WINTER SEABIRDING: MONTEREY BAY PELAGIC TRIP REPORT: FEBRUARY 22, 2015

BLUE SHARK

Howdy, Seabirders,

It has been a long time since we have offered a winter pelagic trip. This February 22, 2015 Monterey Bay seabirding trip was offered by Shearwater Journeys in conjunction with the Pacific Seabird Group Annual Meeting in San Jose, California although the trip was open to anyone. It sold out quickly. We enjoyed a very warm and sunny day! Hardly seemed like winter, especially considering that many parts of the USA are experiencing an "Arctic Freeze." Highlights of the trip included: excellent views of BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS; PINK-FOOTED, SOOTY and BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS; 2 BROWN BOOBIES; PIGEON GUILLEMOT; COMMON MURRE; SCRIPPS'S MURRELET; RHINOCEROS and CASSIN'S AUKLETS; TUFTED PUFFIN. Marine mammals included: GRAY and HUMPBACK WHALES; LONG-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHIN; HARBOR PORPOISE; SEA OTTER; CALIFORNIA SEA LION; HARBOR SEAL. Quite possibly, the rarest marine animal of the day was one BLUE SHARK. We seldom observe this once common shark these days. The sea surface temperature was a warm 58 F. The fish finder was showing lots of mackerel and rock fish. All images below, copyright, Mark Rauzon. Please do not use without permission. 

HEERMANN'S GULL, just outside of the harbor.

SOUTHERN SEA OTTER

 MARK RAUZON & KUNIKO OTSUKI

Kuniko, from Japan, does research with Hiroshi Hasagawa on the endangered Short-tailed Albatross. However, the Black-footed Albatrosses on this trip were the first albatrosses she has ever seen!
Mark Rauzon has been seabirding with Shearwater Journeys for decades, dating back to at least December 20, 1987 when the Pacific Seabird Group held their annual meeting in Monterey. 

To view more of Mark's images, please click, here. 

TWO BROWN BOOBIES

For more than a year now, Brown Boobies have staged a major invasion along the California coast. As many as nine have recently been reported on the Farallon Islands, some carrying nesting material.

 Gerry McChesney, manager of the Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge and Kim Nelson. Abe Borker, Ph.D. candidate at UCSC, on the right. Debi Shearwater and Harry Carter in the background.

PELAGIC CORMORANT in high breeding plumage.

 BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER

 GRAY WHALE

Many thanks to all of the folks, from near and far who joined our seabirding trip, including Japan, Ecuador, Sweden and England. The leaders on this trip were; Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Dave Pereksta, Gerry McChesney, Abe Borker, John Garrett, and Debi Shearwater. 

THE COMPLETE SPECIES LIST FOR SHEARWATER JOURNEYS'S MONTEREY BAY FEBRUARY 22, 2015 TRIP FOLLOWS: Note that this was a shorter trip of only 4.5 hours, all in Monterey County.

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 5

NORTHERN FULMAR- 3

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 1

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 1

SOOTY/SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER- 1

BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER- 14

*BROWN BOOBY- 2, maybe 3

BROWN PELICAN- 10

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 125

PELAGIC CORMORANT- 45

SURF SCOTER- 70

BLACK TURNSTONE- 2

SURFBIRD- 2

HEERMANN'S GULL- 40

MEW GULL- 5

CALIFORNIA GULL- 20

HERRING GULL- 8

WESTERN GULL- 75

GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL- 10

COMMON MURRE- 90

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 2

SCRIPPS'S MURRELET- 2, unusual for winter

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 3

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 30

TUFTED PUFFIN- 1

SEA OTTER- 5 

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 100

HARBOR SEAL- 6

GRAY WHALE- 9

HUMPBACK WHALE- 5

LONG-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHIN- 150

HARBOR PORPOISE- 1

OCEAN SUNFISH- 1

BLUE SHARK- 1 *rarely seen in recent decades

To view a calendar of all of the Shearwater Journeys's 2015 fall seabirding trips, please click here. BTW, we are offering two trips to the Farallon Islands this season: August 8 & October 18. These trips are experiencing heavy bookings right now! Blue Shark image credit: NOAA.

SHEARWATERS FOREVER,

DEBI SHEARWATER

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

HOLY MACKEREL: MONTEREY BAY PELAGIC SEABIRD TRIP, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

Monterey Bay seabirds put on a spectacular show on Shearwater Journeys's September 5, 2014 pelagic trip. Within thirty minutes of departing the dock, we were surrounded by tens of thousands of shearwaters and feeding whales! 

Highlights included: PACIFIC MACKEREL chasing anchovies to the surface of the sea where shearwaters were snatching them up! Important seabirds we observed included: six species of shearwaters: 27,000 SOOTY SHEARWATERS; 250 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS; 1200 BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS; 6 BULLER'S SHEARWATERS and 1 FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER; all three species of jaegers: POMARINE, PARASTIC and LONG-TAILED JAEGER; SOUTH POLAR SKUA; a brilliant and complete selection of rocky shorebirds on the Coast Guard Jetty: 2 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS, 1 WANDERING TATTLER, 7 BLACK TURNSTONES and 6 SURFBIRDS; a springing of COMMON TERNS; nursery schools of vocalizing father/chick pairs of COMMON MURRES,  the last of the PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, a few RHINOCEROS AUKLETS and tiny handful of CASSIN'S AUKLETS. The HUMPBACK WHALES continue to put on quite a show with lunge-feeding at the surface. Two different herds of dolphins included LONG-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHINS and SHORT-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHINS. Top all of this off with some very fine weather and we can all agree it was a completely outstanding day at sea on Monterey Bay!

Within thirty minutes of leaving the harbor, we found ourselves inspecting thousands and thousands of shearwaters sitting in rafts at sea, so stuffed with food that they did not want to fly. Amongst these rafts, I found 2 leucistic Black-vented Shearwaters and one leucistic Sooty Shearwater. ELEGANT TERNS were soaring ultra high in the sky, probably searching for food. Then, we saw shearwaters diving and fish "breezing" across the top of the sea! These anchovies were being pursued from below by the predatory mackerel! Amongst these rafts of shearwaters, leader Rick Fournier spotted a MANX SHEARWATER! Everyone on the boat, including many photographers, was able to get great views of this rarely spotted Pacific shearwater. In fact, it was one of the best views I've had in many years. We continued searching the shearwater flocks and then headed north to Santa Cruz County and the old haunts of storm-petrel flocks. A couple single BLACK STORM-PETRELS made passes at the boat. Jaegers and the SOUTH POLAR SKUA flew by, as well as BULLER'S SHEARWATERS. We stopped and I dumped out some menhaden oil, and leader Jennifer Green spotted a FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER soaring over the slick. A few minutes later, it was spotted sitting in a flock of a dozen or so PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS. 

Our very capable captain, "Tinker," above, catching a MACKEREL for us to see.

Here is a video of PACIFIC MACKEREL at the MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM. 

Seabirds are not evenly distributed at sea. They are found in patches — wherever the food is located!

As everyone has heard me say, "It's all about food!"

We love to honor celebrations at sea on our pelagic trips. 

This beautiful couple, Christine Miller and Chantel Fletcher celebrated their 13th Anniversary together!

Many thanks to all of the folks who joined our trip from near and far, including Finland and England. Many thanks to Wally & Lois Goldfrank and their friends in the Santa Cruz Bird Club! 

The leaders on this trip were: Jennifer Green, Nick Levendosky, Rick Fournier and Debi Shearwater.

THE COMPLETE SPECIES LIST FOR SHEARWATER JOURNEYS'S MONTEREY BAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 PELAGIC SEABIRDING TRIP FOLLOWS:

MONTEREY/SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 6/13

NORTHERN FULMAR- 0/1

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 157/159

*FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 0/1

BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 2/4

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 26,000/100

*MANX SHEARWATER- 3/0

BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER- 1200/0

BLACK STORM-PETREL- 0/3

BROWN PELICAN- +

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- +

PELAGIC CORMORANT- 2/0

BLACK OYSTERCATCHER- 2/0

WANDERING TATTLER- 1/0

BLACK TURNSTONE- 7/0

SURFBIRD- 6/0

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 29/17

SOUTH POLAR SKUA- 0/1

POMARINE JAEGER- 1/2

POMARINE/PARASITIC- 1

PARASITIC JAEAGER- 6/3

LONG-TAILED JAEGER- 0/2

HEERMANN'S GULL- +

CALIFORNIA GULL- +

WESTERN GULL- +

ELEGANT TERN- 120/12

COMMON TERN- 8/6

COMMON MURRE- 225/25

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 2/0

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 4/8

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 4/8

SEA OTTER- 8

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 130

NORTHERN FUR SEAL- 1

HARBOR SEAL- 4

HUMPBACK WHALE- 25

SHORT-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHIN- 25

LONG-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHIN- 40, separate herds

OCEAN SUNFISH- 1

WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF 11 DAYS OF TRIPS IN A ROW!

JUMP ON BOARD with SHEARWATER JOURNEYS!

DEBI SHEARWATER

MONTEREY SEABIRDS: AUGUST 15, 2014 FIREWORKS!

Skua, Sabine's Gulls & Breaching Humpback Whales, Oh My!

Shearwater Journeys's August 15 pelagic trip started off with fireworks and ended with a grande finale! Monterey's seabirds were putting on a show by 8 a.m. with ELEGANT TERNS, below, feeding noisy, begging youngsters and flocks of thousands of SOOTY SHEARWATERS just outside of the harbor along with over thirty HUMPBACK WHALES. It was quite an image of marine bounty! Amongst the thousands of Sooty Shearwaters, were hundreds of BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS. Soon, we spotted a group of RISSO'S DOLPHINS, flocks of RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, and the first of a few RHINOCEROS AUKLETS. Offshore marine life was quiet, but this is where we found SOUTH POLAR SKUA and a small flock of SABINE'S GULLS, including the first juveniles of the fall season. A single CRAVERI'S MURRELET instantly flew off. Returning to the harbor along the Pacific Grove coastline, we ran into more Humpbacks, including one small individual that repeatedly breached, putting on a grand finale show much like the last fireworks of the evening on the 4th of July! Whale watching was superb and Monterey seabirds pulled out all the stops! 

ELEGANT TERN

SOOTY SHEARWATER

BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER

 

BRANDT'S CORMORANT

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER

RISSO'S DOLPHIN

RISSO'S DOLPHINS have been observed on almost all of our trips. They feed on squid. 

There has been loads of squid around, both Monterey Bay and Half Moon Bay.

RISSO'S DOLPHIN calf in foreground showing the steely-gray, unscarred body. 

RHINOCEROS AUKLET, even in silhouette, the flat head is prominent, unlike a puffin which has a rounded head. The horn is even visible in this image. The horn is grown during breeding season. These auklets excavate a burrow underground for nesting. The horn wears down in the excavating process.

RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, the inshore phalarope species. 

SABINE'S GULLS, above, first of the season juvenile on left. 

HUMPBACK WHALE off Pacific Grove on our return to the harbor. 

Repeatedly breaching HUMPBACK WHALE!

Just like the grand finale at a 4th of July fireworks celebration!

This was a small HUMPBACK, even so, note the very long pectoral flippers, distinctive on an Humpback Whale. 

WHALE WATCHING boats watching the breaching HUMPBACK WHALE!

Spy-hopping HUMPBACK WHALE

Mouth of the HUMPBACK WHALE, slightly open. Notice the throat pleats which can expand when feeding, and many barnacles on the lower jaw, and the distinctive nobs on the top of the head. 

HUMPBACK WHALE, sounding in front of the whale watching boat. 

All images, copyright, Sophie Webb.

Please do not use without permission.

Many thanks to all of the folks who joined us from near and far. 

The leaders on this trip were: Todd McGrath, Sophie Webb, Rick Fournier, Jennifer Green, Jim Danzenbaker, John Sorensen, and Debi Shearwater. We headed southwest off the Monterey Submarine Canyon. The Sea Surface Temperature was an even 63F throughout the day — like a big bathtub.

THE COMPLETE SPECIES LIST FOR SHEARWATER JOURNEYS'S MONTEREY BAY PELAGIC TRIP, AUGUST 15, 2014 FOLLOWS:

ALL RECORDS FOR MONTEREY COUNTY

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 11

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 66

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 7650

BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER- 450

BROWN PELICAN- 25

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 309

PELAGIC CORMORANT- 2

WANDERING TATTLER- 1

BLACK TURNSTONE- 2

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 154

SOUTH POLAR SKUA- 1

JAEGER SP.- 2

HEERMANN'S GULL- 65

CALIFORNIA GULL- 6

WESTERN GULL- 139

SABINE'S GULL- 8, including juveniles

ELEGANT TERN- 93

COMMON MURRE- 280

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 8

CRAVERI'S MURRELET- 1

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 1

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 11

SEA OTTER- 4

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 200

HARBOR SEAL- 2

HUMPBACK WHALE- 30 to 35

RISSO'S DOLPHIN- 22

DALL'S PORPOISE- 3

OCEAN SUNFISH- 10

BY-THE-WIND-SAILORS- some, not as many as on July trips

UPCOMING MONTEREY BAY TRIPS & LEADERS

AUG. 22: Scott Terrill, Rick Fournier, Jennifer Green

SEP. 5: Rick Founier, Nick Levendosky, Jennifer Green

SEP. 6: Scott & Linda Terrill

SEP. 9: Rick Fournier, Tom Johnson

SEP. 10: Tom Johnson

SEP. 11: Jennifer Green

SEP. 12: Tim Miller, Dena Spatz

SEP. 13, ALBACORE: Scott & Linda Terrill, Jennifer Green

SEP. 14: Clay Kempf

SEP. 25: Jon Dunn, Nick Levendosky, Jim Danzenbaker

SEP. 26: Kenn & Kimberly Kaufman, Scott & Linda Terrill

SEP. 27: Scott & Linda Terrill, Jim Danzenbaker, Jennifer Green

SEP. 28: Rick Fournier, Marissa Ortega-Welch, Courtenay Ray

OCT. 4: Nick Levendosky, Jennifer Green

OCT. 11: Nick Levendosky, Rick Fournier

Debi Shearwater will be co-leading on all trips

Shearwater Journeys has many pelagic seabird trips departing from HALF MOON BAY (next one, August 23), and BODEGA BAY (September 1 & 19). 

BREACHING HUMPBACKS FOREVER,

DEBI SHEARWATER

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

TRIP REPORT: OCTOBER 25, 2013 MONTEREY BAY

Howdy, Birders,

This is a trip report for Shearwater Journeys' Monterey Bay seabird trip, October 25, 2013. This was our last trip of the 2013 fall season to view ocean birds of Monterey Bay. And, what a grand finale it was! With stunning views of BULLER'S SHEARWATERS close to shore, a young SOUTH POLAR SKUA sitting not he seas, we ended the day with loads of HUMPBACK WHALES, including one repeatedly breaching! How's that for an ending? All images below by leader, Jennifer Green, copyright. Please do not use without permission. 

 The phenomenal FEEDING FRENZY of HUMPBACK WHALES near the Monterey Submarine Canyon, close to shore, has continued for over five weeks. There seems to be plenty of anchovies around even after nearly 100 whales have been gorging on them for over a month.

 BULLER'S SHEARWATERS moved close to shore, less than a mile off Point Pinos on the Monterey Peninsula. Indeed, they are being observed from shore. It has been a number of years since this has occurred. 

A young SOUTH POLAR SKUA takes flight, showing the broad white wing patches. 

We had a fabulous fall season out of Monterey this year and would like to thank the many birders who came from near and far to join our trips. The leaders on this day were: Jennifer Green, Nick Levendosky, Debi Shearwater and chummers: Marrisa Orgeta-Welch and Holly Poole-Kavana. It was a cold, but beautiful day with very calm seas and a long period swell. Excellent sea conditions. Even though we did make it as far north as Davenport where we have fond storm-petrels in past years, once again, we found none here. No storm-petrel rafts were sound on any Monterey Bay pelagic trips in 2013.  

The complete trip report for MONTEREY/SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES follows.

OCTOBER 25, 2013 SHEARWATER JOURNEYS MONTEREY BAY:

RED-THROATED LOON- 3/1

PACIFIC LOON- 51/4

COMMON LOON- 3/1

WESTERN GREBE- 10/0

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 6/12

NORTHERN FULMAR- 42/26

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 32/33

BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 14/32

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 168/324

BROWN PELICAN- +

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 50/5

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT- 1/0

PELAGIC CORMORANT- 1/0

SURF SCOTER- 105/36

BLACK TURNSTONE- 3/0

SURFBIRD- 7/0

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 12/13

RED-NECKED/RED PHALAROPE- 6/0

RED PHALAROPE- 0/1

SOUTH POLAR SKUA- 0/1

POMARINE JAEGER- 3/3

BONAPARTE'S GULL- 5/1

HEERMANN'S GULL- +

CALIFORNIA GULL- +

WESTERN GULL- +

GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL- 1/1

COMMON MURRE- 75/30

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 4/6

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 58/125

SEA OTTER- 12

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 400

HARBOR SEAL- 1

HUMPBACK WHALE- 39 to 55

OCEAN SUNFISH- 1

Our last pelagic trip of the 2013 fall season is scheduled for NOVEMBER 16th and departs from HALF MOON BAY. A few spaces are still available. Please email me for a reservation: debi@shearwaterjourneys.com. The 2014 schedule will be out soon.

SHEARWATERS FOREVER,

DEBI SHEARWATER

TRIP REPORT: AUGUST 23, 2013 MONTEREY BAY: WARM WATER INVASION

Howdy, Birders,

This is a trip report for Shearwater Journeys' August 23, 2013 pelagic trip departing from Monterey Bay, California. Highlights included: BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS; increasing numbers of BULLER'S SHEARWATERS, increasing numbers of RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, 4 BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS, 8 BLUE WHALES, 11 HUMPBACK WHALES, 175 RISSO'S DOLPHINS, 4 PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS and a very large OCEAN SUNFISH. After four days of very calm conditions along the central coast, a pressure system had moved in bringing with it increased northwest afternoon winds. However, we were on the downhill side of the winds and managed to have more than a pleasant return ride to the harbor. The big news, though was a warm water invasion during the calm period. Sea surface temperatures reached 59 degrees F. 

 

We enjoyed excellent views of the world class Monterey Bay Aquarium, above. 

 Not often spotted, we saw four BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS riding along the kelp beds. They have been spotted feeding on schooling anchovies near shore, from Monterey to Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay and San Francisco. 

 One of eight BLUE WHALES, above, which we put the whale watching fleet on. Blue whales are the largest animals that have ever lived on Earth. Most of the whale is not visible. Even though these are the largest of all whales, they have a very small dorsal fin, as above.

 Blue Whales rarely raise their tail flukes, although the one above, and below, did so. A layer of diatoms is present on the tail stalk of this whale which can be seen as a dark yellowish-brown coloration on the tail stalk. 

After a full day of birding, we headed toward the inner part of the bay to get out of the wind a bit, and to see some HUMPBACK WHALES, below.

 

As many as 11 Humpback Whales were feeding along the shoreline, viewable in the background. Monterey Bay is a very, very rich feeding ground for seabirds and marine mammals. One does not need to travel far offshore to witness the feeding spectacles of marine life!

 Humpback Whale tail flukes, above and below. Their flukes are always scalloped on the trailing edge.

 As if it was the grand finale firework at a Fourth of July celebration, several Humpbacks fully breached for the ending of a lovely day at sea with a bunch of great folks on board our trip. 

 

We thank all of those folks who came from near and far to join our trip on this day. And, I thank Victor Emanuel Nature Tours for joining us with leader, Jeri Langham. The leaders on this trip were: Clay Kempf, Nick Levendosky, Jennifer Green and Debi Shearwater. Images courtesy of Linette Mansberger, copyright. 

Friends for nearly four decades: Jeri Langham & Debi Shearwater

The complete species list for MONTEREY/SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES/TOTAL follows:

AUGUST 23, 2013 SHEARWATER JOURNEYS

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 5/12/17

NORTHERN FULMAR- 0/1/1

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 18/21/39

BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 6/22/28

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 380/360/740

BROWN PELICAN- 25/10/35

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 300/3/303

CANADA GOOSE- 3/0/3

WHIMBREL- 1/0/1

BLACK TURNSTONE- 11/0/11

SURFBIRD- 6/0/6

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 290/70/360

RED PHALAROPE- 3/10/13

POMARINE JAEGER- 7/8/15

POMARINE/PARASITIC- 2/0/2

PARASITIC JAEGER- 0/1/1

HEERMANN'S GULL- +

CALIFORNIA GULL- +

WESTERN GULL- +

SABINE'S GULL- 1/2/3

ELEGANT TERN- 78/4/82

COMMON TERN- 0/1/1

CASPIAN TERN- 0/1/1

COMMON MURRE- 225/85/310

PIGEON GULLEMOT- 6/0/6

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 46/62/108

SEA OTTER- 12

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 75

NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL- 1

BLUE WHALE- 8

HUMPBACK WHALE- 11

RISSO'S DOLPHIN- 175

PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN- 4

BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN- 4

OCEAN SUNFISH- 1

EGG YOLK JELLIES- +

Hope to see you out there!

Shearwaters Forever,

Debi Shearwater

TRIP REPORT: AUGUST 9, 2013 MONTEREY BAY

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

Hello, Seabirders,

After four straight in a row outstanding trips, we hit the "dog days of summer" on our August 9, 2013 Monterey Bay trip. Many folks joined us on this trip, hoping for a repeat of the HAWAIIAN PETREL found on the Shearwater Journeys' trip, August 2, 2013. It was not to be. So far, every trip we've had this season, someone on board has been doing some sort of "Big Year." This day was no different, as Neil Haywad was on board. Neil is doing an, "Accidental Big Year." But, he did not catch up with the Hawaiian Petrel on this day. Early morning began with a very nice, scattered group of RISSO'S DOLPHINS, below. They feed exclusively on squid and there's lots of squid in Monterey Bay. Hawaiian Petrels also feed on squid! This large herd of Risso's Dolphins had many calves, as below, on the far right.

Although we saw many of the typical fall seabird species and the viewing conditions were the best of any trip to date, we missed all of the jaegers and Sabine's Gulls. Well, you know, "some days are diamonds and some days are rust." This is why it is always good to try to do more than one boat trip, especially if you are traveling a long distance. Think about it— you have days like this while land birding, too!

 Our guests from England and Germany were extremely delighted to have good views of six BLUE WHALES off Davenport on the coast, north of Santa Cruz. In the image, above by, Jennifer Green, the cement plant at Davenport is in the background. The Blue Whale is the largest animal that has ever lived on Earth. A few HUMPBACK WHALES were also in the area. All seemed to be feeding on krill, the Blue Whale's preferred food item. Tasty!

Many thanks to all who joined us from near and far. The leaders on this trip were: Clay Kempf, Rick Fournier, Jennifer Green and Debi Shearwater.
The complete species list follows for Monterey/Santa Cruz Counties.
AUGUST 9, 2013 MONTEREY BAY 
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 7/9
NORTHERN FULMAR- 01/1
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 5/4
SOOTY SHEARWATER- 400/195
BROWN PELICAN- 16/3
BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 250/0
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT- 1/0
PELAGIC CORMORANT- 15/0
BLACK OYSTERCATCHER- 1/0/1
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 62/24
RED PHALAROPE- 8/3
PARASITIC JAEGER- 0/1, distant
HEERMANN'S GULL- +
CALIFORNIA GULL- 6/1
WESTERN GULL- +
ELEGANT TERN- 136/55
COMMON MURRE- 180/220
PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 36/0
RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 15/9
CASSIN'S AUKLET- 1/0/1
PEREGRINE FALCON- 1/0, on the radio tower near the aquarium
SEA OTTER- +
CALIFORNIA SEA LION- +
HARBOR SEAL-+
BLUE WHALE- 6 to 8
HUMPBACK WHALE- 2 to 4
RISSO'S DOLPHIN- 90
BLUE SHARK- 2, not many around in recent years. Most likely feeding on krill.

Maybe down about missing the Hawaiian Petrel, Neil was certainly not "out." I asked him what other birds he still hoped to find for the Big Year and he said that he had missed Mountain Quail. No surprise on that one. So, I gave him directions for the best, local spot for this species. And, voila! MOUNTAIN QUAIL was #699 and a LIFE BIRD for NEIL HAYWARD! He didn't manage photographs of the quail, only their footprints. Still, a wonderful bird!

Quail Tracks Forever,

Debi Shearwater

See you out there!

BREAKING NEWS: HAWAIIAN PETREL- MONTEREY BAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

Howdy, Seabirders,

Shearwater Journeys' pelagic trip departing from Monterey today, August 2, 2013 was simply spectacular! The highlight of the day was a HAWAIIAN PETREL, Pterodroma sandwichensis. These images are courtesy of David Pavlik, copyright. Please do not use without permission.

I spotted this petrel without binoculars, about 0945 while in conversation with Brian Sullivan and Will Russell. I said, "What is this bird?" while lifting my bins to look at it. Brian immediately yelled, "HAWAIIAN PETREL" while reaching for his camera. It as a life bird for Brian and many other folks on board, including Sandy Komito of "The Big Year" fame. 

 The Hawaiian Petrel ranges in the central Pacific and breeds on the Hawaiian Islands. 

This mysterious petrel is seriously threatened. A new study by federal and university scientists has provided the first direct evidence of feral cats in Hawaii killing the endangered Hawaiian Petrel. 

These images are provided courtesy of David Pavlik who is doing a Conservation Photographic Big Year, raising funds for the American Bird Conservancy. Please consider a donation in support of their conservation efforts. 

Shearwaters & Petrels Forever,

Debi

A full report of this trip, including county details will follow. 

TRIP REPORT: OCTOBER 14, 2012 MONTEREY BAY

BIRDER BATMAN

Howdy, Seabirders,

This is a trip report for Shearwater Journeys's pelagic trip departing from Monterey Bay, October 14, 2012. Monterey Bay seabirds did not disappoint us! Highlights were many, including, this young SEA OTTER, below that was frolicking with kelp while our vessel was still tied up at the dock! 

Next, along swam the blotchy-skinned HARBOR SEAL, below.

 Departing Monterey harbor, the light was just beautiful. 

Suddenly, whoa— wait for it—

BATMAN BIRDER was spotted on board our vessel! 

We were told he goes by, "Eli" and is 10 years old. Make no mistake about it, he is an avid birder and seems to have just about memorized his various field guides. He knows a "new tick" when he sees one, but does not keep a Life List. Can you imagine if you had seen all of this marine life at age ten?

Flocks and flocks of BLACK-VENTED, a few SOOTY and PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS along with many gulls, were feeding on market squid, Loligo opalescens that was being chased to the surface by the much larger and predatory Dosidicus gigas, HUMBOLDT SQUID! This squid, sometimes called, Giant Squid, can grow to six feet and weigh up to 110 pounds! The life of this species is being researched by a team, including the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  

 Our captain, Tinker, caught 3 of these GIANT SQUIDS so that we could have a close-up view.

Leaving the feeding seabirds, we headed out to the weather buoy where we found four SOUTH POLAR SKUAS. A few HUMPBACK WHALES put on a pretty good show. A single, adult male KILLER WHALE was spotted, but we were not able to get photo ID shots. Loads of POMARINE JAEGERS were out there. Heading back to the harbor, we encountered huge rafts of the coastal BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS, just outside of the harbor. I estimated 2100 shearwaters. I have not seen numbers like this for many years. So, this may well presage a forecast of a coming El Nino for the winter of 2012-13. Indeed, a recent sighting of MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRDS off Southern California may be another indicator of El Nino. 

Many thanks to the folks who joined us from near and far. The leaders on this day were: Clay Kempf, Jennifer Green, Rick Fournier, John Garrett, Nick Levendosky and Debi Shearwater.

The complete species list follows.

OCTOBER 14, 2012

MONTEREY/SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

RED-THROATED LOON- 1/0

PACIFIC LOON- 2/0

COMMON LOON- 10/2

WESTERN GREBE- 2/0

AMERICAN COOT- 1/0

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 4/8

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 200/125

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 100/100

BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER- 2100/350

BROWN PELICAN- +/0

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- +/0

PELAGIC CORMORANT- 5/0

SURF SCOTER- 11/0

BLACK TURNSTONE- 23/0

SURFBIRD- 14/0

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 10/15

RED PHALAROPE- 2/0

SOUTH POLAR SKUA- 0/0

POMARINE JAEGER- 0/35

PARASITIC JAEGER- 8/0

HEERMANN'S GULL- +/+

CALIFORNIA GULL- +/+

HERRING GULL- 1/0

WESTERN GULL- +/+

GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL- 1/0

ELEGANT TERN- 110/15

COMMON MURRE- 20/10

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 8/8

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 90/40

GREAT EGRET- 5/0

PEREGRINE FALCON- 1/0

SEA OTTER- 8 + PUP, at the dock

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- +

HUMPBACK WHALE- 6

KILLER WHALE- 1, adult male

DALL'S PORPOISE- 8

OCEAN SUNFISH- 10

HUMBOLDT SQUID- + caught 3

All images, copyright, Debi Shearwater. Please do not use without permission. 

 Watch out for BIRDER BATMAN. 

REAL SEABIRDS EAT SQUID,

Debi Shearwater

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com