TRIP REPORT: SEP 23, 24, 25, 26, 2010: MONTEREY BAY BIRDING FESTIVAL PELAGIC TRIPS

Howdy, Birders,

This is a trip report for Shearwater Journeys' four pelagic trips, September 23, 24, 25, 26, which were operated in conjunction with the Monterey Bay Birding Festival. This premier festival offers outstanding field trips on land and sea with top notch leaders. I hope you will join us in 2011.

The complete species list follows:

SEP 23/24/25/26, 2010:

PACIFIC LOON- 1/6/0/0

COMMON LOON- 0/2/1/2

WESTERN GREBE- 1/0/0/0

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 12/12/11/6

NORTHERN FULMAR- 8/8/14/3

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 45/72/65/63

BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 9/4/9/2

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 100/65/140/62

SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER- 1/0/0/1

WILSON'S STORM-PETREL- 2/2/0/1

ASHY STORM-PETREL- 2000/2200/100/32

BLACK STORM-PETREL- 500/50/20/22

LEAST STORM-PETREL- 1/5/0/0

BROWN PELICAN- +/+/+/+

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- +/+/+/+

PELAGIC CORMORANT- 3/1/1/1

SURF SCOTER- 0/0/0/3

BLACK TURNSTONE- 2/8/4/7

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 45/25/400/30

RED PHALAROPE- 12/5/600/30

POMARINE JAEGER- 20/16/6/5

PARASITIC JAEGER- 7/0/3/2

LONG-TAILED JAEGER- 11/7/4/0

HEERMANN'S GULL- +/+/+/+

CALIFORNIA GULL- 45/+/+/+

WESTERN GULL- 65/+/+/+

SABINE'S GULL- 4/0/5/0

ELEGANT TERN- 75/20/60/20

COMMON TERN- 10/1/9/0

ARCTIC TERN- 2/0/0/0

COMMON MURRE- 65/45/100/135

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 1/1/0/0

XANTUS'S MURRELET- 2/0/O/O

ANCIENT MURRELET- 0/1/0/0

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 7/14/700/15

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 56/35/35/190

TUFTED PUFFIN- 5/3/2/0

PEREGRINE FALCON- 0/1/0/1

MERLIN- 0/1/0/1

SEA OTTER- +/+/+/+

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- +/+/+/=

BLUE WHALE- 1/0/6/0

FIN WHALE- 0/0/2/0

HUMPBACK WHALE- 27/17/20/0

NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN- 35/0/400/0

RISSO'S DOLPHIN- 30/0/250/24

PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN- 200/0/10/0

DALL'S PORPOISE- 0/0/0/2

OCEAN SUNFISH- 1/1/3/1

Like migration anywhere else, it's plain to see that going out on Monterey Bay pelagic trips for two days rather than just one, it is possible to add one or two new species to one's list. Weather plays a factor in determining not only how many species we observe, but also how many individuals of each species are found, as well. It is no different when we bird on land, but somehow birders think about that the ocean is different. In this respect, it is not. To maximize your chances of adding as many species as possible, it is best to try to do more than one trip. This is easily accomplished during the 2011 festival by adding the Monday trip.

We thank all of the birders who came from near and far for the 2010 Monterey Bay Birding Festival. The leaders on the 2010 Shearwater Journeys' trips were:

Sep 23: Terry Hunefeld, Jennifer Green, Wes Fritz, Abe Borker & Debi Shearwater

Sep 24: Terry Hunefeld, Jennifer Green, Wes Fritz & Debi Shearwater

Sep 25: Terry Hunefeld, Abe Borker, Wez Fritz & Debi Shearwater with Special Guests: Mark Rauzon & Mike Parr

Sep 26: Terry Hunefeld, Jennifer Green, Abe Borker, Wes Friz & Debi Shearwater

Please contact me by email, debi@shearwaterjourneys.com, if you have any questions regarding the 2011 Monterey Bay Birding Festival pelagic trips! Of course, I hope to see you Friday, September 23 at the Watsonville Civic Center where I will present a talk, "The Big Year: How Did We Get Here?" Bring your copy of Mark Obmascik's book, "The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession," if you would like to have it autographed.

Shearwaters forever,

Debi Shearwater

MONTEREY BAY BIRDING FESTIVAL: SEP 22 - 26, 2011

To Birders Everywhere,

I would like to invite you to the 7th Annual Monterey Bay Birding Festival headquartered at the Watsonville Civic Center. This year's festival theme is "The Evolution of Birding— From Field Guides to High Tech." Birding has come a long way from the days of John J. Audubon to the iPod equipped modern, field guide and camera toting birder.

Our featured keynote speaker is Joe Morlan, known to many birders for his years of teaching bird identification. Joe was the winner of the American Birding Associations's Ludlow Griscom Award in 2010. He will speak on Saturday, September 24th. Joe will also co-lead the pelagic trip on Sunday, September 25th.

Stephen Shunk will speak on Thursday, September 22, "The Names, Namers and Naming of North American Birds." Stephen is a naturalist who hails from Oregon who will demystify the naming of North American birds.

Debi Shearwater will speak on Friday, September 23, "The Big Year: How Did We Get Here?" The concept of the Big Year has an interesting history. And, just in case you didn't know it— the 20th Century Fox movie, "The Big Year," inspired by the book of the same name by Mark Obamcik, will be released on October 14, 2011. Angelica Huston is playing the part of Debi in this movie!

All evening programs take place at the Watsonville Civic Center. Of course, these programs are only a small part of the festival. Many field trips are planned. Year after year, birders rave about our field trip leaders. They are simply the best! Some of these field trips are sold out. Sorry, but you know the "early bird gets the worm." Vendors will exhibit at the Civic. Workshops will be presented, and more.

The host motel is the Best Western Rose Garden Inn. Other motels are available, as well. There is nearby camping, and a terrific selection of restaurants.

And, the birds? Well, this festival has it all!! Everything from BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS to CALIFORNIA CONDOR, from WRENTIT to BUSHTIT, from SNOWY PLOVER to WANDERING TATTLER, from YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE to TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD, from ASHY STORM-PETREL to RHINOCEROS AUKLET, from LARK SPARROW to LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH, from GOLDEN EAGLE to PRAIRIE FALCON, from ROADRUNNER to PYGMY NUTHATCH!

Please accept my personal invitation to join me at this fabulous festival,

Debi Shearwater

HALF MOON BAY MOTELS

Howdy, Birders,

Shearwater Journeys has 11 seabirding trips departing from Pillar Point, Half Moon Bay this fall season. I've been asked to provide motel information. That is the purpose of this post.

I have arranged for a special discount, 10% on Fridays and Saturdays, and 15% Sundays through Thursdays, at the Harbor View Inn. To receive the discount, it is best to call them: 650-726-2329 and say that you are with the Debi Shearwater, Shearwater Journeys group. Ask for Tonia, if you have any problems. This motel has renovated rooms which cost more, or non-renovated rooms. Be sure to specify your choice. Full disclosure, I do not benefit from this financially. This motel is very close to Huck Finn Sportfishing, where we meet the boat. Click for directions. Please meet us at 7 am, SHARP for checkin.

Additional motels in the Half Moon Bay area can be found on the internet. Some of these include: Comfort Inn, Best Western Half Moon Bay Lodge, Days Inn and Coastside Inn, to name a few.

For camping ideas click here.

Spaces are still available on our upcoming pelagic trips: JULY 30, JULY 31 and AUGUST 1. Join us on our first trips of the late summer, early fall season! More information is here. To read a trip report of our July 31, 2010 trip, click here.

Cook's petrels here we come!

Debi Shearwater

TRIP REPORT: AUGUST 11, 2010 BODEGA CANYON & CORDELL BANK

Howdy, Seabirders,

Well, just to whet your appetite, and since I never published this trip report from last year, I thought that I would do so now. This is a report of Shearwater Journeys' 11 August 2010 trip to Bodega Canyon and Cordell Bank. The conditions were excellent, with a Beaufort 2, swell 0, 100% uniformly high overcast skies (the absolute best conditions) and no ground fog!

Highlights of the day included: 2 or 3 LAYSAN ALBATROSSES, 6 BULLER'S SHEARWATERS, 300 ASHY STORM-PETRELS, 100 RED PHALAROPES, 300+ LONG-TAILED JAEGERS, 300+ SABINE'S GULLS, 70 ARCTIC TERNS, 1000+ CASSIN'S AUKLETS and one TUFTED PUFFIN. Little did we know that we broke the record for Long-tailed Jaegers for the entire State of California! The marine mammal highlights were no less, topping the list was 4 SPERM WHALES, rarely seen from our coast. Also sighted were: 3 GRAY WHALES, 4 BLUE WHALES, 25 HUMPBACK WHALES and 15 DALL'S PORPOISE.

Shearwater Journeys' first trip of the 2011 fall season, departing from Bodega Bay is AUGUST 17TH. Spaces are still available. Leaders include: Lisa Hug, Wes Fritz and Debi Shearwater. Don't miss out!

We thank the many folks who joined us, from near and far, on our sold out trip. The leaders onf this trip were: Peter Pyle, Steve Howell, Wes Fritz, Matt Brady, Jon Dunn and Debi Shearwater.

The complete species list for the August 11, 2010 Bodega Canyon & Cordell Bank trip follows:

COMMON LOON- 1

WESTERN GREBE- 2

LAYSAN ALBATROSS- 2 or 3

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 100

NORTHERN FULMAR- 100

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 225

BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 6

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 1000

ASHY STORM-PETREL- 300

BROWN PELICAN - +

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- +

PELAGIC CORMORANT- 1

BLACK OYSTERCATCHER- 1

WANDERING TATTLER- 1

BLACK TURNSTONE- 2

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 60

RED PHALAROPE- 100

POMARINE JAEGER- 4

PARASITIC JAEGER- 7

LONG-TAILED JAEGER- 300+ A RECORD FOR THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA!

HEERMANN'S GULL- 10

CALIFORNIA GULL- 100

WESTERN GULL- 130

SABINE'S GULL- 300

ARCTIC TERN- 70

COMMON MURRE- 500

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 40

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 1000+

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 35

TUFTED PUFFIN- 1

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 5

STELLER'S SEA LION- 2

NORTHERN FUR SEAL- 1

NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL- 3

HARBOR SEAL- 1

GRAY WHALE- 3

BLUE WHALE- 4

HUMPBACK WHALE- 25

SPERM WHALE- 4

DALL'S PORPOISE- 15

OCEAN SUNFISH- 4

Add up all of that wildlife, and you can see that we had a very, very busy day! Not to mention loads of fun and lot of photographs! Hope to see you this August on a Bodega Bay trip!

Shearwaters forever,

Debi Shearwater

BODEGA BAY: AUG 17, SEP 14, OCT 14, 2011 TRIPS

Howdy, Seabirders,

Since 1980, Shearwater Journeys has operated pelagic trips from Bodega Bay to the Cordell Bank and Bodega Canyon. We have conducted more seabird trips for the public from this port than any other organization. Our decades of experience has proved fruitful on many occasions. Nicknamed "Blow-dega Bay" because there is no protection from the prevailing northwest winds, Shearwater Journeys' trips have amassed quite a number of first records for the State of California, North America and even the entire Pacific Ocean! While at one time, more than a dozen fishing vessels operated out of this port, today only one large vessel suitable for birding trips exists! Once this vessel moves on, all of the others have, there will no longer be any pelagic trips for birders! Think about that. Fishing restrictions, along with increasing costs of fuel make it practically impossible for boats to make a living in this harbor. If you have ever considered doing a Bodega Bay trip, now is the time.
For 2011, Shearwater Journeys has three trips on offer, all on Wednesdays:

AUGUST 17 Leaders: Lisa Hug, Wes Fritz & Debi Shearwater

SEPTEMBER 14 Leaders: Lisa Hug, Morten Joergensen, Peter Pyle, Steve Howell & Debi Shearwater

OCTOBER 14 Leaders: Lisa Hug, Steve Howell, Jennifer Green & Debi Shearwater

All trips meet at Port O'Bodega at 6:30 am. Bring your lunch, dress warmly, waterproof outer gear. The boat return time is variable, 4- 6 pm. Parking is free in the large lot. Advance reservations are necessary. Please email Debi Shearwater: debi@shearwaterjourneys.com for more details.

You can find our trip report for the SEPTEMBER 15, 2010 BODEGA BAY TRIP by clicking here. The highlight was a COOK'S PETREL! Highlights of our AUGUST 11, 2010 BODEGA BAY TRIP included 2 or 3 LAYSAN ALBATROSSES, 200 ASHY STORM-PETRELS, 300+ LONG-TAILED JAEGERS, 70 ARCTIC TERNS, 1000+ CASSIN'S AUKLETS, one TUFTED PUFFIN, 3 GRAY WHALES, 4 BLUE WHALES, 25 HUMPBACK WHALES, and remarkably 4 SPERM WHALES!
The harbor will almost certainly be teaming with birds— arriving loons, grebes, scoters; thousands of shorebirds, white pelicans, terns, gulls and more.

However, it is the seabirds that are truly amazing. Over the years, we have amassed an astounding list of incredible records. These include: SHY ALBATROSS (24 Aug 1999, 25 Sep 1999, 29 Jul 2000, 27 Jul 2001); LAYSAN ALBATROSS (many records); SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS (3-5 Nov 1985, 28 Aug 1998, 26 Oct 1998, Nov 2010); GREAT-WINGED PETREL (24 Aug 1996); MURPHY'S PETREL, HAWAIIAN PETREL (24 Aug 1996, 1 Aug 1997, 15 Jul 2000, 9 May 2001); COOK'S PETREL (23 Jun 1985 + other records); STREAKED SHEARWATER (29 Sep 2002); CORY'S SHEARWATER (9 Aug 2003); WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER, MANX SHEARWATER. In addition, a single record exists of a LIGHT-MANTLED ALBATROSS. Rare alcids have included, LONG-BILLED MURRELET, CRESTED AUKLET (24 Jun 1995) and HORNED PUFFINS.

Regularly occurring species include: BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS, NORTHERN FULMAR, PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER, FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER, BULLER'S SHEARWATER, SOOTY SHEARWATER, SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER, sometimes, BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER, WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL, ASHY STORM-PETREL, and sometimes LEACH'S STORM-PETREL, BLACK STORM-PETREL, LEAST STORM-PETREL, SOUTH POLAR SKUA, POMARINE JAEGER, PARASITIC JAEGER, LONG-TAILED JAEGER, SABINE'S GULL, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, COMMON TERN, ARCTIC TERN, COMMON MURRE, PIGEON GUILLEMOT, MARBLED MURRELET, XANTUS'S MURRELET, CRAVERI'S MURRELET, ANCIENT MURRELET, CASSIN'S AUKLET, RHINOCEROS AUKLET and TUFTED PUFFIN. I have not included the nearshore grebes, loons, ducks, geese, shorebirds.

Marine mammals are no less spectacular, and have included: GRAY WHALE, MINKE WHALE, BLUE WHALE, FIN WHALE, HUMPBACK WHALE, SPERM WHALE, BAIRD'S BEAKED WHALE, HUBB'S BEAKED WHALE, KILLER WHALE, NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN, RISSO'S DOLPHIN, PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN, HARBOR PORPOISE, DALL'S PORPOISE. Leatherback sea turtle has been observed, as well.

It has been said that if one partakes of a Bodega Bay, the chances are good of acquiring a high quality seabird and marine mammal species list for the day, if not a downright North American record! I hope you will join us!

Shearwaters forever,

Debi Shearwater

FARALLON ISLANDS

Howdy, Seabirders,

This is an update regarding Shearwater Journeys' pelagic trip to the FARALLON ISLANDS, August 7, 2011. This trip is SOLD OUT. Quite a few birders have contacted me regarding this trip. The United States Coast Guard limits the number of people on party boats. Regretfully, we cannot add anyone to this trip. Every year, this extremely successful trip sells out. We have a 100% success rate in finding TUFTED PUFFINS and have great views of them. See our trip report from last year, where the surprise of the day was a group of KILLER WHALES.

However, opportunities do exist. On many of our Half Moon Bay departures, we see the Farallon Islands from a distance. And, on many of the Half Moon Bay trips, we also see TUFTED PUFFINS.

Spaces are still available on the following Half Moon Bay departures: JULY 30 & 31; AUGUST 1; SEPTEMBER 16, 17, 18, 19; OCTOBER 2, 10, 15; NOVEMBER 22. Some of these trips are close to selling out. Please book as soon as possible. We have many, excellent fall trips available.

Alternately, if you would like to book our AUGUST 5 FARALLON ISLANDS trip for 2012 at this time, you may do so by sending a check for $157 to Shearwater Journeys, Inc., PO Box 190, Hollister, CA 95024. You will be sent a return confirmation letter upon receipt of your check, and guaranteed a spot on next year's trip.

Tufted Puffins forever,

Debi Shearwater

COOK'S PETRELS IN 2011

Howdy, Seabirders,

Time is running out to sign up for Shearwater Journeys' COOK'S PETREL EXPRESS & ALBATROSSES pelagic trips departing from Half Moon Bay on July 30, 31 and August 1. Half Moon Bay is probably the best port in northern California to search for Cook's Petrels. These petrels have been increasing in numbers since the eradication of rats from their breeding islands in New Zealand. Please read the trip report for Shearwater Journeys' JULY 31, 2010 Half Moon Bay trip. Unlike last year, however, we do not have any current offshore reports due to the budget cuts to NOAA cruises. Peter Pyle and Abe Borker reported astounding numbers of Cook's Petrels from the Davidson Seamount in 2010. However, I have no doubt that the birds are out there! Weather conditions permitting, we will head offshore to search for these enigmatic pterodromas.

Please note that many other seabirds were also seen on the July 31, 2010 Half Moon Bay trip. Among the highlights were: LAYSAN and BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES; PINK-FOOTED and SOOTY SHEARWATERS; NORTHERN FULMARS; ASHY STORM-PETRELS; RED and RED-NECKED PHALAROPES; SOUTH POLAR SKUA; POMARINE and LONG-TAILED JAEGERS; SABINE'S GULLS; ARCTIC TERNS; COMMON MURRES; PIGEON GUILLEMOTS; MARBLED MURRELETS; CASSIN'S and RHINOCEROS AUKLETS; TUFTED PUFFIN. Cetaceans included: BLUE and HUMPBACK WHALES; NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPINS; PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS and HARBOR PORPOISE.
The following extremely experienced leaders are scheduled to lead the fall season kick off pelagic trips:

JULY 30: Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Todd McGrath, Jon Feenstra, Tristan McKee, Wes Fritz & Debi Shearwater

JULY 31: Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Todd McGrath, Jon Feenstra, Tristan McKee, Wes Fritz & Debi Shearwater

AUGUST 1: Joe Morlan, Todd McGrath, Jon Feenstra, Tristan McKee, Wes Fritz.
For those folks who are "County Birders" which is a growing group in California, note that Cook's Petrels were found in both SAN MATEO and SAN FRANCISCO COUNTIES, in 2010.

It just doesn't get any better than this!

Pterodromas forever,

Debi Shearwater