copyright 2006 Shearwater Journeys

Hi, Seabirders,

It was a beautiful day for a pelagic trip from Bodega Bay, yesterday. Departing from Port O' Bodega about 7:15 am, we headed off to Bodega Canyon. We went about 29 miles offshore. Winds were very mild at 5-8 knots. Sea surface temperature was about 57F. We encountered some thin fog that only lasted for about 40 minutes. Next, we had bright sun, and finally, those nice uniformly, high overcast skies, allowing for some fantastic photography and conditions. SHEARWATERS were a highlight, including 8 FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, but the marine mammals also put on quite a show. Its been a great fall for cetaceans. Two adult TUFTED PUFFINS gave us some nice photo-ops, too. The tide was low as our boat returned down the long harbor channel, where hundreds of shorebirds were feeding on the mudflats, along with White Pelicans, and arriving loons, grebes, and scoters. We could have spent hours there, birding!

The leaders for this trip were: Alan Hopkins, Lisa Hug, Mike Rogers, Debra Shearwater & Steve Howell. Many thanks to all who participated on this trip.

Our last trip from Bodega Bay for the fall season is this Friday, October 13th. Spaces are still available. We also have spaces available on our Monterey trips on Oct 14, 22, and 28, and on our last 12 hour offshore trip from Monterey on Oct 15th.

The full species list for the October 9, 2006 from Bodega Bay follows:

RED-THROATED LOON-1 at the dockside
PACIFIC LOON-1
COMMON LOON-6
RED-NECKED GREBE-3
EARED GREBE-30
WESTERN GREBE-2
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 5 or 6
NORTHERN FULMAR-42
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER-371
FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER-8
BULLER'S SHEARWATER-300
SOOTY SHEARWATER-20
WILSON'S STORM-PETREL-1
FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL-1
ASHY STORM-PETREL-195
BROWN PELICAN-35
BRANDT'S CORMORANT-1000+
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT-1
PELAGIC CORMORANT-12
HARLEQUIN DUCK-1
SURF SCOTER-12
BLACK SCOTER-2
SCAUP sp.-12
BLACK TURNSTONE-5
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE-5
SOUTH POLAR SKUA-7-10
POMARINE JAEGER-20
POMARINE/PARASITIC-1
PARASITIC JAEGER-5
PARASITIC/LONG-TAILED-1
HEERMANN'S GULL-20
RING-BILLED GULL-1
CALIFORNIA GULL-150
HERRING GULL-4
HERRING/GLAUCOUS-WINGED-2
WESTERN GULL-300+
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL-1
WESTERN/GLAUCOUS-WINGED-3
CASPIAN TERN-1 imma., late
COMMON MURRE-300+
MURRE sp.-1 We are studying this individual. Photos were shot of it.
Maybe a thick-billed.
PIGEON GUILLEMOT-4
CASSIN'S AUKLET-4
RHINOCEROS AUKLET-125
TUFTED PUFFIN-2 adults
CALIFORNIA SEA LION-40+
NORTHERN FUR SEAL-2
HARBOR SEAL-2
HUMPBACK WHALE-6
NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN-300+
RISSO'S DOLPHIN-290
PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN-300+
DALL'S PORPOISE-4


Shearwaters forever,
Debra Love Shearwater
Shearwater Journeys
PO Box 190
Hollister, CA 95024 USA
831/637-8527