DEPARTURE: 7 a.m. Fisherman's Wharf Monterey. Stop at Chris' Fishing Shop on the right hand side as you walk down the wharf. They will direct you to the boat and give you a parking voucher. (Albacore trip meet at 5:15 a.m.). 

RETURN: 3:00 p.m. Allow for delays.

PARKING: Parking can be confusing in this area, as there are two different wharves. Park in the big lot near Fisherman's Wharf. Follow the signs. Take a ticket from the machine upon entering the lot. Stop at Chris' Fishing Shop and let them know you are on the Shearwater Journeys' trip. They will give you a coupon which will significantly reduce the parking fee. Allow 10 minutes to park and walk to the shop, more time if you do not know where you are going, or need to stop to use the restroom. Try to check this area out the day prior to your trip. 

PRICE ADJUSTMENT: Should the pricing increase, an adjustment may be necessary at the dockside, from $5-15 per person, payable in cash only. Do not send payment ahead with your reservation. This will only occur if rates increase. (Rates on this schedule were posted in October 2014). 

FOOD & DRINKS: Please bring all food and drinks, including water in a small day pack. None is available on the boat. 

MOTELS: There are thousands of motels in the Monterey area. However, they can be fully booked, if an "event" is happening — which is often. Booking motel rooms ahead of arrival almost always results in lower rates, as opposed to walking in the front door without a booking. Motels in the sleepy town of Pacific Grove are especially nice with easy access to birding along Ocean View Blvd. for rocky shorebirds. A bit closer to the wharf (but still requiring a vehicle), any motel on Munras Avenue is fine. 

RESERVATIONS: $168/person. DISCOUNT of $40 to celebrate our 40th year, if booked by 1 JULY. No refunds on discounted trips. The Albacore trip is $199/person (discount not available for that trip). Please follow instructions on the web site for booking. 

JUMP ON BOARD! 

HELP US CELEBRATE OUR 40TH YEAR!

SHEARWATERS FOREVER,

Debi Shearwater

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

Images in this blog post, copyright: 

Beth Hamel, Brian Sullivan, Debi Shearwater

SILVER DAY AT SEA: MONTEREY BAY AUGUST 22, 2014

Shearwater Journeys's Monterey seabirding trip, August 22, 2014 began in the morning with breaching HUMPBACK WHALES, and ended late afternoon with more of the same. We headed south to SOBERANES CANYON and southwest offshore which turned out to be a great decision. There was a light swell and breeze from the south. We encountered greasy, flat, silver seas offshore which made spotting wildlife easy. Highlights included: BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS, including one leucistic individual; the first BULLER'S SHEARWATERS for Monterey this fall; close up views of SCRIPPS'S MURRELET; first of fall ARCTIC & COMMON TERNS; spectacular encounters with PARASITIC JAEGERS STEALING FISH FROM SABINE'S GULL; and amazing moments with OCEAN SUNFISH (Mola mola) SUCKING IN BY-THE-WIND-SAILORS! The HUMPBACK WHALE show continues, as do the RISSO'S DOLPHINS.

All images by Beth Hamel.

Please do not use without permission.

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON fishing at the dock in the morning.

A Category I hurricane off Baja produced a light swell and breeze from the south. So, I decided to head southwest hoping that this would influence seabirds to move in our direction. That seems to have happened, and I'm betting this will continue over the coming days. The sea surface temperatures (SST's) ranged from 61 to a hot 65 F throughout the day!

I spotted a MINKE WHALE right off Point Pinos, but this HUMPBACK WHALE, above, was the first whale that everyone on board observed.

Off Asilomar Beach, we encountered the a large flock of BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS. 

We carefully look through these flocks for any "odd" shearwaters.

These are inshore shearwaters, dwelling mostly on the Continental Shelf. 

I spotted this LEUCISTIC BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER, above and below!

We had ample time to study it while it was sitting on the water in the flock, and once it flew. A fast fly-by of such a shearwater can cause a lot of confusion. In the past, I've seen completely white Black-vented Shearwaters. Actually, this individual is in the flock image, above. Can you find it?

Continuing south to Carmel Bay, we had views of the great Crocker Mansion, below.

A flock of migrating DOWITCHERS passed us by as we headed offshore.

Offshore, we encountered a lot of marine life, including this flock of RED PHALAROPES. 

At this time of year, Red Phalaropes are more commonly found offshore, while Red-necked Phalaropes are found inshore. During winter storms, Red Phalaropes can be blown to shore, and "wreck" on beaches.

As reported previously, we continue to encounter high numbers of OCEAN SUNFISH, Mola Mola.

We witnessed a rare sighting: the Ocean Sunfish sucking in BY-THE-WIND SAILORS! Ocean Sunfish eat jellies, but this is the first time I've seen them eating the Sailors!

They sucked them in like a vacuum cleaner!

OCEAN SUNFISH are the heaviest of the bony fishes, weighing up to 5,000 pounds. 

They are covered with parasites and often "invite" gulls to pick on these, as seen below. 

See more about OCEAN SUNFISH with images, at Jackie Sones's blog, here.

A RISSO'S DOLPHIN, below, with an oddly folded dorsal fin caused me to take a second look. This individual was traveling with other Risso's Dolphins. Notice the scars on the body. 

See Jackie Sones's Risso's Dolphin images from this day, here. 

BULLER'S SHEARWATERS put on a good show. 

Notice the greasy, glassy-smooth, silver seas! 

Both COMMON & ARCTIC TERNS passed us in small flocks, offshore. A few LONG-TAILED JAEGERS were chasing the terns. COMMON TERN, below.

In the image below, four PARASITIC JAEGERS chased a SABINE'S GULL!

Much screaming and vocalizing was going on between the jaegers and gull!

One of the PARASITIC JAEGERS closes in on the SABINE'S GULL!

Finally, the SABINE'S GULL DROPS ITS FISH & THE PARASITIC JAEGER SNAPS IT UP MID-AIR!

Click on the image: that's the fish midway between the two birds! 

The word, "jaeger" means "hunter."

PARASITIC JAEGER, above. 

POMARINE JAEGER, above. 

 One SCRIPPS'S MURRELET was found. This individual gave us considerable debate as to the identification. While the posture is more like Craveri's Murrelet, the rounded tail and short, thick bill are good field marks for Scripps's Murrelet. The bird appeared blacker, but I attribute that to the brighter sunlight (most days are quite gray). Also, the white chin and throat point more toward Scripps's Murrelet. Murrelet experts, especially Todd McGrath states that the white chin is not the best field mark and that he has never seen a Craver's Murrelet with a white chin. (He's also looked at specimens at the San Diego Natural History Museum. No Craveri's Murrelets show white chins). We were, all, very happy to have such wonderful views of this tiny alcid from the south.
More Scripp's Murrelet images from this day, here. 

This beautiful day ended with a distant breaching HUMPBACK WHALE! 

We stayed out a little bit longer, owing to such great encounters with marine life!

Truly, a SILVER DAY AT SEA!

Many thanks to all of the folks who joined us, from near and far. 

The leaders on this day were: Scott Terrill, Rick Fournier, Jennifer Green, Debi Shearwater.

THE COMPLETE SPECIES LIST FOR SHEARWATER JOURNEYS'S AUGUST 22, 2014 MONTEREY BAY PELAGIC TRIP FOLLOWS:

ALL SIGHTINGS FOR MONTEREY COUNTY:

BLAC-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 38

NORTHERN FULMAR- 2

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 355

BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 9

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 520

BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER- 415

ASHY STORM-PETREL- 2

BROWN PELICAN- 17

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 705

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT- 4

PELAGIC CORMORANT- 20

BLACK TURNSTONE- 2

DOWITCHER SP.- 35

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 135

RED PHALAROPE- 18

POMARINE JAEGER- 1

PARASITIC JAEGER- 9

LONG-TAILED JAEGER- 8

HEERMANN'S GULL- 60

CALIFORNIA GULL- 15

WESTERN GULL- 485

SABINE'S GULL- 24

ELEGANT TERN- 110

COMMON TERN- 14

COMMON/ARCTIC TERN- 3

ARCTIC TERN- 5

CASPIAN TERN- 1

COMMON MURRE- 235

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 3

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 3

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 42

SEA OTTER- 4

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 200

NORTHERN FUR SEAL- 18

HARBOR SEAL- 12

MINKE WHALE- 1

HUMPBACK WHALE- 34 

SHORT-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHIN- 8

RISSO'S DOLPHIN- 56

DALL'S PORPOISE- 10

OCEAN SUNFISH- 27

BY-THE-WIND-SAILOR- ++

EGG YOLK JELLY- 2

SEA NETTLE- 1

MONTEREY SEABIRDS

with

SHEARWATER JOURNEYS

Our upcoming Monterey Seabird Trips with leaders:

SEP. 5: Rick Fournier, Nick Levendosky, Jennifer Green

SEP. 6: Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill

SEP. 9: Tom Johnson, Rick Fournier

SEP. 10: Tom Johnson

SEP. 11: Jennifer Green

SEP. 12: Tim Miller, Dena Spatz

SEP. 13: ALBACORE TRIP: Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Jennifer Green

SEP. 14: Clay Kempf

*SEP. 25: Jon Dunn, Nick Levendosky, Jim Danzenbaker

*SEP. 26: Kenn & Kimberly Kaufman, Scott & Linda Terrill

*SEP. 27: Scott & Linda Terrill, Jim Danzenbaker, Jennifer Green

*SEP. 28: Rick Fournier, Marissa Ortega-Welch, Courtenay Ray

OCT. 4: Nick Levendosky, Jennifer Green

OCT. 11: Nick Levendosky, Rich Fournier

* These trips are operated in association with the Monterey Bay Birding Festival. 

Popular leaders, Scott & Linda Terrill will present a seabird workshop, on Thursday, September 25 from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

KENN KAUFMAN will present the keynote talk on Saturday, September 27 at 7 p.m.

Sign up for the pelagic trips with Shearwater Journeys, directly. 

The ALBACORE TRIP, SEP. 13, departs from Monterey at 5:30 a.m. and returns at 5:30 p.m. and goes far offshore in search of rare seabirds!

Compliment your Monterey trip with a HALF MOON BAY pelagic trip (next one: SEP. 7), or jump on board one of our BODEGA BAY (SEP. 1 & 19) trips, especially if you are looking for storm-petrels! 

SILVER DAYS AT SEA FOREVER,

DEBI SHEARWATER

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

MONTEREY SEABIRDS: AUGUST 15, 2014 FIREWORKS!

Skua, Sabine's Gulls & Breaching Humpback Whales, Oh My!

Shearwater Journeys's August 15 pelagic trip started off with fireworks and ended with a grande finale! Monterey's seabirds were putting on a show by 8 a.m. with ELEGANT TERNS, below, feeding noisy, begging youngsters and flocks of thousands of SOOTY SHEARWATERS just outside of the harbor along with over thirty HUMPBACK WHALES. It was quite an image of marine bounty! Amongst the thousands of Sooty Shearwaters, were hundreds of BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS. Soon, we spotted a group of RISSO'S DOLPHINS, flocks of RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, and the first of a few RHINOCEROS AUKLETS. Offshore marine life was quiet, but this is where we found SOUTH POLAR SKUA and a small flock of SABINE'S GULLS, including the first juveniles of the fall season. A single CRAVERI'S MURRELET instantly flew off. Returning to the harbor along the Pacific Grove coastline, we ran into more Humpbacks, including one small individual that repeatedly breached, putting on a grand finale show much like the last fireworks of the evening on the 4th of July! Whale watching was superb and Monterey seabirds pulled out all the stops! 

ELEGANT TERN

SOOTY SHEARWATER

BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER

 

BRANDT'S CORMORANT

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER

RISSO'S DOLPHIN

RISSO'S DOLPHINS have been observed on almost all of our trips. They feed on squid. 

There has been loads of squid around, both Monterey Bay and Half Moon Bay.

RISSO'S DOLPHIN calf in foreground showing the steely-gray, unscarred body. 

RHINOCEROS AUKLET, even in silhouette, the flat head is prominent, unlike a puffin which has a rounded head. The horn is even visible in this image. The horn is grown during breeding season. These auklets excavate a burrow underground for nesting. The horn wears down in the excavating process.

RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, the inshore phalarope species. 

SABINE'S GULLS, above, first of the season juvenile on left. 

HUMPBACK WHALE off Pacific Grove on our return to the harbor. 

Repeatedly breaching HUMPBACK WHALE!

Just like the grand finale at a 4th of July fireworks celebration!

This was a small HUMPBACK, even so, note the very long pectoral flippers, distinctive on an Humpback Whale. 

WHALE WATCHING boats watching the breaching HUMPBACK WHALE!

Spy-hopping HUMPBACK WHALE

Mouth of the HUMPBACK WHALE, slightly open. Notice the throat pleats which can expand when feeding, and many barnacles on the lower jaw, and the distinctive nobs on the top of the head. 

HUMPBACK WHALE, sounding in front of the whale watching boat. 

All images, copyright, Sophie Webb.

Please do not use without permission.

Many thanks to all of the folks who joined us from near and far. 

The leaders on this trip were: Todd McGrath, Sophie Webb, Rick Fournier, Jennifer Green, Jim Danzenbaker, John Sorensen, and Debi Shearwater. We headed southwest off the Monterey Submarine Canyon. The Sea Surface Temperature was an even 63F throughout the day — like a big bathtub.

THE COMPLETE SPECIES LIST FOR SHEARWATER JOURNEYS'S MONTEREY BAY PELAGIC TRIP, AUGUST 15, 2014 FOLLOWS:

ALL RECORDS FOR MONTEREY COUNTY

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 11

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 66

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 7650

BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER- 450

BROWN PELICAN- 25

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 309

PELAGIC CORMORANT- 2

WANDERING TATTLER- 1

BLACK TURNSTONE- 2

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 154

SOUTH POLAR SKUA- 1

JAEGER SP.- 2

HEERMANN'S GULL- 65

CALIFORNIA GULL- 6

WESTERN GULL- 139

SABINE'S GULL- 8, including juveniles

ELEGANT TERN- 93

COMMON MURRE- 280

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 8

CRAVERI'S MURRELET- 1

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 1

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 11

SEA OTTER- 4

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 200

HARBOR SEAL- 2

HUMPBACK WHALE- 30 to 35

RISSO'S DOLPHIN- 22

DALL'S PORPOISE- 3

OCEAN SUNFISH- 10

BY-THE-WIND-SAILORS- some, not as many as on July trips

UPCOMING MONTEREY BAY TRIPS & LEADERS

AUG. 22: Scott Terrill, Rick Fournier, Jennifer Green

SEP. 5: Rick Founier, Nick Levendosky, Jennifer Green

SEP. 6: Scott & Linda Terrill

SEP. 9: Rick Fournier, Tom Johnson

SEP. 10: Tom Johnson

SEP. 11: Jennifer Green

SEP. 12: Tim Miller, Dena Spatz

SEP. 13, ALBACORE: Scott & Linda Terrill, Jennifer Green

SEP. 14: Clay Kempf

SEP. 25: Jon Dunn, Nick Levendosky, Jim Danzenbaker

SEP. 26: Kenn & Kimberly Kaufman, Scott & Linda Terrill

SEP. 27: Scott & Linda Terrill, Jim Danzenbaker, Jennifer Green

SEP. 28: Rick Fournier, Marissa Ortega-Welch, Courtenay Ray

OCT. 4: Nick Levendosky, Jennifer Green

OCT. 11: Nick Levendosky, Rick Fournier

Debi Shearwater will be co-leading on all trips

Shearwater Journeys has many pelagic seabird trips departing from HALF MOON BAY (next one, August 23), and BODEGA BAY (September 1 & 19). 

BREACHING HUMPBACKS FOREVER,

DEBI SHEARWATER

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com