BREAKING NEWS: FIRST RECORD of WEDGE-RUMPED STORM-PETREL @ FARALLON ISLANDS

WEDGE-RUMPED STORM-PETREL

Image, courtesy and copyright, Dave Pereksta

THIS POST IS FROM POINT BLUE CONSERVATION SCIENCE'S FACEBOOK PAGE:

On April 19th, Point Blue Farallon biologist, Pete Warzybok and his field crew were conducting the first Ashy Storm-petrel netting session of the breeding season when they captured a rare visitor to the California Current. The unusual Storm-petrel that found its way into their mist-net was much smaller than the typical Ashy and Leach’s Storm-petrels that breed on the islands and it had an unusual triangular shaped white patch on the rump that didn't look right, even for the smallest races of Leach’s. Photos and measurements were taken, the bird was banded and then released to go about its way. Upon consulting with field guides and experts in the field of Storm-petrel identification, the identification was confirmed. They had captured the island’s first ever Wedge-rumped Storm-petrel (Oceanodroma tethys)! This particular small individual likely belonged to the kelsalli subspecies, also known as the Peruvian Storm-petrel, and is normally found in waters over the continental shelf between Mexico and Chile. This species is very rare off of California and the Farallon bird represents the farthest north they have ever been encountered. Interestingly, all records have occurred during periods of warmest ocean temperatures, providing further evidence for the unusual warming conditions observed in the Gulf of the Farallones this year.

Speaking of rare birds, this Saturday will mark the three-year Ganniversary of the Northern Gannet on the Farallones. The first, and as far as we know only, Gannet in the Pacific first arrived at the Farallones on April 25th 2012. With the exception of a few sightseeing visits to San Francisco, it has been present at the island almost every day since.

Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel is a mega rare seabird anywhere in the USA. Additionally, a TRISTRAM'S STORM-PETREL carcass was recently found on the Farallon Islands. Things are hot offshore! There could not be a better time to plan your trip. Shearwater Journeys' calendar of 2015 trips can be found at our web site. Book early, and book often! 

See you out there!

Storm-Petrels Forever, 

Debi Shearwater

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

TRIP REPORT: AUGUST 18, 2013 HALF MOON BAY

Howdy, Birders,

This is a trip report for Shearwater Journeys' August 18, 2013 nearly 11 hour, pelagic trip departing from Half Moon Bay. Highlights included: 2 SCRIPP'S MURRELETS and 3 very fine TUFTED PUFFINS. The seas calmed down quite a bit from the previous day. In fact, the offshore region was quite amazing. Lines of convergences had formed where two currents meet, trapping a lot of bull kelp. This kelp provided a resting spot for migrating ARCTIC TERNS, see below. LONG-TAILED JAEGERS put on a good show, with 31 tallied for the day. We traveled 31 miles offshore, reaching 600 fathoms and covering many canyon edges. There was a warm band of 60 F degree water, but it was inshore. Inshore, the water was "salmon brown" while offshore it was a clear blue, but not the deep turquoise or nearly black water necessary for albacore. At the "601" a high spot to the south, anglers caught a few albacore a couple of days ago. One angler caught a yellowfin tuna, rare for our area, but common off of San Diego. As I write this report, we are experiencing offshore weather conditions pushing northward from Southern California. This could lead to some fine seabirding on our next offshore trips, August 23 (Monterey), 25 (Half Moon Bay) and 30 (Bodega Bay). All images, copyright, Todd McGrath. Please do not use without permission. 

Todd's image of the PIGEON GUILLEMOT, above, gives one a good idea of how dreamy the seas were on this day. 

The SOOTY SHEARWATER, BROWN PELICAN, ELEGANT TERN, HEERMANN'S GULL mixed flock was still feeding near the harbor. 

 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS were our companions most of the day.

 Offshore, we encountered a few BULLER'S SHEARWATERS and very surprisingly a Selasphorus hummingbird buzzed right up to our vessel some 28 miles out. 

 A group of three adult TUFTED PUFFINS put on quite a show. 

ARCTIC TERNS resting offshore on bull kelp.

 ARCTIC TERN in flight, above, and SABINE'S GULL, below. 

Both are High Arctic nesters migrating south.

 PARASITIC JAEGER, below, another High Arctic nesting species heading south.

We had a wonderful day at sea with folks from eight different states and Italy. Many thanks to all. The leaders on this trip were: Todd McGrath, Jim Holmes and Debi Shearwater. Great conversations. Loads of fun, too.
The complete species list for SAN MATEO/SAN FRANCISCO COUNTIES follows.
AUGUST 18, 2013 SHEARWATER JOURNEYS
WESTERN GREBE- 17/0
CLARK'S GREBE- 1/0
WESTERN/CLARK'S GREBE- 14/0
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 19/11
NORTHERN FULMAR- 0/2
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 49/31
BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 0/2
SOOTY SHEARWATER- 8851/482
WILSON'S STORM-PETREL- 0/1
ASHY STORM-PETREL- 17/13
BLACK STORM-PETREL- 0/1
BROWN PELICAN- 2100/29
BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 14/1
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT- 27/0
PELAGIC CORMORANT- 3/0
BLACK OYSTERCATCHER- 4/0
WANDERING TATTLER- 1/0
WHIMBREL- 1/0
MARBLED GODWIT- 1/0
BLACK TURNSTONE- 24/0
SURFBIRD- 8/0
WILLET- 1/0
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE-19/1
RED PHALAROPE- 29/124
POMARINE JAEGER- 0/6
LONG-TAILED JAEGER- 0/31
HEERMANN'S GULL- 129/7
CALIFORNIA GULL- 0/3
WESTERN GULL- 235/92
SABINE'S GULL- 0/5
ELEGANT TERN- 761/2
COMMON/ARCTIC TERN- 0/4
ARCTIC TERN- 0/19
COMMON MURRE- 1169/14
PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 7/0
SCRIPP'S MURRELET- 0/2, excellent views, sitting on the water
CASSIN'S AUKLET- 7/14
RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 9/48
TUFTED PUFFIN- 0/3, excellent photo ops
SELASPHORUS HUMMINGBIRD- 0/1, about 28 miles offshore
CALIFORNIA SEA LION-+
HARBOR SEAL- 2
HUMPBACK WHALE- 6 to 8
PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN- 125
HARBOR PORPOISE- 4
OCEAN SUNFISH- 12

Spaces are available on many of our trips.

See Shearwater Journeys for the schedule.

Shearwaters Forever,

Debi

SHEARWATER JOURNEYS 2012 SCHEDULE OF TRIPS

WELCOME ABOARD!

SHEARWATER JOURNEYS 2012 SCHEDULE OF TRIPS

Greetings, Seabirders,

The year 2011 was a fabulous one for seabirding with Shearwater Journeys. The single most spectacular highlight of the fall season was two sightings of the mega-rarity, GREAT-WINGED PETREL on August 26, Monterey and September 17, Half Moon Bay trips. LAYSAN ALBATROSS was recorded from every port on nine different trips. Rare in California, a GREAT SHEARWATER was observed on July 30 off Half Moon Bay. Of course, the regular fall migrants were recorded throughout the fall season. Some 1,135 birders participated in 36 day long trips with Shearwater Journeys in 2011. We continue to operate the most comprehensive selection of seabirding trips on the west coast of North America. Whether you are new to seabirding, or a repeat enthusiast, a photographer or sea salt, we hope that you will discover the joy of soaring albatrosses and gliding shearwaters on a trip with our friendly and knowledgable leaders. Black-footed Albatross image, above, copyright, Abe Borker.

PORTS: Trips are offered from Monterey Bay, Half Moon Bay, Sausalito, Bodega Bay and Fort Bragg. New this year, are photographer's trips from Bodega Bay.

EXPEDITION VOYAGES: Please join Debi on a voyage to SCOTLAND BY SEA: Hebrides and St. Kilda at the special rate, below. If POLAR BEARS and thousands of DOVKIES are on your "bucket list," please join Debi on her special charter to SVALBARD'S HIGH ARCTIC. Each of these voyages is limited to 12 guests.

2012 CALENDAR OF TRIPS

Apr. 24 - May 2 SCOTLAND BY SEA: HEBRIDES & ST. KILDA $5585

Jul. 8- 18 SVALBARD: HIGH ARCTIC WILDLIFE VOYAGE SOLD OUT

Jul. 28, Sat. Half Moon Bay: Cook’s Petrel Express $186

Jul. 29, Sun. Half Moon Bay: Cook’s Petrel Express $186

Aug. 3, Fri. Monterey Bay: Albatrosses & Early Fall Seabirds $154

Aug. 5, Sun. Farallon Islands: Tufted Puffins & Breeding Seabirds $157

Aug. 10, Fri. Monterey Bay: Albatrosses & Early Fall Seabirds $154

Aug. 12, Sun. Half Moon Bay: Cook’s Petrel Express $186

Aug. 17, Fri. Monterey Bay: Albatrosses & Early Fall Seabirds $154

Aug. 19-20 Half Moon Bay: Overnight Deepwater TBA

Aug. 22, Wed. Bodega Canyon & Cordell Bank $198

Aug. 22, Wed. Bodega Bay: Photographer’s Pelagic $210

Aug. 24, Fri. Fort Bragg: Hawaiian Petrel Search & Offshore $198

Aug. 25, Sat. Fort Bragg: Hawaiian Petrel Search & Offshore $198

Aug. 27, Mon. Half Moon Bay: Hawaiian Petrel Search & Offshore $186

Sep. 7, Fri. Monterey Bay: Fall Seabird Classic $154

Sep. 8, Sat. Albacore Grounds: Offshore Monterey $192

Sep. 9, Sun. Half Moon Bay: Storm-Petrels & Fall Seabirds $186

Sep. 10, Mon. Half Moon Bay: Storm-Petrels & Fall Seabirds $186

Sep. 11, Tue. Monterey Bay: Fall Seabird Classic $154

Sep. 12, Wed. Monterey Bay: Fall Seabird Classic $154

Sep. 13, Thu. Monterey Seavalley: Fall Seabird Classic $154

Sep. 14, Fri. Monterey Bay: Fall Seabird Classic $154

Sep. 15, Sat. Monterey Seavalley: Fall Seabird Classic $154

Sep. 16, Sun. Monterey Bay: Fall Seabird Classic $154

Sep. 21, Fri. Bodega Canyon & Cordell Bank $198

Sep. 21, Fri. Bodega Bay: Photographer’s Pelagic $210

Sep. 22, Sat. Half Moon Bay: Storm-Petrels & Fall Seabirds $186

Sep. 23, Sun. Half Moon Bay: Storm-Petrels & Fall Seabirds $186

Sep. 24, Mon. Half Moon Bay: Storm-Petrels & Fall Seabirds $186

Sep. 27, Thu. Bodega Canyon & Cordell Bank $198

Sep. 27, Thu. Bodega Bay: Photographer’s Pelagic $210

Sep. 28, Fri. Monterey Bay: Fall Seabird Classic $154

Sep. 30, Sun. Farallon Islands: Post-Breeding & Possible Great Whites $157

Oct. 1, Mon. Half Moon Bay: Storm-Petrels & Fall Seabirds $186

Oct. 6, Sat. Monterey Bay: Fall Seabird Classic $154

Oct. 7, Sun. Half Moon Bay: Storm-Petrels & Fall Seabirds $186

Oct. 14, Sun. Monterey Bay: Fall Seabird Classic $154

Oct. 26, Fri. Bodega Canyon & Cordell Bank $198

Oct. 26, Fri. Bodega Bay: Photographer’s Pelagic $210

Oct. 28, Sun. Half Moon Bay: Late Fall & Winter Seabirds $186

Nov. 11-12 Half Moon Bay Overnight Deepwater TBA

Nov. 20, Tue. Half Moon Bay: Late Fall & Winter Seabirds $186

Dec. 2 - 3 Half Moon Bay Overnight Deepwater TBA

2013

JUN 28 - JUL 8 SVALBARD: HIGH ARCTIC WILDLIFE VOYAGE SOLD OUT

JUL 8 - 18 SVALBARD: HIGH ARCTIC WILDLIFE VOYAGE $10,485

RESERVATIONS: Payment, in full by check or money order is required at the time of booking. Please include the full name, address, phone/email of each person in your party, as required by the USCG. Fuel surcharges, if any, are not included and are paid at the dockside. Send your reservation to Debi Shearwater, POB 190, Hollister, CA 95024; 831.637.8527; debi@shearwaterjourneys.com.

DISCOUNT: Send your payment by April 10th, and enjoy a $15 per person, per reservation discount. Please deduct the discount before sending your check, it cannot be refunded after the booking is received. Discounted trips are non-refundable.

WEB SITE: Please see our web site: www.shearwaterjourneys.com for more information. To view the schedule in a calendar format, click here. Past trip reports and more information is available on the web site. More information will be available on this blog. Keep checking in on that.

Looking forward to our 36th year of seabirding with you!

Shearwaters Forever,

Debi Shearwater

Banded Black-footed Albatross, copyright, Abe Borker

IMAGES of the DAY by SOPHIE WEBB: NOVEMBER 22, 2011 HALF MOON BAY

Howdy, Birders,

Below, please find artist/biologist Sophie Webb's fantastic images of seabirds which she shot on Shearwater Journeys' November 22, 2011 pelagic trip departing from Half Moon Bay. All images copyright, Sophie Webb. Please do not use without permission. Enjoy!

Shearwaters forever,

Debi Shearwater

Shearwater Journeys

IMAGES of the DAY by TODD MCGRATH: OCTOBER 29, 2011 BODEGA BAY

Howdy, Birders,

Leader, Todd McGrath's stunning images of the Shearwater Journeys' October 29 2011 pelagic trip departing from Bodega Bay are below. All images copyright, Todd McGrath. Please do not use without permission. Enjoy! Read the full trip report here.

Bodega Rock, above, is usually covered with CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS.

A Gull, obviously, of undetermined species— possibly a HERRING X GLAUCOUS.

Bodega Headlands, often a spot to check the day prior to the pelagic trip.

WILLET, above. On the long ride into the harbor, the tide was as low as I have ever seen it, exposing large bodies of mudflats, covered with thousands of shorebirds.

A HABOR SEAL, on the exposing mud flats, inside of the harbor.

COMMON MURRE, above.

LAYSAN ALBATROSS, incoming!

RHINOCEROS AUKLET, above.

FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER, a Life Bird for some folks on board. Flesh-footed Shearwaters were found on every Shearwater Journeys' October boat trips, 2011.

BULLER'S SHEARWATER, above. Getting late for this species.

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS. We were surprised that we did not see very many.

NORTHERN FULMAR, above. Numbers of fulmars should build throughout the winter months.

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER, above. Some individuals remain throughout the winter, but most have departed for nesting in the Southern Hemisphere.

THAYER'S GULL, (HY) above, generated a lot of interest. Jon Dunn tried his best to teach me more about gulls. I admit to the, "I don't do gulls" stand. Hybrids are just too tough for me, and tedious.

SOUTH POLAR SKUA, above. Again, it was quite the skua show!

NORTHERN FULMAR, above.

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER, above.

TUFTED PUFFIN. Well, as Linda Terrill said, "It is a great Halloween bird!"

Shearwaters Forever,

Debi Shearwater