copyright 2008 Shearwater Journeys
Bodega Bay
31 July 2007
by Debi Shearwater
Photos © 2007 Don Doolittle
Hi there, Seabirders,
Shearwater Journeys had a fantastic trip from Bodega Bay on Tuesday, July 31st. Weather and seas were good. It was mostly overcast, with some morning fog. Sea surface temperature was about 52F. We headed out to Bodega Canyon, then outside of Cordell Bank, and over the top of the pinnacles, some very shallow spots offshore. Highlights were many, including: nearly 100 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES; NORTHERN FULMAR; good numbers of PINK-FOOTED and SOOTY SHEARWATERS; close-up views of over 100 ASHY STORM-PETRELS, one WILSON'S STORM-PETREL which the skipper followed very well, over 350 SURFBIRDS on the mud flats in the harbor on the way out in the morning, the first SOUTH POLAR SKUAS of the season, the first LONG-TAILED JAEGERS of the fall season, including one flock of 11 birds, the first juvenile SABINE'S GULL of the season (early), first ARCTIC TERNS of the season, the usual alcid species, and a TUFTED PUFFIN seen by those who were not dozing or napping at the end of this very busy day. We had a short lull in the activity for an hour or so, only to be inundated by marine mammals: a MINKE WHALE, HUMPBACK WHALES, bowriding DALL'S PORPOISE, and a tremendous show of dolphins: hundreds of RISSO'S DOLPHINS, tail-slapping, breaching, and head-slapping. Mixed in with the Risso's was a sprinkling of PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS and NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHINS. It was a great day and good beginning season trip! And, we covered two counties: Sonoma and Marin.
We thank the many seabirders who participated in this trip, and the leaders: Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Don Doolittle, Alan Hopkins, Lisa Hug, Jon Dunn, David VanderPluym, and Debra Shearwater. Our next trips from Bodega Bay with spaces available are: August 14; September 7, 14, 30; October 8 & 19. The complete species list follows.
JULY 31, 2007 BODEGA BAY
PACIFIC LOON-1
COMMON LOON-5
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS-96
NORTHERN FULMAR-2
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER-275
SOOTY SHEARWATER-3200
WILSON'S STORM-PETREL-1
ASHY STORM-PETREL-130
BROWN PELICAN-25
BRANDT'S CORMORANT-40
PELAGIC CORMORANT-11
BLACK TURNSTONE-10
WANDERING TATTLER-2
SURFBIRD-350+
SOUTH POLAR SKUA-2
POMARINE JAEGER-6
PARASITIC/LONG-TAILED JAEGER-4
LONG-TAILED JAEGER-34
HEERMANN'S GULL-30
CALIFORNIA GULL-35
WESTERN GULL-125
SABINE'S GULL-20, including 1 early juvenile
ARCTIC TERN-10
CASPIAN TERN-2
COMMON MURRE-520
PIGEON GUILLEMOT-10
CASSIN'S AUKLET-5
RHINOCEROS AUKLET-38
TUFTED PUFFIN-1
CALIFORNIA SEA LION-++
STELLER'S SEA LION-2
NORTHERN FUR SEAL-2
NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL-2
HARBOR SEAL-2+
MINKE WHALE-1
HUMPBACK WHALE-3
NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN-10
RISSO'S DOLPHIN-350
PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN-35
DALL'S PORPOISE-6
SALMON SHARK-1
See you out there,
Debi Shearwater email
PO Box 190
Hollister, CA 95024 USA
831/637-8527
Click on the murrelet to find out how to reserve a trip.