Sunny Saunders Island

9 January 2010
About midnight, last night, we anchored off Saunders Island, the second
largest offshore island within the Falkland Islands. Today, we spent a
full eight hours on this very scenic and hospitable island, landing at
The Neck. Highlights were many: close-up views of Rockhopper Penguins,
Imperial Shags and Black-browed Albatrosses on their nests. Magellanic
Penguins were poking their heads out of their nesting burrows, while a
few stately King Penguins stood on the periphery of the Gentoo Penguin
colony. Fluffy brown skua chicks easily hide in the vegetation. Kelp and
Dophin Gulls greated us at the beach, along with Striated Caracaras. The
island's owner, David Pole-Evans chatted with us from his Land Rover.

After yet another one of Marcelo's fabulous lunches, we returned to the
island for several afternoon hikes. Long hikers went to the lake which
was covered with waterfowl. Black-necked Swans, Silvery Grebe, Silver
Teal, and two White-winged Coots were among the many species found.
Another hiking group scaled the summit of Mount Harston. The Captain of
our ship joined this hike. Birders were rewarded with a sighint of half
a dozen Rufous-chested Dotterels. Meanwhile, the slower hikers spread
out along both coasts. All groups were rewarded with superb views of
surf riding Commersons' Dolphins. Warm and worn out, all returned to the
landing site only to discover that the Striated Caracaras had had a
field day with the boots and socks that we had left behind! I arrived in
time to see on caracara carrying off a blue sock, while three others
pulled at the shoestrings of one of the boots! It was quite a comedy.

Tonight, we are headed for South Georgia Island, undoubtedly the single
most important sub-Antarctic island in the world. Again, we are escorted
by small parties of Commerson's Dolphins. The first Greater Shearwaters
appeared. and we ended the day with the "green flash." Seas are a bit
rolly, but there is no wind or whitecaps.

We can only imagine the treasures we shall discover at South Georgia.

Albatrosses forever,
Debra Shearwater

SEP 16, 2009: TRIP REPORT- A STELLER DAY!

Howdy, Seabirders,

This is a trip report for the September 16, 2009 Shearwater Journeys' pelagic trip departing from Bodega Bay.

The day began at 6:15 am with the skipper of our vessel up to his elbows in grease, down in the engine room. Not a good sign! Emerging from the engine room, we agreed to meet again at 9:30 am to assess the situation, while the skipper drove off to Santa Rosa to try to get an alternator for the boat. Some birders went off in search of early morning birds, while others, including myself went to breakfast. Reconvening at 9:30 am, I announced that the skipper was not able to get the parts and his boat would not be operable. Instead, he and I had made arrangements to take another vessel out, the ProFishn't. I also reminded folks that during past trips with these sorts of problems, we had encountered meg-rare seabirds. I doubt that anyone put much faith in this at that moment, though. Trouble was, the replacement boat could only take 29 passengers, maximum. Immediately, two of the Shearwater Journeys' leaders were knocked off the trip. Those passengers who had signed up first for the trip were given the option to join us. (Remarkably, some declined! One gracious couple from Pennsylvania, who were also signed up for Friday's and Sunday's trips, offered their spots to two young ladies who could only go out on Wednesday). So, lesson learned: sign up early! The later sign ups had to "walk the plank" as one of them put it, and forego the trip.

At 9:45 am, we were off and running out of the foggy harbor. The fog very soon gave way to completely clear conditions! We could see for miles, but there was precious little to see. Not very many seabirds or marine mammals were around. It was hot, warmer than I can remember in about ten years. We did not even wear coats or jackets. Soon, we were over Bodega Canyon and approaching the 1000 fathom line. I laid out one slick here. A few LONG-TAILED JAEGERS and ASHY STORM-PETRELS came in, along with one FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL. BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES were all around. We continued along the 1000 fathom line, heading for the Cordell Bank. Nearing the Bank, hundreds of RED PHALAROPES were flushing off the water. My co-leader, Steve Howell, wanted me to put out another slick. After nagging me a second time, I did so. And, that's when the SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS flew in! It sat around for a long time with the other albatrosses. The lucky young ladies who garnered their slots from the Pennsylvania folks could not believe the magic of it all! Probably half the folks on board had cameras and were shooting lots of images of this albatross gem. Images will be posted as soon as possible. Photos © Tom Blackman. It was about 3:30 pm and time to head for the harbor. The return ride turned out to be quite tough with spray and water running through the gunnels for nearly two hours solid! Nevertheless, we were all happy campers on board, especially when we looked in our wake to find the SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS still following us at 4:30 pm.

I would like to thank my co-leader, Steve Howell, for joining me on this trip at some inconvenience for him, since he had a flight to catch immediately after the trip. I also thank all of the participants who hailed from ten different states in the USA. And, I thank everyone for remaining patient with our morning situation.

The complete species list for SEPTEMBER 16, 2009 follows:

RED-THROATED LOON- 2

PACIFIC LOON- in the harbor

COMMON LOON- in the harbor

WESTERN GREBE- 4

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 47

*SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS- 1, immature (14-16 months old, approx.)

NORTHERN FULMAR- 8

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 48

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 36

FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL- 1

ASHY STORM-PETREL- 15

BROWN PELICAN- in the harbor

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- +

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT- in the harbor

PELAGIC CORMORANT- in the harbor

SURF SCOTER-2

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 150

RED PHALAROPE- 2000

SOUTH POLAR SKUA- 4

POMARINE JAEGER- 22

PARASITIC JAEGER- 1

LONG-TAILED JAEGER- 21

JAEGER sp. - 4

HEERMANN'S GULL- 40

CALIFORNIA GULL- 45

WESTERN GULL- 150

SABINE'S GULL- 8

COMMON/ARCTIC TERN- 1

COMMON MURRE- 300

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 6

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 200

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 40

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- +

STELLER'S SEA LION- 1

HARBOR SEAL- +

LARGE WHALE SP.- 2

HUMPBACK WHALE- 4

PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN- 10

DALL'S PORPOISE- 6

BLUE SHARK- 1

SALMON SHARK- 1

Remember: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!

Albatrosses forever,

Debi