MONTEREY BAY PELAGIC TRIP: AUGUST 25, 2017

 EXILERATING DAY AT SEA

MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY

This is a trip report for Shearwater Journeys' August 25, 2017 Monterey Bay pelagic trip. Monterey seabirds did not disappoint! The highlight was a stunning HAWAIIAN PETREL which made repeated passes in the wake of our boat. Everyone on board saw this petrel, and many obtained photographs. We headed offshore to "Tinker's spot," then north to an area where we have found storm-petrels in past years, and then home. The Hawaiian Petrel was spotted about 1:30 p.m. as we were on our return leg. Two BLUE WHALES capped off the end of the day!

A SOUTHERN SEA OTTER dining on breakfast as we depart the harbor.

PIGEON GUILLEMOTS nest under the wharf. This individual might be feeding a sculpin to its young. 

Just off Point Pinots, we encounter our first RHINOCEROS AUKLET. 

David & Tammy McQuade from Florida joined us again this year!

See their images of the Hawaiian Petrel. 

BULLER'S SHEARWATERS arrived on the front line of warm water a few days ago.

Yve Morrell ticked the Hawaiian Petrel for a Life Bird.

She is doing a North America Big Year.

COMMON TERN flying over the stern.

Jim Holmes, Jr. and Jim Holmes, Sr. have been doing trips with Shearwater Journeys since 1988.

Jim Holmes Jr. is a leader on SJ trips.

An adult male POMARINE JAEGER flying over the stern.

We had a grand slam on all three species of jaegers. 

Happy smiles by Debi Shearwater and Yve Morrell.

Jennie Miller and Sahas Bavre in the background, both ornithologists.

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS were steady in our wake. 

The MEEP call of PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER!

Surely one of the world's most beautiful gulls, SABINE'S GULL.

Buddies for Life, Clay Kempf and Rick Fournier, both leaders for Shearwater Journeys.

A CASSIN'S AUKLET flying away. 

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES were a real crowd pleaser. 

Star Seabird of the day, HAWAIIAN PETREL. 

Star Leader of the day, Alex Rinkert who spotted the Hawaiian Petrel.

 We capped off the day with two mighty BLUE WHALES, the largest animal that has ever lived on Earth, bigger than any dinosaurs!

Many thanks to all of the wonderful and fun folks who joined us on the fabulous Monterey Bay pelagic trip! Birders hailed from Spain, Denmark, Canada, England, India and seven states in the USA.

The Shearwater team of leaders included: Alex Rinkert, Jim Holmes, Clay Kempf, Rick Fournier, and Debi Shearwater.

THE COMPLETE SPECIES LIST FOR SHEARWATER JOURNEYS AUGUST 25, 2017 MONTEREY BAY PELAGIC TRIP FOLLOWS:

MONTEREY/SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES:

PACIFIC LOON- 1/0

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 29/10

NORTHERN FULMAR- 2/2

**HAWAIIAN PETREL- 1/0

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 26/55

BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 17/4

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 779/990

ASHY STORM-PETREL- 1/0

BROWN PELICAN- 47/0

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 316/0

BLACK TURNSTONE- 4/0

WILLET- 1/0

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 17/13

RED PHALAROPE- 3/1

POMARINE JAEGER- 8/3

PARASITIC JAEGER- 1/0

LONG-TAILED JAEGER- 0/1

HEERMANN'S GULL- 12/0

CALIFORNIA GULL- 15/25

WESTERN GULL-205/10

SABINE'S GULL- 4/2

ELEGANT TERN- 41/0

COMMON TERN- 1/1

COMMON MURRE- 505/60

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 7/0

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 5/4

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 39/29

SEA OTTER- 4

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 120

HARBOR SEAL- 2

BLUE WHALE- 4

HUMPBACK WHALE- 13

HARBOR PORPOISE- 4

OCEAN SUNFISH- 1

SEA NETTLE- +

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO?

JOIN US ON OUR LABOR DAY WEEKEND TRIPS:

SEP 1 MONTEREY BAY

SEP 2 & 3 HALF MOON BAY

RESERVATIONS: EMAIL DEBI: debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

WE ARE COMING INTO THE PEAK OF FALL SEABIRD MIGRATION!

LIVING THE SALT LIFE & SEABIRDING FOR SCIENCE,

Debi Shearwater

Images by Beth Hamel & Debi Shearwater, copyright

HAWAIIAN PETREL IMAGES BY DAVE & TAMMY MCQUADE: AUG 25, 2017

David and Tammy McQuade from Florida, above, captured many images of the HAWAIIAN PETREL on Shearwater Journeys' August 25, 2017 Monterey Bay pelagic trip. 

All images, copyright, David McQuade and Tammy McQuade. 

Please do not use without permission. 

The above image captures the typically rolling flight of a Pterodroma petrel. 

 This Hawaiian Petrel was Dave's 700th  and Tammy's 699th Life Bird for North America. 

Typical silhouette shape for a Pterodroma petrel. 

Thank you, Dave & Tammy!

Looking forward to seeing you next season!

Living the Salt Life & SeaBirding for Science!

HAWAIIAN PETREL: MONTEREY BAY AUGUST 25, 2017

MONTEREY SEABIRDS ROCK!

Monterey seabirds dazzled birders from around the world during a spectacular Shearwater Journeys'pelagic trip on August 25, 2017. The highlight was a HAWAIIAN PETREL (Pterodroma sandwichensis) which sauntered, back and forth in our wake about 1:30 p.m.

The HAWAIIAN PETREL, or 'ua'u,' is a Federally Endangered Species which nests on Hawai'i Island within Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on lower alpine and subalpine slopes of Mauna Loa.  The largest known colony is located at Maui Island at Haleakala National Park with 450 - 650 breeding pairs. Pairs mate for life.

 'Ua'u chicks were harvested as a delicacy for Hawaiian royalty. Today, the species faces many threats including: pigs, goats, mongoose, feral cats, rats, and dogs. Young 'Ua'u become attracted to lights and "grounded" around the lights. Once grounded, they cannot fly. They also suffer collisions with buildings, antenna towers, electric and telephone lines.

Hawaiian Petrels are about 16 inches long, head to tail. Head, wings and tail are black. Back is slightly darker. Forehead and underparts are white. Feet are webbed, black at the toes and pinkish toward the heel. Calls can be heard at night. Sounds like: oo- A- oo, and makes yapping sounds like a small dog. Formerly called, Dark-rumped Petrel.

Numerous conservation efforts to save this species and other seabirds in the Hawaiian islands have been mounted by Island Conservation and the American Bird Conservancy and the Center for Biological Diversity. 

You are invited to join us on our upcoming pelagic trips! 

Who knows? You might even see a Hawaiian Petrel!

SHEARWATER JOURNEYS' UPCOMING MONTEREY BAY TRIPS & LEADERS

SEP 1 with Mary Gustafson, Nick Levendosky, Clay Kempf, Debi Shearwater

SEP 7 with Alex Rinkert, Jim Holmes, Mary Gustafson, Nick Levendosky, Debi Shearwater

SEP 8 with Jim Holmes, Mary Gustafson, Brad Keitt, Debi Shearwater

SEP 9 ALBACORE OFFSHORE with Alex Rinkert, Scott & Linda Terrill, Mary Gustafson, Nick Levendosky, Todd McGrath, Debi Shearwater: SOLD OUT

SEP 10 with Mary Gustafson, Todd McGrath, Debi Shearwater

SEP 14 with Debi Shearwater

SEP 22 with Hannah Nevins, Christian Schwarz. Clay Kempf, Debi Shearwater

SEP 24 with Nick Levendosky, Jim Holmes, Debi Shearwater

SEP 30 with Alex Rinkert, Scott & Linda Terrill, Nick Levendosky, Clay Kempf

OCT 8 with Scott & Linda Terrill, Nick Levendosky, Alex Rinkert, Clay Kempf

SHEARWATER JOURNEYS' UPCOMING HALF MOON BAY TRIPS & LEADERS

SEP 2 with Mary Gustafson, Debi Shearwater

SEP 3 with Peter Pyle, Mary Gustafson, Steve Tucker, Debi Shearwater

SEP 15 with Christian Schwarz, Dave Pereksta, Debi Shearwater

SEP 16 with Steve Hampton, Debi Shearwater

OCT 7 with Alex Rinkert, Steve Hampton, Nick Levendosky

Spaces are available on all of the above trips, except for the Albacore trip. A limited number of spaces are available on the September 7 & 8 trips. Book now!

RESERVATIONS: Email: debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

Many thanks to Alex Rinkert, ace leader with Shearwater Journeys for spotting, identifying and calling out the Hawaiian Petrel!

Many thanks to Beth Hamel for the Hawaiian Petrel images, copyrighted. Please do not use images without permission. 

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

Living the Salt Life & SeaBirding for Science

Debi Shearwater

SEPTEMBER 2016 PELAGIC BONANZA

THE PEAK of PELAGIC BIRDING

Hundreds of birders from Australia, to India to France, aged 9 to 92 joined Shearwater Journeys during the month of September on pelagic birding trips departing from Monterey Bay and Half Moon Bay. Fourteen pelagic trips were on offer and thirteen of those operated. The sold out September 4 Half Moon Bay trip was canceled by the captain due to gale force winds. We tallied 11 species of procellariiformes (albatross, petrel, shearwater and storm-petrel); Red and Red-necked Phalaropes; Pomarine, Parasitic,  and Long-tailed Jaegers; South Polar Skua; Sabine's Gulls; Arctic, Common, Elegant, and Forster's Terns; and 8 species of alcids! Marine mammals included: sea otter; 5 species of pinnipeds; and a whopping 15 species of cetaceans! Ever thought of doing every trip we offer during the month of September? (It has been done!) Contact Debi Shearwater for a "deal" for 2017!

Nothing says, "Monterey Bay" like a breaching HUMPBACK WHALE & SOOTY SHEARWATER!

Ed Harper, copyright, captured this momentous image.

Both species were recording on all of our September trips.

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES showed up on every one of our September trips. 

The dreamy and beautiful BULLER'S SHEARWATER did not put in much of an appearance until recent weeks. Fishermen call these birds, "tuna birds" because they are closely associated with ALBACORE, a type of tuna. In recent years, albacore have changed their migration pattern, skipping California and heading north to areas of Oregon and Washington. Indeed, these shearwaters, along with FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, ARCTIC & COMMON TERNS, most of the jaegers and SOUTH POLAR SKUA were hanging with the albacore some 70 miles off Washington. That situation began changing in the past 10 days. These seabirds are now dispersing southward to our area.

NORTHERN FUR SEAL is a bonus pinniped which we often find in clear water offshore.

They can be told by their very long, blond whiskers and long ears. 

NORTHERN/PACIFIC FULMARS were observed in on only a few trips.

These were likely individuals that summered in our area because late fall and winter is the "fulmar season."

A PARASITIC JAEGER chasing a lone ASHY STORM-PETREL was captured by Mark Rauzon, copyright. I cannot recall ever noting this behavior on past trips. 

Perhaps, this is one reason why Ashy Storm-Petrels are usually found in flocks! 

PARASITIC JAEGERS were observed on most trips. 

This is the species of jaeger most frequently seen from shore.

Many highly overcast days send passerines to the ship. We tallied quite a list of warblers and sparrows, including this TOWNSEND'S WARBLER sitting amongst the anchovies we used outside of the national marine sanctuary boundary. 

On the other hand, some mornings were crystal clear and we enjoyed sunshine throughout the day.

MONTEREY HARBOR, above.

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, another southern hemisphere breeder, was found on every single trip.

The cherished SABINE'S GULL were absent on some trips, but abundant on others— one trip recorded hundreds of these beauties. 

SOOTY SHEARWATERS were found on all trips, whereas BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER numbers fluctuated. They arrived at Monterey Bay in late August, headed north to at least Half Moon Bay, and then seemed to make a U-turn with most heading south of Monterey Bay. 

A single HAWAIIAN PETREL was spotted and seen by only a few very keen birders on the September 18 Shearwater Journeys' Half Moon Bay pelagic trip at the Pioneer Canyon. 

Only 70 hours later and 22 miles away, observers at the Farallon Islands recorded the first-ever HAWAIIAN PETREL for that location. It is thought that this species moves off our coastline using high pressure systems. Such a system was in place on September 16th!

Image by Scott Terrill, copyright. 

September was an incredible month for seabirds and marine mammals! I've barely touched on the mammals, though. That's another blog post.

We have four trips scheduled for October which is also an excellent time. 

Many of the southern hemisphere breeders will depart while winter species will begin showing up.

New arrivals could include: more fulmars; Short-tailed and Flesh-footed Shearwaters; and Ancient Murrelets. A number of mega-rare seabirds have turned up in past years, including Short-tailed and Layman Albatrosses; Streaked, Manx, Great,  and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters; and Great-winged Petrel.

UPCOMING PELAGIC TRIPS 

with 

SHEARWATER JOURNEYS

SAT. OCT 1 MONTEREY BAY with Nick Levendosky, Alex Rinkert Christian Schwarz, Jim Holmes & Debi Shearwater

SUN. OCT 2 HALF MOON BAY with Steve Tucker, Jim Holmes, Steve Hampton, Debi Shearwater

SUN. OCT 8 MONTEREY BAY with Alex Rinkert, Tim Miller, Clay Kempf, Debi Shearwater

SUN. OCT 16 MONTEREY BAY with Nick Levendosky, Alex Rinkert, Debi Shearwater

Spaces available on all trips

Email Debi: debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

All of our trips are reported in eBird using pelagic protocol

Many thanks to the September leaders:

NICK LEVENDOSKY, ALEX RINKERT, MARY GUSTAFSON, STEVE HAMPTON, RUSS BRADLEY, CHRISTIAN SCHWARZ, RICK FOURNIER, SCOTT TERRILL, LINDA TERRILL, DAVID WHIMPFHEIMER, ROB FOWLER, TODD MCGRATH, GERRY MCCHESNEY, HANNAH NEVINS, DAVE PEREKSTA, STEVE TUCKER, JIM HOLMES, ABE BORKER, TIM MILLER, CLAY KEMPF, DENA SPATZ

LIVING THE SALT LIFE,

Debi Shearwater

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com