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 BRYAN HIX: AUGUST 2, 2014 HALF MOON BAY

Another beautiful set of images from Shearwater Journeys's August 2, 2014 Half Moon Bay pelagic trip by BRYAN HIX. One might get the idea that photographers love to come on our trips! As previously reported, this one of those days when pelagic birding was at its finest. I think the images reflect that. 

BRYAN HIX, above.

PIGEON GUILLEMOTS nested at Pillar Point Harbor. 

PARASITIC JAEGER, the commonest jaeger inshore. 

 

SOOTY SHEARWATER, above. Flocks have been seen from shore lately.

RHINOCEROS AUKLET, above, breeds on the nearby Farallon Islands.

SCRIPPS'S MURRELET, above, a highly sought after species.

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS, above, a common visitor during summer and early fall. 

HAWAIIAN PETREL, above and below, a mega-rare seabird!

HAWAIIAN PETREL, below, as it flies around our vessel for all to see!

NORTHERN (PACIFIC) FULMAR which came to our chum slick. 

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER, a common fall visitor.

MARBLED MURRELET, found just outside of the harbor!

All images by Bryan Hix.

Please do not use without permission.

LIFE IS GOOD — AT SEA ON SUCH A DAY AS THIS!

PETRELS FOREVER,

DEBI SHEARWATER

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

FARALLON ISLANDS, AUGUST 3, 2014 TRIP REPORT

Shearwater Journeys's pelagic trip to the Farallon Islands, August 3, 2014 to view TUFTED PUFFINS and many seabirds was a huge success that included: NORTHERN GANNET, BROWN BOOBY and LAYSAN ALBATROSS! 

Our target bird, the charismatic TUFTED PUFFIN, put on a good show, with the first individuals spotted before we even reached the islands. We have a 100% success rate for seeing puffins on this trip!

Our trip departs from Sausalito where we head out to the islands, ducking under a California icon, the GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE. 

Nearing the islands, the captain spotted a lot of juvenile rockfish, on the fish finder.

We saw rafts of PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, many carrying these rockfish to the island to feed their young. 

 

Heading straight to Sugerloaf, we immediately spotted the NORTHERN GANNET that has now been at the islands for 3 years! Our trips have been 100% successful in finding the gannet, although over recent months it has also roosted on Alcatraz Island. This is possibly the first gannet record for the West coast, and certainly the first for California. The gannet is the white blob in the photo, above. The head is not in view.

Not far from the gannet, we spotted a BROWN BOOBY! One or more, brown boobies have been hanging around the islands since last spring. Two days after our trip, a blue-footed booby showed up! We have seen brown booby on many of our past trips to the islands. 

The islands are part of the National Wildlife Refuge system. Landing on the islands is not permitted by the general public. These houses play host to a variety of biologists. 

BRANDT'S CORMORANTS above, and COMMON MURRES, below. 

After having lunch with the puffins, we headed to the edge of the Continental Shelf to look for other seabirds. This put us out in the shipping lanes with the big ones!

 

A half dozen BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES began following in our wake. 

A surprise was a gorgeous LAYSAN ALBATROSS which flew in and put on a good show!

Returning to the harbor, we passed under the bridge, again, and watched the shipping traffic, coming and going. 

And, had a chance to enjoy the beautiful SAN FRANCISCO SKYLINE.

Many thanks to all who joined us on this successful day at sea!

Special thanks to Golden Gate Audubon Society and my friend, Gerry McChesney. 

Leaders on this day were: PETER PYLE, NICK LEVENDOSKY & DEBI SHEARWATER.

Along with two friends, Peter, set a new Mammal Big Day for North America!

The COMPLETE SPECIES LIST for SHEARWATER JOURNEYS, AUGUST 3, 2014 FARALLON ISLANDS TRIP FOLLOWS: (ALL BIRDS OFFSHORE, SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY).

WESTERN GREBE- 100

LAYSAN ALBATROSS- 1

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 12

NORTHERN FULMAR- 6

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 30

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 400

*BROWN BOOBY- 1

**NORTHERN GANNET- 1

BROWN PELICAN- 10

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 2020

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT- 9

PELAGIC CORMORANT- 10

WANDERING TATTLER- 1

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 15

PARASITIC JAEGER- 6

HEERMANN'S GULL- 32

CALIFORNIA GULL- 10

WESTERN GULL- 550

ELEGANT TERN- 75

COMMON MURRE- 2020

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 325

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 20

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 12

TUFTED PUFFIN- 25

PEREGRINE FALCON- 2, at the islands, not nesting this year.

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 400

STELLER'S SEA LION- 30

NORTHERN FUR SEAL- 400

NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL- 7

HARBOR SEAL- 85

HUMPBACK WHALE- 2

RISSO'S DOLPHIN- 2

HARBOR PORPOISE- 8

OCEAN SUNFISH- 18

SHEARWATER JOURNEYS'S 2015 

FARALLON ISLANDS TRIPS: $187/PERSON

AUGUST 2: TUFTED PUFFINS & BREEDING SEABIRDS

OCTOBER 11: THE HUNT FOR GREAT WHITE SHARKS

View Shearwater Journeys's complete schedule for 2014, here. 

The season has just begun. We have trips departing from Monterey, Half Moon Bay and Bodega Bay. 

PUFFINS 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

TRIP REPORT: JULY 27, 2013 HALF MOON BAY

DON'T KISS THE WHALES!

Howdy, Seabirders, 

Shearwater Journeys kicked off the 2013 pelagic season with a trip departing from Half Moon Bay on July 27th. And, it was an incredibly sublime start to fall sea birding. This nearly 12 hour trip began with birding in the harbor. Highlights were many, including: BULLER'S SHEARWATER (early); WILSON'S, ASHY and BLACK STORM-PETRELS; SOUTH POLAR SKUA; POMARINE, PARASITIC and LONG-TAILED JAEGERS; flocks of SABINE'S GULLS; ARCTIC TERN; MARBLED & SCRIPP'S MURRELETS and TUFTED PUFFINS. The marine mammal show was beyond comparison! BLUE WHALES (6) HUMPBACK WHALES (43!) a single, young FIN WHALE; PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS; DALL'S and HARBOR PORPOISE. From start to finish, the day was jam packed with marine life and action at all levels, including very close up and personal! If "some days are diamonds and some days are rust," this was a sparkling 10 carat day! On top of everything else, the seas were just as flat as a pancake with the sea surface nearly greasy. It just plain does not get any better than this, folks.

 

Late July is a terrific time for the rocky shorebirds. In addition to BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS, above, with fluffy chicks, we aslso saw WANDERING TATTLER, SURFBIRD, BLACK TURNSTONE and MARBLED GODWIT. 

The delightful PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, above, in the harbor were constantly calling. The harbor area is so filled with birds that we could do half a day of pelagic birding right there!

As soon as we reached the 50 fathom line, the first of many BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES, above, began following the boat.

One of five SCRIPP'S MURRELETS, above. Highly prized sightings by birders anywhere. This tiny murrelet breeds on islands of southern California. Chicks jump out of the the nest site within 24 hours of hatching, swimming off with their father who cares for them at sea. They are strong swimmer. Flat, calm days make for one of the conditions of hoping to see this sweet alcid. 

Having already seen many Humpback whales, we did a double take when this little baleen whale appeared near our vessel. The captain took the boat out of gear, and idled while this very small FIN WHALE, Balaenoptera physalus,  swam circles around us! In the image above, its head, or rostrum, is out of the water as it looks at us. On Fin Whales, the right lower jaw and baleen are white, while the left lower jaw and baleen are dark gray. This clearly shows in the image, above. In fact, I've never seen it better! This striking, asymmetrical color pattern is the single best field mark for Fin Whale, although it is often difficult to see. Not on this day! Fin Whales also have a V-shaped rostrum, while Blue Whales have a U-shaped rostrum.

 

Fin Whales are not often encountered on pelagic trips as they are usually found further offshore. I've seen Fin Whales up close, even right next to the boat. However, in the case of that case, the Fin Whale was feeding on krill under our vessel. On this day, no apparent food item was under the vessel. This leads me to speculate that this was a "friendly" Fin Whale. Although, we have experienced so-called "friendlies" amongst Humpback Whales since the mid-1980's, this is my first experience of this nature with a Fin Whale. As I mentioned, many Humpbacks were in the immediate area, including some that became quite "friendly." So, perhaps this small Fin Whale "learned" this behavior from those Humpbacks. 

We judged this Fin Whale to be about 35 feet in length. Our vessel is 55 feet long. This would then, possibly, be a newly weaned calf, as adult male Finners average 57 feet, while females average 61 feet. 

This is the second largest whale, after the Blue Whale. The slightly curved dorsal fin is set two thirds of the way back on the body.

One of the BLUE WHALES, above, showing the splashguard and back. 

One of two "FRIENDLY" HUMPBACK WHALES, above. This image shows the top of the head and lower jaw. See here for more about this whale show. These Humpback Whales and the Fin Whale were so close to us that one birder remarked, "You'll have to add: 'Don't Kiss the Whales" to the morning orientation talk!

While encountering flocks of SABINE'S GULLS offshore is expected in fall, the flocks we encountered on this date were not. 

A few BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES followed us home, nearly to the harbor.

2013 BIG YEAR birder Jay Lehman was on board, as was the Big Year record holder, Sandy Komito. Jay added 15 species to his year, and some new seabirders added that many birds for Life Birds. 

Many thanks to all who joined our awesome first pelagic trip of the season! 

The leaders on this day were: Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Al DeMartini, Debi Shearwater, with Ross Schaefer chumming.

The complete species list follows, with SAN MATEO/SAN FRANCISCO COUNTIES/TOTAL:

JULY 27, 2013 SHEARWATER JOURNEYS HALF MOON BAY

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 16/12/28

NORTHERN FULMAR- 0/1/1

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 70/70/140

BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 1/1/2, early

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 620/18-/800

WILSON'S STORM-PETREL- 0/9/9

ASHY STORM-PETREL- 30/1070/1100

BLACK STORM-PETREL- 0/1/1

BROWN PELICAN- 1800/0/1800, high count for harbor

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 2/0/2, low count for harbor

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT- 22/0/22

PELAGIC CORMORANT- 1/0/1

BLACK OYSTERCATCHER- 3/0/3

WANDERING TATTLER- 2/0/2

MARBLED GODWIT- 2/0/2

SURFBIRD- 5/0/5

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 180/35/225

RED PHALAROPE- 295/705/1000

SOUTH POLAR SKUA- 0/1/1

POMARINE JAEGER- 0/2/2

POMARINE/PARASITIC JAEGER- 2/0/2

PARASITIC JAEGER- 0/2/2

LONG-TAILED JAEGER- 0/3/3

JAEGER SP.- 0/5/5

HEERMANN'S GULL- 90/3/93

CALIFORNIA GULL- 1/0/1

WESTERN GULL- 77/11/88

SABINE'S GULL- 28/207/235, good count for this early date

ELEGANT TERN- 23/0/23

ARCTIC TERN- 0/1/1

CASPIAN TERN- 3/0/3

COMMON MURRE- 127/12/140

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 25/2/27

MARBLED MURRELET- 7/0/7

SCRIPP'S MURRELET- 4/1/5

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 6/15/21

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 8/0/8

TUFTED PUFFIN- 1/1/2

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 20

STELLER'S SEA LION- 1

NORTHERN FUR SEAL- 4

HARBOR SEAL- 6

BLUE WHALE- 6

FIN WHALE- 1, calf

HUMPBACK WHALE- 43

PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN- 100

HARBOR PORPOISE- 4

DALL'S PORPOISE- 8

Spaces are still available on these upcoming trips:

HALF MOON BAY: AUG 17, 18, 25; SEP 8, 9, 16, 22, 28, 29; OCT 6, 27; NOV 16

BODEGA BAY: AUG 30; SEP 20; OCT 18

MONTEREY BAY: AUG 23; SEP 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 27; OCT 5, 13, 25

CONTACT: debi@shearwaterjourneys. 

Sparking Diamond Days at Sea Forever,

Debi Shearwater

All images, copyright, Debi Shearwater

Please do not use without permission