ANTARCTICA, SOUTH GEORGIA, FALKLAND ISLANDS, & WEDDELL SEA

Hello, Adventurers,

I would like to invite you to join Shearwater Journeys, Inc. on a unique, chartered voyage on the Professor Multanovskiy to Antarctica, South Georgia, The Falkland Islands, and into the Weddell Sea to search for Emperor Penguins, January 5-24, 2010. What's unique about it? 

For one thing, a brilliant assemblage of six Shearwater Journeys' leaders will be on board: Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, John Sterling, Clay Kempf, Don Doolittle, and Debra Shearwater. Together we have over 100 years of ocean experience. We know seabirds and marine life! We've been involved in ocean trips for three decades. Each leader will be presenting lectures on such intriguing subjects as cutting edge knowledge of Adelie Penguins and climate change, Flora of the Falklands, Ice, history, geology, marine mammals —as well as fun things, such as Antarctic Jeopardy! (Who ever heard of that?)

Our small group size of 48 means that we offer one of the highest passenger/leader ratio of any voyage to the region— 6 SJ leaders, plus 2 Expedition staff, bringing you a richer experience.

Our itinerary focuses completely on wildlife, the stars of the voyage! We aim to make as many landings as possible for as long as possible, to give you an in-depth experience. 

Our voyage is scheduled at the absolute peak time of the year for wildlife activity— the height of the austral summer when penguins are with chicks.

Traveling with like-minded passengers allows for a more cohesive group.

Observe up to TEN SPECIES OF PENGUINS! We will be venturing into the Weddell Sea, near Snow Hill Island to make a dedicated search for EMPEROR PENGUINS. We will be searching for the single ERECT-CRESTED PENGUIN in the Falkland Islands, as well. By including the Chile pre-trip, add HUMBOLDT PENGUIN and possibly PERUVIAN DIVING PETREL to complete your diving petrel world list!

The voyage begins and ends in Ushuaia, Argentina which makes for a better air fare rate, eliminating the need for an "open jaw" ticket.

Our voyage is one of the best values for travel to the Antarctic region because no commission-earning travel agents are involved. Debra Shearwater, herself, communicates with each and every person. 

After thirtyfive years of ocean experience, and seventeen years of worldwide expedition experience, I have organized one of the best voyages to this region, ever. At this time, we have only 4.5 cabins available: 1 superior ($19895), and three Double Private ($16995), and one sharing female in a Double Private ($16995). If you are a single female, you will not need to find a cabin mate, as one is already available. Rates quoted are per person. Also at this time, we can offer a $1000 per cabin discount, or $500 per person, if booked by January 30, 2009. The night of January 5 at the Hotel Albatros in Ushuaia is included in the expedition fee. Detailed information can be found on the Shearwater Journeys' home page: www.shearwaterjourneys.com. To book your cabin, or for more information, please contact Debra Shearwater by email during the month of December. (I will be in Panama — there's more than seabirds in the world— and will have intermittent email). 

This is going to be a great trip, nothing ordinary about it! Our expedition leader has just returned from Antarctica, where he recently found 20 Emperor Penguins near Snow Hill Island! We are going to rock, big time on this voyage! Be there! 

Here's what Hadoram Shirihai has to say about this voyage: 

"I checked Debra Shearwater's Antarctic Voyage plan and found it to be the most attractive program to these remote wild areas on the planet. Since I have spent some time with Debra at sea, I am confident that she is the best qualified to lead such expedition to the Antarctic waters. What makes Debra different is that she is simply among the best seabird and marine-mammal observers in the world, eager to observe and to learn more about sea-life. She is an excellent organizer, too. Surely, Debra Shearwater's Antarctic Voyage is the best that one could dream about... Highly recommended!"

—Hadoram Shirihai, author of the definitive A Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife: The Birds and Marine Mammals of the Antarctic Continent and the Southern Ocean , A & C Black and Princeton University Press).

Penguins & Albatrosses forever,

Debra

Debra Shearwater

Shearwater Journeys, Inc.

PO Box 190

Hollister, CA 95024

831.637.8527

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

www.shearwaterjourneys.com

*Antarctica, South Georgia, & The Falkland Islands, January 5-24, 2010* 

Shearwater Journeys' Exclusive Charter

Lincoln's Sparrow

I was delighted to see that a LINCOLN'S SPARROW returned to my backyard today, bathing in the dripper bath.

Debra

Debra Shearwater

Shearwater Journeys, Inc.

PO Box 190

Hollister, CA 95024

831.637.8527

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

www.shearwaterjourneys.com

*Antarctica, South Georgia, & The Falkland Islands, January 5-24, 2010* 

Shearwater Journeys' Exclusive Charter

MONTEREY BAY: SEP 22, 2008: LATE REPORT

Howdy, Seabirders,

This is a late report for the Shearwater Journey's pelagic trip September 22, 2008 from Monterey Bay. On rare occasions, a marine mammal sighting will eclipse any seabird sighting. This was the case on September 22. 

The singular most exciting event was watching six KILLER WHALES, repeatedly tossing a COMMON DOLPHIN sky high some 30-50 feet in the air as they chased, and hunted it! On some of our previous trips, we had seen a mother/calf pair of common dolphins hanging around Cannery Row. They had been reported there for weeks. It is unusual in that common dolphins are usually very gregarious, traveling in herds of hundreds, if not thousands off southern California. Recently, we saw this pair off Point Joe, and away from the nearshore protection (?) of Cannery Row. I do not know if these dolphins were the specific individuals that the killer whales killed on this day. But, it was quite spectacular to see the little dolphin flying through the air, as well as the killer whales also flying sky high! In the end, the killer whales did kill the dolphin, although this was difficult to see. They continued to hang around Monterey Bay for many weeks, mostly near Moss Landing. The common dolphins have not been seen since this day.

I've seen Orcas hunt and kill many creatures— blue sharks, sea lions, rhinoceros auklets, and elephant seals. (For a look at an image that I shot of an orca tossing a young elephant seal in the air on a Shearwater Journey's trip to the Farallon Islands, see Hadoram Shirihai's A Field Guide to the Marine Mammals of the World, page 74). In fact, it was on a Shearwater Journey's May Monterey Bay trip in the 1980's when the very first hunting by killer whales of a young gray and its mother, was ever photographed. At my insistence, a hydrophone was dropped overboard to record the first sounds of killer whales in Monterey Bay! (These sounds can be heard on the DVD, Through the Seasons: An Introduction to the Seabirds and Marine Mammals of Monterey Bay). After nearly three hours of stalking the young, male gray whale, the killer whales finally drowned it. This later became popularized by National Geographic after they videotaped subsequent kills on Monterey Bay.

Killer whales have long been a subject of interest for me. So much so that, beginning in 1978, I collected images from the the photographers who ventured forth on Shearwater Journey's trips from Monterey, Bodega Bay and other ports off central California. Beginning in 1984, I encouraged the Monterey party boat skippers to collect images of killer whales, too. Shearwater Journeys donated hundreds of boat trips that  provided a platform of opportunity for graduate students to obtain marine mammal sightings and photograph killer whales. Through these efforts, we were able to obtain images from more than forty people, spanning 19 years to be included in a photo catalogue of killer whales of California and western Mexico which was published in September 1997 by the U.S. Department of Comerce, NOAA. Thus, the many birders who participated in our trips contributed vastly to our current knowledge of killer whales. 

You can see video footage shot by Manny Vara and hear the sounds of the participants on the September 22 trip at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WufTyNMZNgw. 

Well, of course we did see birds, too! The complete species list follows. Many thanks to the folks who joined us on this very exciting trip. The leaders were: David Vander Pluym, David Wimpfheimer, Luke Cole, Don Doolittle, Oscar Johnson, and Debra Shearwater. Lauren Harter graciously chummed.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2008 MONTEREY BAY:

PACIFIC LOON- 4

LOON sp.- 1

WESTERN GREBE- 1

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 5

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 225

BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 28

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 280

SOOTY/SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER- 2

WILSON'S STORM-PETREL- 4

ASHY STORM-PETREL- 300

BLACK STORM-PETREL- 15

BROWN PELICAN- 70

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 700

PELAGIC CORMORANT- 3

SURF SCOTER- 14

BLACK TURNSTONE- 8

SURFBIRD- 1

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 48

SOUTH POLAR SKUA- 2

POMARINE JAEGER- 21

PARASITIC JAEGER- 5

JAEGER sp.- 1

HEERMANN'S GULL- 60

CALIFORNIA GULL- 30

WESTERN GULL- 100

ELEGANT TERN- 100

COMMON TERN- 1

COMMON/ARCTIC TERN- 1

FORSTER'S TERN- 1

COMMON MURRE- 110

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 1

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 80

SEA OTTER- 6

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- +

HARBOR SEAL- +

HUMPBACK WHALE- 10

KILLER WHALE- 6

COMMON DOLHIN- 1 or 2

RISSO'S DOLPHIN- 17

OCEAN SUNFISH- 3

BLUE SHARK- 1

Shearwaters forever,

Debra

Debra Shearwater

Shearwater Journeys, Inc.

PO Box 190

Hollister, CA 95024

831.637.8527

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

www.shearwaterjourneys.com

*Antarctica, South Georgia, & The Falkland Islands, January 5-24, 2010* 

Shearwater Journeys' Exclusive Charter

OCT 17 & 18, 2008 PELAGIC TRIP REPORTS

Hello, Seabirders,

Shearwater Journey's pelagic trips on October 17 from BODEGA BAY and October 18 from MONTEREY BAY were the last trips of the fall season. Both trips were excellent, with good sea conditions, and many seabirds and marine mammals. Highlights of the October 17th trip included: flocks of more than a 100 BULLER'S SHEARWATERS, and one Buller's Shearwater standing on wad of bull kelp; 3 FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATERS; a small influx of NORTHERN FULMARS; possibly the last SOUTH POLAR SKUAS of the season; several MEW GULLS; and arriving BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES; a PALM WARBLER about 15 miles offshore in Sonoma County; and several STELLER'S SEA LIONS. County birders enjoyed adding many species to both their Sonoma and Marin County lists. Highlights of the October 18th trip from Monterey Bay included: a CACKLING GOOSE flying over the harbor; flocks of migrating PACIFIC LOONS; 2 or 3 SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATERS; 1 MANX SHEARWATER; 4 BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS; a FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER sitting on the water, providing knock out views and photo-ops; arriving BONAPARTE'S GULLS; good numbers of CASSIN'S AUKLETS; and half a dozen KILLER WHALES interacting with CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS and HUMPBACK WHALES. The heavy gale force winds from the northwest cooled the sea surface temperature down to about 55F and was probably part of the influx of fulmars, trickling of kittiwakes, and short-tailed shearwaters. A deep, red tide had formed inside and just outside of the Monterey harbor. Those folks who signed on for both trips accumulated quite a seabird/marine mammal species list!

Our next trips from Monterey with spaces available are NOVEMBER 29 with Clay Kempf, Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Jennifer Green, Luke Cole, and Debra Shearwater leading, and JANUARY 17, 2009. Please email Debra Shearwater for a reservation/information.

Many, many thanks to all of the participants who traveled from near and far to join us on our trips this year! We couldn't do it without you! The leaders for October 17th were: Lisa Hug, Jennifer Green, John Sterling, Alan Hopkins, David Vanderpluym, David Wimpfheimer, Steve Howell, and Debra Shearwater. The leaders for the October 18th trip were: Clay Kempf, Linda Terrill, Scott Terrill, David Vander Pluym, And Debra Shearwater. Lauren Harter was chummer on both trips. Many thanks, Lauren!

The complete species list follows:

OCTOBER 17 BODEGA BAY/OCT 18 MONTEREY BAY 2008:

PACIFIC LOON- 3/40

COMMON LOON- 2/2

EARED GREBE- 5/25

WESTERN GREBE- 5/6

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 9/5

NORTHERN FULMAR- 13/12

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 171/220

FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 3/2

BULLER'S SHEARWATER-920/0

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 41/75

SOOTY/SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER- 3/3

SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER- 0/2 or 3

MANX SHEARWATER- 0/1

BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER- 0/4

BROWN PELICAN- 25/125

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 50/325

PELAGIC CORMORANT- 3/0

SURF SCOTER- 2/0

CANADA GOOSE- 0/7

CACKLING GOOSE- 0/1

GREATER SCAUP- 4/0

BRANT- 2/0

NORTHERN PINTAIL- 0/3

BLACK TURNSTONE- 1/4

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 0/34

SOUTH POLAR SKUA- 6/0

POMARINE JAEGER- 15/6

POMARINE/PARASITIC- 6/2

PARASITIC JAEGER- 0/1

BONAPARTE'S GULL- 0/8

HEERMANN'S GULL- 81/200

MEW GULL- 4/0

CALIFORNIA GULL- 380/180

HERRING GULL- 10/0

WESTERN GULL- 250/370

GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL- 3/0

WESTERN/GLAUCOUS-WINGED- 10/0

BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE- 2/0

ELEGANT TERN- 0/27

COMMON MURRE- 250/120

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 5/0

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 33/60

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 35/225

*PALM WARBLER- 1/0, about 15 miles offshore in Sonoma County. It flew toward land.

PEREGRINE FALCON- 0/1, on the radio tower along Cannery Row.

SEA OTTER- 0/12

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 2/225

STELLER'S SEA LION- 7/0

NORTHERN FUR SEAL- 1/2

NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL- 1/1

HARBOR SEAL- +/5

HUMPBACK WHALE- 5/20

KILLER WHALE- 0/6

NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN- 16/0

RISSO'S DOLPHIN- 0/400

PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN- 50/20

DALL'S PORPOISE- 16/6

OCEAN SUNFISH- 0/2

BLUE SHARK- 1/2

Shearwaters forever,

Debra

Debra Shearwater

Shearwater Journeys, Inc.

PO Box 190

Hollister, CA 95024

831.637.8527

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

www.shearwaterjourneys.com

*Antarctica, South Georgia, & The Falkland Islands, January 5-24, 2010* 

Shearwater Journeys' Exclusive Charter

SHEARWATER JOURNEYS' TRIP REPORTS: OCT 9, 11, & 12, 2008

Howdy, Seabirders,

This report covers Shearwater Journey's pelagic trips on October 9, 11, & 12, 2008. The October 9 trip which was set to depart from Bodega Bay was canceled due to a gale warning by NOAA on October 8th at 12:30 p.m. Everyone was refunded their full fare for this trip. Turns out it was a very wise decision. The October 11th trip departed from Monterey as planned since the forecast for Monterey Bay was much better that day. Being half-moon shaped, the bay is somewhat protected from the prevailing northwesterly winds. Highlights of this trip included one HARLEQUIN DUCK in the harbor, 35 WHITE-FRONTED GEESE (!), and a great show of 5 KILLER WHALES with HUMPBACK WHALES near Moss Landing. The October 12th trip departed from Santa Cruz on the north side of Monterey Bay. Highlights included great views of MARBLED MURRELETS just outside the harbor, 25 SURFBIRDS on the jetty, 1 or 2 FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, and a great show of RISSO'S DOLPHINS.

We would like to thank all of the participants who traveled with us on these trips. The leaders were: October 11: Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Gerry McChesney, & Ryan Terrill; October 12: Clay Kempf, Linda Terrill, Scott Terrill, John Sterling, Don Doolittle, Jennifer Green, Jim Danzenbaker, & Debra Shearwater.

Our last two trips of the fall season are scheduled for October 17 from Bodega Bay with leaders John Sterling, Lisa Hug, Jennifer Green, Alan Hopkins, Steve Howell, David Vander Pluym, David Wimpfheimer, & Debra Shearwater, and Lauren Harter, chumming; and for October 18 from Monterey Bay with leaders Clay Kempf, Linda Terrill, Scott Terrill, David Vander Pluym, and chummer, Lauren Harter. Spaces are still available on both trips. Our next scheduled trips from Monterey are November 29 and January 17.

The complete species list follows: 

OCTOBER 11 MONTEREY COUNTY/ OCTOBER 12 SANTA CRUZ COUNTY:

PACIFIC LOON- 5/3

COMMON LOON- 0/2

EARED GREBE- 0/20

WESTERN GREBE- 0/102

CLARK'S GREBE- 0/20

WESTERN/CLARK'S- 0/25

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 6/10

NORTHERN FULMAR- 7/6

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 165/180

FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 1/1or 2

BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 38/85

SOOTY SHEARWATER- 105/29

SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER- 2/0

BROWN PELICAN- 225/125

BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 250/75

PELAGIC CORMORANT-2/2

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT-0/1

HARLEQUIN DUCK-1/0

SURF SCOTER- 85/20

WHITE-FRONTED GEESE- 35/0

CANADA GOOSE- 0/6

SNOW GOOSE- 0/1

RUDDY TURNSTONE- 0/1

BLACK TURNSTONE- 6/3

SURFBIRD- 0/25

WILLET- 0/3

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 15/8

RED PHALAROPE- 1/ 2

SOUTH POLAR SKUA- 0/7

POMARINE JAEGER- 0/3

POMARINE/PARASITIC- 0/2

BONAPARTE'S GULL- 1/5

HEERMANN'S GULL- 155/85

CALIFORNIA GULL- 150/120

HERRING GULL- 0/2

WESTERN GULL- 155/250

GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL- 2/0

WESTERN/GLAUCOUS-WINGED- 10/0

ELEGANT TERN- 6/3

ARCTIC TERN- 1/0

COMMON MURRE- 53/850

PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 1/1

MARBLED MURRELET- 0/10

CASSIN'S AUKLET- 45/16

RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 60/77

SEA OTTER- 6/27

CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 140/+

NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL- 1/1

HARBOR SEAL-3/20

HUMPBACK WHALE- 20/18

KILLER WHALE- 5/0

NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN- 0/7

RISSO'S DOLPHIN- 12/18

Shearwaters forever,

Debra Shearwater

Debra Shearwater

Shearwater Journeys, Inc.

PO Box 190

Hollister, CA 95024

831.637.8527

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

www.shearwaterjourneys.com

*Antarctica, South Georgia, & The Falkland Islands, January 5-24, 2010* 

Shearwater Journeys' Exclusive Charter

BODEGA BAY OCT 9 PELAGIC TRIP CANCELED: IMPORTANT NOTICE: GALE WARNING

HELLO, SEABIRDERS

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT NOTICE:

The Shearwater Journey's OCTOBER 9TH PELAGIC TRIP DEPARTING FROM BODEGA BAY TOMORROW, IS CANCELED DUE TO A GALE WARNING. Please contact anyone that you know who might be signed on for this trip, and post on additional lists. 

As much as we would love to show you seabirds, it will not be possible with the weather conditions that are predicted, and will almost certainly materialize. This includes canceling for the WFO, Western Field Ornithologists group on board the boat. We are very sorry to have to make this decision and will be contacting everyone that we can possibly reach at this time. A full refund will be sent to all passengers within 30 days. Thank you for your continued support of the Shearwater Journeys' pelagic trips.

Shearwaters forever,

Debra

The NOAA weather report is as follows: 

POINT ARENA TO PIGEON POINT 20 TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-

824 AM PDT WED OCT 8 2008

GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON

TODAY

NW WINDS 20 TO 30 KT BECOMING 25 TO 35 KT BY MID-MORNING.

WIND WAVES 4 TO 7 FT. NW SWELL 8 TO 10 FT AT 10 SECONDS AND S 2

FT AT 15 SECONDS.

TONIGHT

NW WINDS 30 TO 40 KT. COMBINED SEAS 11 TO 15 FT

DOMINANT PERIOD 10 SECONDS.

THU

N WINDS 30 TO 35 KT. COMBINED SEAS 11 TO 16 FT DOMINANT

PERIOD 10 SECONDS.

Debra Shearwater

Shearwater Journeys, Inc.

PO Box 190

Hollister, CA 95024

831.637.8527

debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

www.shearwaterjourneys.com

*Antarctica, South Georgia, & The Falkland Islands, January 5-24, 2010* 

Shearwater Journeys' Exclusive Charter