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
