South Georgia

We had three great days on South Georgia! We made 5
out of 6 landings, including a beautiful, sunny day
with thousands of King Penguins at Salisbury Plain and
a rainy day with the Macaroni Penguins at Cooper Bay.

Did see Sooty Albatross, Atlantic Petrel, Gray Petrel,
and Spectacled Petrel today.

Debi

Two Day Crossing the Drake

March 13, 2008

Greetings from Professor Molchanov in the Weddell Sea, en route to the South Orkney Islands!

By all standards of measure, we had a very easy two day crossing of the Drake Passage! One great adventure on our nearly 3,500 mile voyage. Our first landing was at Brown Bluff, a continental landing for those wanting to “tick” their 7th, and whitest continent in the world. Departing Zodiacs soon encountered a severe turn in the weather, with strong westerly winds forcing us to abort this landing. Some lucky folks did get their feet on the continent, though. Icebergs and bergy bits were drifting all around, but everyone returned very safely to the ship, in the hands of our very capable Expedition Staff and Russian crew. The morning and the evening ended with the most lovely of albatrosses, the dreamy Light-mantled Sooty.

Next we pushed into the Weddell Sea in search of Emperor Penguins without luck. Several delicate Snow Petrels drifted along spectacular tabular ice. Some Chinstrap Penguins were on ice floes. Due to the strong winds, the ice blocked our landing on Snow Hill Island. Nevertheless, all of the passengers gathered on the bridge with our Russian sailors to enjoy the ice, before we turned around.

This morning, we made a fantastic landing on Paulet Island, surely one of the favorites of Antarcitca. The beach was covered in Antarctic Fur Seals, two Chinstrap Penguins, and small parties of Adelie Penguins, with Brown Skuas patroling overhead, and occassional Southern Giant Petrels. It was a lovely morning, even though it was -5C we all stayed for the entire three hours. Reluctantly, we returned to our ship — surounded now by icebergs of all sizes and shape, penguins and fur seals on the beach, and the snow dusted scree slopes of Paulet — we embraced the full Antarctic scene in all its glory!

Hope all is well. We check in again in a few days.

All the best,
Debra

ATLANTIC ODYSSEY

March 9, 2008

ATLANTIC ODYSSEY MARCH 4 – APRIL 23, 2008
TRIP REPORT
By
Debra Love Shearwater

Images are clickable to a larger size.

March 4 - 5, Tue/Wed: My travel companion, Don Doolittle, and I departed San Francisco International Airport at 11 am, changed planes in Dallas/Fort Worth, and arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina about 10:30 am the next day after an uneventful, if tiring flight. We hired an official taxi to the Holiday Inn located in the Puerto Madero barrio of the city. (78 pesos) Headquartering ourselves at this hotel put us within easy walking or a short cab ride to all of the places that we wanted to visit.

Both of us are very familiar with this vibrant and bustling city, as it was my fifth and Don’s fourth visit to Buenos Aires. We headed straight to Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve. It was quite cloudy and humid. We dodged several rain showers, but nevertheless enjoyed observing some familiar birds— Rufous Hornero, strutting in the open, confiding Chalk-browed Mockingbirds, cackling Monk Parakeets, Picui Ground Doves, and Picazuro Pigeons. During the rain showers, we enjoyed watching many birds bathing in puddles on the wide paths, including some six Guira Cuckoos in one tree, Rufous-bellied Thrushes, and two Plumbeous Rails! Heading back to the hotel in the late afternoon, we enjoyed a great lunch at one of BA’s many sidewalk cafes, La Barra at Avenida Cordoba and San Martin. We retired to our room early to relax and catch up on some needed sleep.

March 6, Thu: Rising early, we again headed straight for Costanera Sur. This time, we took the trail that led to the Rio de la Plata River. Many Double-collared Seedeaters, Hooded Siskins, and Black and Rufous Warbling Finches were feeding on weedy stalks along the path. The wide, muddy brown river was devoid of birds, save a few Olivaceous Cormorants and one Kelp Gull, although soaring overhead on a thermal were 40+ Wood Storks and one Roseate Spoonbill. Gray-breasted Martins began alighting on branches as yet another rain shower fell.

In the deep resaca, two Gray-necked Wood Rails meandered in the deep dark shadows of the shoreline, while a Narrow-billed Woodcreeper quietly made its way along the tree trunks. About 2:30 pm, we left the reserve to get some lunch at the same café we had visited yesterday.
With the weather looking very foreboding, we decided to visit some of our favorite places in this very European city of so many flavors—Florida Avenue for some shopping, Café Tortoni (established as a hang out for artists and politicos in 1859), Casa Rosada, and a stroll along the waterfront of the restored Puerto Madero.

Birds we saw during our two days in Buenos Aires: Rufous Hornero, Monk Parakeet, Black-hooded Parakeet, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Picui Ground Dove, Eared Ground Dove, Picazuro Pigeon, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Creamy-bellied Thrush, Bay-winged Cowbird, Red-crested Cardinal, Green-barred Woodpecker, Greater Yellowfinch, Masked Yellowthroat, House Wren, Double-collared Seedeater, Shining Cowbird, Greater Kiskadee, Southern Lapwing, Black and Rufous Warbling Finch, Brown-chested Martin, Crested Caracara, Guira Cuckoo, Grayish Saltator, Olivaceous Cormorant, Plumbeous Rail, Hooded Siskin, Roadside Hawk, American Kestrel, Red-backed Hawk, Great Egret, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Tropical Kingbird, White-lined Tanager, Wood Stork, Roseate Spoonbill, Kelp Gull, Black-capped Warbling Finch, White-crested Eleania, and Golden-billed Saltator.

Debra

Three journeys in September

October 3, 2007

HELLO, SEABIRDERS,

This is a compilation report for the September 28 and 29 pelagic trips from Monterey Bay and September 30 from Bodega Bay. By comparing the bird lists for the three trips, it is easy to see how the species have spread themselves out over this very large and diverse geographical area. Krill blooms in Bodega Bay for instance, attract the feeding Cassin’s Auklets and Blue Whales, while no krill exists in Monterey thus far this season. Storm-petrel flocks seemed to have moved out of the Bodega area, while numbers have doubled in the Monterey region. Northern Fulmars have made big movements into the Bodega area. When planning a trip from across the country or the world, it is very wise to schedule trips from several harbors along the north central coast of California. Birders who went on all three of these trips tallied a significant species list.

Complete trip reports & photos are available:
Monterey Bay 28 Sept
Monterey Bay 29 Sept
Cordell Bank 30 Sept

The compiled list for SEP 28/29/30 follows:
RED-THROATED LOON-0/1/1
PACIFIC LOON-1/0/2
COMMON LOON-2/1/3
EARED GREBE-0/1/0
WESTERN GREBE-0/20/2
CLARK’S GREBE-0/2/0
WESTERN/CLARK’S GREBE-0/20/0
LAYSAN ALBATROSS-0/0/3
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS-6/6/60
NORTHERN FULMAR-21/12/275
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER-72/153/30
FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER-0/0/1
BULLER’S SHEARWATER-23/113/69
SOOTY SHEARWATER-20/35/37
WILSON’S STORM-PETREL-1/0/0
ASHY STORM-PETREL-1000/3/0
BLACK STORM-PETREL-1250/2/0
LEAST STORM-PETREL-6/0/0
BROWN PELICAN-34/85/20
BRANDT’S CORMORANT-150/1060/1000
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT-7/7/0
PELAGIC CORMORANT-1/7/8
HARLEQUIN DUCK-1/0/0
SURF SCOTER-7/1/27
NORTHERN PINTAIL-130/0/0
NORTHERN SHOVERLER-12/0/0
BLACK OYSTERCATCHER-0/0/1
WANDERING TATTLER-0/0/1
BLACK TURNSTONE-8/0/10
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE-35/20/3
RED PHALAROPE-1/0/20
SOUTH POLAR SKUA-14/10/9
POMARINE JAEGER-25/23/21
PARASITIC JAEGER-2/2/1
HEERMANN’S GULL-87/41/140
BONAPARTE’S GULL-0/0/2
CALIFORNIA GULL-100/350/150
HERRING GULL-1/0/0
WESTERN GULL-200/400/200
SABINE’S GULL-3/8/1
ELEGANT TERN-27/66/0
COMMON TERN-1/0/0
COMMON MURRE-12/100/40
PIGEON GUILLEMOT-2/3/4
MARBLED MURRELET-0/9/0
CASSIN’S AUKLET-0/0/1000+
RHINOCEROS AUKLET-22/20/9
TUFTED PUFFIN-0/0/1

SEA OTTER-12/12/0
CALIFORNIA SEA LION-150/250/100
STELLER’S SEA LION-0/0/1
NORTHERN FUR SEAL-1/0/1
NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL-1/0/2
HARBOR SEAL-14/0/+
MINKE WHALE-1/0/0
BLUE WHALE-0/0/9
HUMBPACK WHALE-2/5/12
NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN-0/150/400
PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN-14/200/650
DALL’S PORPOISE-0/0/12

OCEAN SUNFISH-4/0/1
BLUE SHARK-3/0/1
SALMON SHARK-0/0/1

Shearwaters forever,
Debra Shearwater

SBT COUNTY: 19 SEPT 2007

September 19, 2007

Hello, Birders,

A wee touch of winter arrived this morning! Clouds, chilly wind, and light rain were quite a surprise, as low pressure system from Canada edged down the coast. I grabbed a cup of coffee, and headed to Paicines Reservoir about 20 miles south of Hollister. The highlight was a continuing ORCHARD ORIOLE, female-type, which was first found on September 12th by David Wimpfheimer. This is the first SAN BENITO(SBT) COUNTY record of Orchard Oriole. I saw it just as I was about to leave the pullout, up on the hill, in the vineyard feeding on the juicy, ripe grapes, no doubt!

Other birds at Paicines Reservoir today included:BALD EAGLE- 3 (same as previous reports: 1 ad female, 1 first plumage
ad, 1 HY) PIED-BILLED GREBE-2 GREAT BLUE HERON-2 GREAT WHITE EGRET-2 MALLARD-50 NORTHERN SHOVELER-6 NORTHERN PINTAIL-6 AMERICAN COOT-40 GREATER YELLOWLEGS-4 LEAST SANDPIPER-3 KILLDEER-18 AMERICAN KESTREL-1 RAVEN-2 LESSER GOLDFINCH-4 SONG SPARROW-1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER-1 BLACK PHOEBE-2 WESTERN BLUEBIRD-18 WESTERN WOODPEEWEE-1 CASSIN’S KINGBIRD-1 BEWICK’S WREN-1 BREWER’S BLACKBIRD-40 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD-50 HOUSE FINCH-10

I did not see the Common Tern (4th county record) found by ClayKempf, or the Stilt Sandpiper (third county record) found by Scott &Linda Terrill.

Heading south on Highway 25, I turned on LA GLORIA ROAD. High winds seemed to keep the birds down. At the summit, near Mile Marker 7.37,I found 50+ LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCHES. On September 12th, I found 360Lawrence’s Goldfinches on this road, many of them at the summit. Roiling fog from the Salinas Valley, rain, and the wind probably kept them down. Best way to see the goldfinches is to stay inside of thecar, using it as a blind. I saw a total of 150 Lawrence’s Goldfinches today. Other birds on Gloria Road included:

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW-1 First of the fall (FOF) in San Benito County for me. FOX SPARROW-1 (FOF) WILSON’S WARBLER-3 LESSER GOLDFINCH-4 CALIFORNIA TOWHEE-2 CALIFORNIA THRASHER-12 CALIFORNIA QUAIL-6 WESTERN BLUEBIRD-46 OAK TITMOUSE-6 WESTERN SCRUB JAY-8 HOUSE FINCH-4 DARK-EYED JUNCO-140 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET-1 (FOF) YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER-1 (FOF) TOWNSEND’S WARBLER-1 WRENTIT-2 SONG SPARROW-1 WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH-1 BLACK PHOEBE-2 RAVEN-4 BUSHTIT-18 WILD TURKEY-6 (one with only one leg, and it hops) MOURNING DOVE-62 CHIPPING SPARROW-1 ad, 2 HY YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE-54, near the summit SAY’S PHOEBE-1 BELL’S SAGE SPARROW-2 SPOTTED TOWHEE-2 BEWICK’S WREN-3 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD-100 BREWER’S BLACKBIRD-80 RED-TAILED HAWK-1

I made a very brief stop at VISTA PARK HILL in downtown Hollister after picking up my mail. About 30 hummingbirds are still feeding inthe bottlebrush. At least 2 “RUFOUS” were present, along with manyANNA’S HUMMINGBIRDS.

Debra Shearwater
debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

SBT County: Sep 12, 2007

September 13, 2007

Yesterday morning, Laurilee Thompson (of Space Coast Bird Festival fame) and I did a couple of hours ofbirding in San Benito County. Highlights included: 360 LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCHES, 3 BALD EAGLES, 1 CASSIN’SKINGBIRD, 1 ROADRUNNER, and 2 CHIPPING SPARROWS.
At Paicines Reservoir, about 30 miles south of Hollister on Highway 25, we found: 3 BALD EAGLES ( 1 adult female, 1 first plumage adult, 1 HY); 1 CASSIN’S KINGBIRD was sitting in the willow tree that is surrounded by water, along with 1 TANAGER sp. Both of these birds flew to the west side of Hwy 25 to feed on the grapes in the vineyard. Also present were: 1 Nuttall’s Woodpecker, 1 Bewick’s Wren, 4 Black Phoebes, Song Sparrows, Mallards, American Coots, etc.- “regulars” at the reservoir.

Best way to bird the reservoir is to pull out on the large, dirt parking lot on Highway 25 just south of the turnoff for Panoche Valley. Stand around and scope the area, including the willow tree. There is no public access to other areas surrounding the reservoir. The bald eagles generally sit on the high power poles on the west side of the reservoir, or sometimes on the top of the small oak tree on the levee on the east side. No shorebirds, other than Killdeer, were present yesterday, even though there are some good mud flats now.


Continuing south on Highway 25 toward Pinnacles National Monument, we pulled over about 5 miles later, to see a ROADRUNNER. A CALIFORNIA THRASHER was singing in the coyote bushes at this stop. A BOBCAT was sitting under a large oak tree on the east side of the highway.
Further south, (just beyond Bear Valley Fire Station), we turned east on Gloria Road. This well maintained dirt road is public, but all areas off the road are private property. It is often patrolled by the local landowners, who can be quite intimidating, even threatening. So, please respect the private property, even if there is no fence on the road in areas. The highlight of this road was 360 LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCHES, multiple flocks. The biggest flocks were at the summit, in the open grasslands, just before you reach the Monterey County sign. (If you reach the sign, go back).

Driving slowly on this road will likely put the goldfinches up in flocks and they will land on the barbed wire fences. Best to stay in your car. The flocks are almost 100% Lawrence’s right now. It will be interesting to see if the Lessers and Americans join them, as they usually do. Again, the best way to see them is to stay in your car. Two CHIPPING SPARROWS ( 1 adult, 1 HY), were also on the fence with the goldfinches.

Also along Gloria Road: LARK SPARROWS, OAK TIT, YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE (50+ at the summit), BELL’S SAGE SPARROW, BELTED KINGFISHER, COOPER’S HAWK, SHARP SHINNED HAWK, BLACK PHOEBE, CALIFORNIA TOWHEE, WILD TURKEY, BUSHTIT, SCRUB JAY, DARK-EYED JUNCO, WESTERN BLUEBIRD, BEWICK’S WREN, WILSON’S WARBLER, ACORN WOODPECKER, WRENTIT, and 1 BOBCAT, and 1 COYOTE.


Goldfinches forever,
Debi Shearwater