copyright 2015 Shearwater Journeys
The Golden Gate Audubon Society/Shearwater trip on the Salty Lady and Blue Runner encountered high winds with high spray before we got through the gate. Fortunately, there was little swell and seas were splashy, but not too bad. We had Sooty Shearwaters in good numbers most of the way out. Before we got to the weather buoy we had good looks at Humpback Whale, one breaching very close to the Salty Lady.
Leatherback
Another whale watching boat, the Butchie B, radioed they had a Leatherback Turtle, by the time we got to the area we could not find it. As soon we were on our way, Ted of the Blue Runner spotted it again and both boats got good looks. There was a good deal of activity in the area, I spotted a booby diving off in the far distance, but it was to far away to identify or tell exactly what it was. Also in the area were our first Pink-footed Shearwaters and Rhinoceros Auklets.
The Islands
A few more Humpbacks later we arrived at the islands, Roger from the Salty Lady helped Luke find the Brown Boobies on Sugarloaf and shortly there after both boats had spotted the birds. The Puffins were not so easy, both boats spent quite a while helping people see the puffins on the rocks. Of course, later we had great looks at them sitting on the water next to the boat. The Salty Lady had made enough time to get to the shelf and Black-footed Albatross, the Blue Runner did not. Overall Brown Boobies, a Leatherback Turtle and breaching Humpback Whales made for a memorable excursion.
Unofficial species numbers
Clark's Grebe 1
Black-footed Albatross 2 Seen by the Salty Lady
Pink-footed Shearwater 30
Sooty Shearwater 3,000
Brown Pelican 20
Brown Booby 2
Booby sp 1, seen by me only way of in the distance.
Brandt's Cormorant 2,000
Double-crested Cormorant 12
Pelagic Cormorant 8
Red-necked Phalarope 12
Parasitic Jaeger (Marin Co?) 1
Heermann's Gull
California Gull
Western Gull one tinted blue
Caspian Tern
Elegant Tern 100
Common Murre 4,000
Pigeon Guillemot 75
Cassin's Auklet 8
Rhinoceros Auklet 12
Tufted Puffin 10
Mammals
California Sea Lion
Steller's Sea Lion
Harbor Seal
Harbor Porpoise 12
Humpback Whale 10
Leatherback Turtle 1
Alan Hopkins
Click on the murrelet to find out how to reserve a trip.