IMAGES OF THE DAY BY STEVE TUCKER: AUGUST 16, 2015 HALF MOON BAY

Shearwater Journeys' leader, Steve Tucker, shot some beautiful images on our 

August 16, 2015 seabird trip departing from Half Moon Bay. 

Parties of PIGEON GUILLEMOTS inside the harbor.

They nest in the rocky crevices of the jetties.

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES often fly up the wake of the boat.

A MACKEREL FEEDING FRENZY:

CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS, PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS,

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES

all joining in the feast!

We encountered scattered storm-petrels.

ASHY STORM-PETREL, above.

WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, below.

Returning to the harbor.

STREAMING SOOTY SHEARWATERS!

UPCOMING PELAGIC TRIPS:

HALF MOON BAY: SEP 6 (2 openings), SEP 20

HALF MOON BAY: OCT 4 & 11

MONTEREY BAY: SEP 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 25, 26, 27

MONTEREY BAY: OCT 3 & 11

FARALLON ISLANDS GREAT WHITE SHARK: OCT 18

SEE YOU OUT THERE!

LIVING THE SALT LIFE,

Debi Shearwater

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

All images, copyright, Steve Tucker
Please do not use without permission

IMAGES OF THE DAY BY STEVE N.G. HOWELL: AUGUST 30, 2013

HOWDY, SEABIRDERS, 

Please enjoy a few of STEVE N.G. HOWELL'S images, below, from the Shearwater Journeys' August 30, 2013 Bodega Bay pelagic trip. 

All images, copyright, Steve Howell. Please do not use without permission.

 One of more than 200 ASHY STORM-PETRELS, in the fog, above.

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS, above. 

 

LONG-TAILED JAEGERS, above, putting on a show while the sun was out, above. 

 BLACK STORM-PETREL, above, breeds south of California.

FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL, above, breeds north of California. 

 BULLER'S SHEARWATER, above. 

 LONG-TAILED JAEGER, above.

 SABINE'S GULLS, above and below.

 SABINE'S GULLS & LONG-TAILED JAEGERS, below.

 WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, below.

BLUE WHALE, the largest animal that has ever lived on Earth, below. 

Happy Trails,

Debi Shearwater

IMAGES OF THE DAY by TODD MCGRATH: OCTOBER 14, 2011 BODEGA BAY

Howdy, Birders,

Below, you will find a few of Todd McGrath's images taken on Shearwater Journeys' October 14, 2011 pelagic trip at Bodega Bay. The full trip report, including species list can be found here. All images copyright, Todd McGrath. Please do not use without permission. Enjoy!

Above, one of three WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS, found mixed with the flocks of FORK-TAILED, ASHY and BLACK STORM-PETRELS.
Unfortunate passerines often show up offshore, especially on pelagic trips. This PALM WARBLER, above, was flying toward the stern of the boat. Immediately, I stopped the boat, and shouted for folks to stand still, hoping that the warbler would land on the vessel. Just as it tried to do this, the boat lurched in the swell. The warbler hit the boat, falling into the water. probably still alive at this point.

It was immediately snatched up by a gull who subsequently consumed the warbler.

BULLER'S SHEARWATER

SOUTH POLAR SKUA

This SOUTH POLAR SKUA chased a flock of BULLER'S SHEARWATERS off the water!

The BULLER'S SHEARWATER flight is like a ballet.

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS

NORTHERN FULMAR

HUMPBACK WHALE TAIL FLUKES

It was a fabulous day!

Shearwaters & Auklets Forever,

Debi Shearwater

AUGUST 19, 2011: IMAGES OF THE DAY BY TODD MCGRATH

Howdy, Birders,

Below are Todd McGrath's fabulous images of our recent pelagic trip from Fort Bragg. The stern of the boat was lined with photographers, shooting images of seabirds! In Todd's own words, "I've never seen Ashy Storm-Petrels as closely as today!" (Below) All images copyright, Todd McGrath. Please do not use without permission.
We continue to enjoy supremely close up views of FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS, throughout the day, below.

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS, below.

Surprise of the day, a WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, hung around the boat for quite some time. That's Wes's magic goo, bringing them in.

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER, below.

LONG-TAILED JAEGER, below.

Adult LONG-TAILED JAEGER, below. The jaeger show was amazing!

FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS were following the boat, all the way to the harbor!

Shearwaters forever,

Debi Shearwater

TRIP REPORT: AUGSUT 19, 2011: FORT BRAGG

Howdy, Birders,

This is a trip report for Shearwater Journeys' pelagic trip departing from Fort Bragg, August 19, 2011. Despite a crummy marine forecast, but quite doable day, we departed from Noyo Harber at 7 am, and returned about 4:45 pm. We went to the outer edge of Noyo Canyon and were not disappointed. The day was full of seabirds, from beginning to end! In fact, we had tallied ASHY STORM-PETREL by 7:45 am. Highlights included fantastic views of ASHY and FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS, one WILSON'S STORM-PETREL (rarely seen on Mendocino County), over 100 NORTHERN FULMARS, all three jaeger species, with a great show of LONG-TAILED JAEGERS, good numbers of both ARCTIC TERNS and SABINE'S GULLS, one TUFTED PUFFIN, and two distant PTERODROMA PETRELS, which, despite putting out an oil slick, would not come closer to the boat! Drats! Maybe, tomorrow— or the next day, or the next day. The marine forecast is for continuously improving seas. In the end, the day turned out pretty darn well, with the fog parting and seas declining. In the harbor, some county birders ticked PURPLE MARTIN and heard a RED CROSSBILL.

We thank the birders who came from near and far (Canada) for joining our trip. Many of the same folks will be returning over the next three trips. Spaces are available on all three remaining Fort Bragg trips. The leaders on today's trip were: Todd McGrath, Wes Fritz, Abe Borker and Debi Shearwater.

The complete species list for the August 19, 2011 Shearwater Journeys' pelagic trip from Fort Bragg follows:

COMMON LOON- 1

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 35

NORTHERN FULMAR- 102

PTERODROMA SP.- 2

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 32

BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 8

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 206

WILSON'S STORM-PETREL- 1

FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL- 52

ASHY STORM-PETREL- 105

BROWN PELIAN- 12

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 8

PELAGIC CORMORANT- 1

BLACK TURNSTONE- 2, offshore

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER- 3, offshore

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 56

RED/RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 50

RED PHALAROPE- 325

POMARINE JAEGER- 4

PARASTIC JAEGER- 4

LONG-TAILED JAEGER- 13

JAEGER SP.- 1

CALIFORNIA GULL- 12

WESTERN GULL- 35

SABINE'S GULL- 49

COMMON TERN- 6

COMMON/ARCTIC TERN- 20

ARCTIC TERN- 72

COMMON MURRE- 42

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 8

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 16

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 15

TUFTED PUFFIN- 1

RED CROSSBILL- 1, heard in the harbor

PURPLE MARTIN- 4, in the harbor

OSPREY- 2, in the harbor

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 6

BLUE WHALE- 1

HUMPBACK WHALE- 2

NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN- 6

PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN- 22

DALL'S PORPOISE- 6

Images will follow at a later date.

Shearwaters forever,

Debi Shearwater

TRIP REPORT: AUGUST 17, 2011: BODEGA CANYON & CORDELL BANK

Howdy, Birders,

This is a trip report for Shearwater Journeys' pelagic trip departing from Bodega Bay on Friday, August 19, 2011. The nearshore weather was foggy and quite breezy, but once we were about 20 miles offshore, the seas calmed and the fog parted. In total, we traveled some 30 miles offshore. No rare seabirds were found. The sea surface temperature was very cold— 50 to 53F, with virtually no warm water anywhere in the area. All in all, we had a pretty good day and nice showing of seabirds, dolphins and whales. So, it was one of those "standard" days! And, folks who know me know that I call it as it is without embellishment. Just a good, solid day at sea. Some highlights were outstanding views of FORK-TAILED, ASHY and WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS, SABINE'S GULLS, ARCTIC TERNS, gorgeous LONG-TAILED JAEGERS and increasing numbers of BULLER'S SHEARWATERS. And, no one was seasick.

Many thanks to all of those who came from near and far (Germany). The leaders on this day were: Lisa Hug, Alan Hopkins, Abe Borker and Debi Shearwater.

The complete species list for AUGUST 17, 2011 follows:

COMMON LOON- 5

WESTERN/CLARK'S GREBE- 3

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 32

NORTHERN FULMAR- 150

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 80

BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 15

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 65

WILSON'S STORM-PETREL- 1

FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL- 185

ASHY STORM-PETREL- 40

BROWN PELICAN- 2, offshore

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 500, nearshore

PELAGIC CORMORANT- 12

SURF SCOTER- 2, outside harbor

BLACK OYSTERCATCHER- 1, inshore

RUDDY TURNSTONE- 4, on the jetty

BLACK TURNSTONE- 40, on the jetty

DOWITCHER SP.- 5, offshore

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 25

RED/RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 100

RED PHALAROPE- 225

POMARINE JAEGER- 3

PARASITIC JAEGER- 1

LONG-TAILED JAEGER- 25

CALIFORNIA GULL- 3

WESTERN GULL- 50

SABINE'S GULL- 39

ELEGANT TERN- 3, outside the harbor, 6 inside

COMMON/ARCTIC TERN- 7

ARCTIC TERN- 12

COMMON MURRE- 205

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 35

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 61

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 6

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 7

HARBOR SEAL- 2, inshore

BLUE WHALE- 1

HUMPBACK WHALE- 15

NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN- 43

PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN- 100

DALL'S PORPOISE- 12

Images from this trip will follow in a future post. We covered both Sonoma and Marin Counties.

Our next four trips, all depart from Noyo Harbor, Fort Bragg. This afternoon we received a report from the fishermen off Shelter Cove. They caught 50 albacore (tuna) only 16 miles offshore. A "hard" edge, sea surface temperature has made for excellent fishing. This is EXACTLY what is needed for our upcoming trips! So, the conditions are looking very, very promising. More records of Hawaiian Petrels have been found out of Fort Bragg than anywhere on along the west coast, with as many as three individuals in one day, and one petrel that was followed for a record 17 minutes. RESERVATIONS are necessary, and can only be made by emailing me tonight, or early tomorrow morning. I will be driving from Bodega Bay to Fort Bragg, tomorrow. Current openings are:

FRI, AUG 19: 2 SPACES

SAT, AUG 20: 1 SPACE

SUN, AUG 21: 2 SPACES

MON, AUG 22: 8 SPACES

Hope you can jump on board!

Shearwaters forever,

Debi Shearwater