IMAGES OF THE DAY by BETH HAMEL: AUGUST 26, 2016 MONTEREY BAY

From frolicking SEA OTTERS just outside the harbor—

to BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES just off Point Pinos within the first hour of the day 

watching BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES folding their wings upon landing behind the vessel

to the blow of a mighty BLUE WHALE, the largest animal that has ever lived on Earth

 to tiny CASSIN'S AUKLETS which feed on krill just like the blue whale

to the very curious looking OCEAN SUNFISH, Mola Mola

and PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS shearing the ocean surface with their wings

 and nearly 50 HUMPBACK WHALES

flocks of SABINE'S GULLS lifting off the sea

and the juvenile LONG-TAILED JAEGERS which chase them

 juvenile LONG-TAILED JAEGER right over our heads

male POMARINE JAEGERS that chase all of them

cruising in attack mode

 RISSO'S DOLPHINS nearshore

 feeding on the abundant squid

 to the just-arrived from southern California, BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS

it was simply an amazing day of nonstop marine action with all players present— Monterey seabirds, marine mammals and interesting fish! What's next?

COMMENTS FROM ONE PARTICIPANT:

Just wanted to say thank you for a fantastic pelagic trip this past Friday! What an amazing journey, with whales, dolphins and porpoises as an added bonus. The sight of a blue whale in the wild is something I will always treasure. You and the crew are a class act, constantly working hard to get on the birds and answer questions. I had read your praises in the writings of Big Year bloggers like Dorian Anderson and Olaf Danielson, and they were spot on in their compliments. In the days leading up to the trip, I had hoped for a couple of Black-footed Albatross. Like others, I was floored when they surrounded the boat!

Yes, you are the best in the business, and I will happily recommend Shearwater Journeys to fellow birders. Keep up the great work, and thanks again.

C. B. — Redondo Beach, California

THANK YOU, ONE AND ALL! 

To read the full trip report for August 26, 2016, click here. 

I HOPE YOU ENJOY THESE IMAGES BY BETH HAMEL

All images, copyright, Beth Hamel

Check the SHEARWATER JOURNEYS' SCHEDULE for lots of upcoming trips during September!

Living the Salt Life,

Debi Shearwater

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

BREAKING NEWS: MASSES OF SEABIRDS OFF POINT PINOS, MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA

eBird Checklist 

An eBird Checklist posted this morning by Brian Sullivan, Don Roberson and Rita Carratella from Point Pinos on the Monterey Peninsula had the following seabird highlights:

60 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS

90,000 SOOTY SHEARWATERS

1 BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER

275 BRANDT'S CORMORANTS

4 PELAGIC CORMORANTS

4 PARASITIC JAEGERS

23 COMMON MURRES

 3 PIGEON GUILLEMOTS

**1870 SABINE'S GULLS**

300 ELEGANT TERNS

This is an astounding count of Sabine's Gulls in particular. I can only guess that they must not be finding food offshore, and are searching closer to shore. 

Shearwater Journeys' first pelagic trip of the fall season is this Friday, July 31. 

Leaders: Brian Sullivan, Scott Terrill, Steve Howell, Nick Levendosky, Jennifer Green, Rick Fournier, David Pavlik, Debi Shearwater

If you are in the area, or can make it down to Monterey for this trip, jump on board!! 

Email Debi for details: debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

To see the entire checklist including awesome video by Brian Sullivan, click here. 

 Point Pinos, above, is a wonderful birding spot on the Monterey Peninsula. 

The oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West coast is at Point Pinos.

DO YOU eBIRD?

SHEARWATERS FOREVER,

Debi Shearwater

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

CORDELL BANK & BODEGA CANYON SEABIRD & MARINE MAMMAL TRIPS

LOOKING FOR STORM-PETRELS?

CORDELL BANK & BODEGA CANYON SEABIRDING 2014 PELAGIC TRIPS:

SEPTEMBER 1 & 19, 2014

Massive rafts of storm-petrels have been observed on Shearwater Journeys's offshore trips from Bodega Bay in recent years. Flocks number in the thousands have included: ASHY, BLACK, FORK-TAILED, LEAST AND WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS. On our September 20, 2013 trip, we recorded a record-breaking 17,325 storm-petrels! While on our September 21, 2012 trip a fly-by HAWAIIAN PETREL was spotted while we were watching the storm-petrels!

 

Since 1980 Shearwater Journeys has offered pelagic trips departing from Bodega Bay, north of Point Reyes and San Francisco. This is the longest running birding operation from this port. 

 The areas that we cover on this departure have recorded more MEGA-RARE SEABIRDS than any other port in North America! The list is very long: SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS, LIGHT-MANTELD ALBATROSS, SHY ALBATROSS (3 different individuals, separate trips);
MURPHY'S, COOK'S, HAWAIIAN, WHITE-CHINNED, PARKINSON'S and GREAT-WINGED PETRELS; GREAT, MANX, STREAKED, CORY'S, WEDGE-TAILED and FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATERS; LEAST STORM-PETREL (rare this far north, but might happen in 2014 due to warmer water); LONG-BILLED MURRELET and CRESTED AUKLET. These are some of the rarest of the rare seabirds in all of North America, and in some instances, the northern Pacific Ocean. (Great-winged Petrel represented the first record for the Northern Hemisphere, as well as North America!)

 ASHY & FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS, above. 

 HUMPBACK WHALE, above. This is a rich feeding area for marine mammals. 

LONG-TAILED JAEGER, above and SOUTH POLAR SKUA, below. 

This area can be fabulous for viewing all three species of jaegers. Skua is rarely missed on this trip.

 BLUE WHALE, below, showing its back and dorsal fin.

 The sheer numbers of marine mammals near Bodega Canyon can be astounding, during fall. 

 LONG-TAILED JAEGER, above and SABINE'S GULL, below. 

BROWN BOOBY, below. Seen on our October 25, 2013 trip. 

The NEW SEA ANGLER, our comfortable birding vessel, below. 

NOTE: The September 19 Bodega Bay trip can be combined with the September 21 Half Moon Bay trip for a weekend of seabirding and land birding on September 20. The September 1 trip could be hooked up with the early Monterey Bay trips on September 5 and 6, with land birding in between.

DETAILS FOR BODEGA BAY TRIPS: SEPTEMBER 1 & 19:

DEPARTURE: 7 a.m. SHARP. The boat will not wait for latecomers. Check in with Debi at the dock. RATE: $218

RETURN: About 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., varies. Allow for delays of several hours. 

PARKING: is free in the large, dirt lot. Try to check out the location the day prior, as it can be confusing in the morning darkness. On Highway 1, heading north from Bodega Bay, proceed north of the Tide's Whart, past the Boat House restaurant on your left. Turn left, heading downhill at the large, brown sign for EAST SHORE ROAD. At the stop sign a the bottom of the hill, proceed straight to Port O' Bodega. It will seem as if you are heading out to the water. Park here. 

PRICE ADJUSTMENT: all pricing is based on current rates and may be adjusted at the dockside. If so, this fee will be collected at the dock, between $10-20/person, cash only. 

FOOD & DRINKS: Bring all of your food and drinks, including water. Nothing is available on the boat. No restaurants are open in the morning hours prior to departure. Dress VERY WARMLY. 

MOTELS: in this area can be fully booked and can be quite expensive. Bodega Coast Inn and Suites is only 5 minutes from the dock. You might try asking the manage for the "Shearwater Discount" which they sometimes honor. Bodega Harbor Inn is conveniently located. Be sure to ask about their refund policy. You might find the rate shocking, compared to what you get. The Inn at the Tides is very nice, especially if you have family members traveling with you who will not be doing the boat trip. Their rate includes breakfast, but it is not served early enough for you to partake of it. Cheaper motels can be found along the Highway 101 corridor. However,  be SURE to allow a minimum of one hour to get to the dock from any motel along Highway 101. The roads leading to the dock are winding, two lane and can be foggy in the morning. It is possible to get stuck behind a truck pulling a trailer with a boat on it, going only 30 mph. Birders have missed the boat by not allowing enough time to make this trip! Refunds are not available for "no shows" at the dock! NO eating facilities are open early enough in the morning in Bodega Bay for breakfast. Please plan accordingly.

GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE: Be sure to check toll details regarding crossing the bridge, even if you rent a car, if you are returning to San Francisco after the trip. The toll is only collected on the southbound trip. 

TRIP REPORT: AUG 30, 2013

IMAGES OF AUG 30, 2013 BY STEVE HOWELL

TRIP REPORT: SEP 20, 2013

BIRDERS SPEAK ABOUT THE EPIC SEP 20, 2013 TRIP

TRIP REPORT: OCT 18, 2013

BODEGA BAY IMAGES BY TODD MCGRATH

TRIP REPORT: SEP 21, 2012 WITH HAWAIIAN PETREL

BODEGA BAY IMAGES BY STEVE HOWELL

TRIP REPORT: OCT 26, 2012

TRIP REPORT: AUG 17, 2011

BODEGA BAY IMAGES BY ABE BORKER

EMERGENCY PELAGIC TRIP: OCT 29, 2011

TRIP REPORT: OCT 29, 2011

TRIP REPORT: SEP 15, 2010- COOK'S PETREL

TRIP REPORT: AUG 15, 2009- COOK'S & HAWAIIAN PETRELS

TRIP REPORT: SEP 18, 2009

TRIP REPORT: SEP 20, 2009

Whew! That's a lotta reading!

STORM-PETRELS FOREVER,

Debi Shearwater

More Trips + More Leaders + More Seabirds = MORE FUN! 

Jump on board with Shearwater Journeys' Leaders!

September is here. The best days of seabirding are just around the corner. Like the BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS in the image above, being followed by SABINE'S GULLS, we at Shearwater Journeys, hope to lead you to the seabirds! I'm not sure about that little LONG-TAILED JAEGER, sitting on the water behind this crowd. Jump up, buddy! Don't miss the action. 

Shearwater Journeys offers more seabird trips than anyone else on the West Coast. In fact, Debi Shearwater is the only full time pelagic tour operator in the U.S.A. (world?) Thirty eight years of organizing offshore pelagic trips, from Crescent City to San Diego,  has given her a depth and breadth of unsurpassable experience off the California Coast. Beginning September 6th from Monterey, she will do sixteen pelagic trips from three different ports, taking over 1,000 birders offshore! This gives her a feel and handle on not only where the seabirds can be found, but also where not to head to look for them. Negative data is important, too! 

An amazing assemblage of leaders, some with decades of seabirding experience, and  most with worldwide seabirding experience, will be on board these trips. Below, please find our complete trip schedule for the remainder of 2013. Shearwater Journeys has always had a high number of leaders on board to provide you with a higher quality experience. Both beginners and "old salts" are welcome. 

Note: some trips listed as LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE are nearly sold out. Email Debi for these trips, or to be added to the waiting list. Trips color-coded could be great for photographers who need more space on board the boat. These trips are not packed full, although all trips have enough reservations to "go." Do you have a favorite leader? Check it out. More leaders may be added to some trips. Leaders are subject to change. All leaders are volunteers. KEY: MTY= Monterey; HMB= Half Moon Bay; FI= Farallon Islands; Bodega Bay; Albacore trip departs from Monterey. RESERVATIONS: If booking at the last minute, email Debi: debi@shearwaterjourneys.com for assistance. 

SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2013

FRI. SEP 6 MTY: Clay Kempf, Rick Fournier, Jennie Duberstein, John Sorensen, Debi Shearwater

SAT. SEP 7 ALBACORE: Steve Tucker, Wes Fritz, Debi Shearwater

SUN. SEP 8 HMB: Steve Tucker, Steve Hampton, Tim Miller, Debi Shearwater

MON. SEP 9 HMB: Wes Fritz, Steve Tucker, Debi Shearwater

TUE. SEP 10 MTY: Tim Miller, Nick Levendosky, Wes Fritz, Debi Shearwater. Special Santa Cruz County trip = Guaranteed FUN! (departs from Monterey)

WED. SEP 11 MTY: Clay Kempf, Mary Gustafson, Debi Shearwater

THU. SEP 12 MTY: Jim Holmes, Nick Levendosky, Dave Pereksta, Mary Gustafson, Debi Shearwater- LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE

FRI. SEP 13 MTY: Dave Pereksta, Mary Gustafson, Sophie Webb, Debi Shearwater's birthday!

SAT. SEP 14 MTY: Clay Kempf, Steve Rottenborn, Dave Pereksta, Mary Gustafson, Debi Shearwater

SUN. SEP 15, MTY: Dena Spatz, Mary Gustafson, Abe Borker, Tim Miller, Debi Shearwater

MON. SEP 16 HMB: Jim Holmes, Wes Fritz, Mary Gustafson, Debi Shearwater

FRI. SEP 20 BODEGA: Peter Pyle, Adam Searcy, Lisa Hug, Steve Howell, Steve Tucker, Debi Shearwater

SUN. SEP 22 HMB: Adam Searcy, Steve Tucker, Steve Hampton, Debi Shearwater

FRI. SEP 27 MTY: Rick Fournier, Tom Johnson, Dave Pereksta, Debi Shearwater- LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE

SAT. SEP 28 HMB: Steve Rottenborn, Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Tom Johnson, Debi Shearwater

SUN. SEP 29 HMB: Tom Johnson, John Garrett, Tim Miller, Steve Hampton, Debi Shearwater

SAT. OCT 5 MTY: Clay Kempf, Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Adam Searcy, Tom Johnson, Debi Shearwater

SUN. OCT 6 HMB: Adam Searcy, Steve Tucker, Tom Johnson, Debi Shearwater- SOLD OUT

SUN. OCT 13 MTY: Steve Rottenborn, Clay Kempf, Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Rick Fournier, Debi Shearwater

FRI. OCT 18 BODEGA: Steve Tucker, Lisa Hug, Jennifer Green, Debi Shearwater

SUN. OCT 20 FI: Peter Pyle, Jim Holmes, Annie Schmidt, Debi Shearwater

FRI. OCT 25 MTY: Clay Kempf, Nick Levendosky, Jennifer Green, Marissa Ortega-Welch, Holly Poole-Kavana, Debi Shearwater

SUN. OCT 27 HMB: Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, John Garrett, Abe Borker, Debi Shearwater

SAT. NOV 16 HMB: Todd McGrath, Tim Miller, Abe Borker, John Garrett, Debi Shearwater

WE CAN TAKE YOU OUT THERE! 

SHEARWATERS FOREVER,

DEBI SHEARWATER

Image at top by Steve Tucker, copyright. 

Please do not use without permission. 

Shearwater Logo by Keith Hansen, copyright. 

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

TRIP REPORT: AUGUST 30, 2013 BODEGA BAY SEABIRD SPANISH TAPAS

Howdy, Birders,

This is a trip report for Shearwater Journeys' August 30, 2013 pelagic trip departing from Bodega Bay. This nearly 12 hour trip experience a mixture of fall seabirds, much like Spanish tapas — appetizing bits and pieces, here and there. The serving of tapas is designed to encourage conversation because people are not so focused upon eating an entire meal. In some countries it is customary for diners to stand and move about while eating tapas. Well, that's exactly how this day went down. Great conversation. Outstanding showing of LONG-TAILED JAEGERS harassing flocks of SABINE'S GULLS. Nice, small rafts of ASHY STORM-PETRELS, while BLACK STORM-PETRELS and a few FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS, along with two WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS few into our oil slick. Loads and loads and loads of krill and schooling fish were visible on the fish finder. Krill of course meant that we saw BLUE WHALES. Numbers of RED PHALAROPES really jumped on this day. We did hit a nice "hard edge" of warm water, jumping from 58 to 60 degrees F. The question of the fall season remains: Where are the Cassin's Auklets? We should be seeing more of these alcids. They had a terrific breeding season at the Farallon Islands, laying eggs at a record early date, and double brooding, too. Wherever they are, I bet there's loads of krill there, too. 

One of the many SABINE'S GULLS that put on quite a show, above. 

LONG-TAILED JAEGERS were quite flashy. 

A raft of SABINE'S GULLS, below.

Fog was with us for most of the day, but we still had reasonable visibility. 

BLACK STORM-PETREL, above, and FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL, below. 

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

To see Steve's blog, Bourbon, Bastards, and Birds, click here.

Many thanks to the birders who joined us from near and far. The leaders on this day were: Lisa Hug, Steve Howell, Steve Tucker, Jennifer Green and Debi Shearwater. 

The complete species list follows. We were in SONOMA COUNTY for almost all of the day.

AUGUST 30, 2013 SHEARWATER JOURNEYS' BODEGA CANYON TRIP:

WESTERN GREBE- 1

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 24

NORTHERN FULMAR- 2

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 25

BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 32

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 237

WILSON'S STORM-PETREL- 2

FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL- 15+

ASHY STORM-PETREL- 200+

BLACK STORM-PETREL- 8 to 10

BROWN PELICAN- 1 outside the harbor

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- +

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT- +

PELAGIC CORMORANT- +

MALLARD- 3, offshore

WANDERING TATTLER- 1, in the harbor

WHIMBREL- 1, in the harbor

RUDDY TURNSTONE- 1, in the harbor

BLACK TURNSTONE- + in the harbor

SURFBIRD- + in the harbor

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 25

RED-NECKED/RED PHALAROPE- 500

RED PHALAROPE- 800

SOUTH POLAR SKUA- 1

POMARINE JAEGER- 3

POMARINE/PARASITIC JAEGER- 1

LONG-TAILED JAEGER- 21

CALIFORNIA GULL- 3

WESTERN GULL- 28

SABINE'S GULL- 35

ELEGANT TERN- 5

COMMON TERN- 2

COMMON MURRE- 510

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 2

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 20

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 15

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- +

STELLERS SEA LION- 1

BLUE WHALE- 6 to 8

HUMPBACK WHALE- 12 to 16

NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN- 4

PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN- 8

DALL'S PORPOISE- 4

Our next pelagic trips departing from Bodega Bay with spaces available are:

SEPTEMBER 20

OCTOBER 18

Hope to see you out there!

Shearwaters Forever,

Debi Shearwater