P.O. Box 190, Hollister, CA 95024 USA Phone: 831-637-8527 E-mail
Farallon Islands
August 5, 2007
by Debra Shearwater
Photos © 2007 by Don Doolittle
Howdy, Seabirders,
The seabirding season is popping along! Shearwater Journey's pelagic trip to the Farallon Islands on August 5th was a resounding success! We maintained our 100% record of finding TUFTED PUFFINS, with at least 23 individuals spotted. Additional highlights of the day included two BROWN BOOBIES on Sugarloaf, Southeast Farallon Island, a LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE, breaching HUMPBACK WHALES, BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES, and thousands of seabirds. The sights and sounds of so many seabirds carrying on their breeding activities at the rock cliffs was fantastic.
PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, carrying fish in their beaks, and their high pitched calls and chatters were everywhere. The Brown Boobies were an added bonus, and a San Francisco County bird for just about everyone (including Alan Hopkins, who does not add very many new species to his list!)
For the third year running, Shearwater Journeys had two completely sold out boats out on this day. Leaders on the "Blue Runner" were Alan Hopkins and Jennifer Green. Leaders on the "Salty Lady" were Luke Cole, Don Doolittle, and Debra Shearwater. We thank the many great participants who made this trip. Some folks who did both the Monterey August 4th trip, and the Farallon Islands trip, saw both Tufted and Horned Puffins on this weekend! The combined species list for both boats follows.
CLARK'S GREBE-1
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS-6
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER-80
SOOTY SHEARWATER-4000
BROWN BOOBY-2
BOOBY sp.-1 (seen by Alan Hopkins)
BROWN PELICAN-200
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT-12
BRANDT'S CORMORANT-2000+
PELAGIC CORMORANT-20
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE-15
WESTERN GULL-1000+
HEERMANN'S GULL-100
CALIFORNIA GULL-+
ELEGANT TERN-50
CASPIAN TERN-2
COMMON MURRE-4000
PIGEON GUILLEMOT-150
CASSIN'S AUKLET-10
RHINOCEROS AUKLET-12
TUFTED PUFFIN-23
HUMPBACK WHALE-12
HARBOR PORPOISE-15
CALIFORNIA SEA LION-+
NORTHERN FUR SEAL-+
NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL-+
STELLER'S SEA LION-1
LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE-1
Upcoming Shearwater Journeys' trips with spaces available from Bodega Bay include:
August 12;
September 7, 14, 30;
October 8 & 19
and from Fort Bragg:
August 9, 10, 26;
September 5 & 16.
August 12th is sold out, sorry. Please email Debra Shearwater for reservations on these trips. Hope to see you out there!
Shearwaters forever,
Debra
Shearwater Journeys
PO Box 190
Hollister, CA 95024 USA
831/637-8527
Click on the murrelet to find out how to reserve a trip.