copyright 2006 Shearwater Journeys

Hello, Seabirders,

Shearwater Journey's annual pelagic trip to the Farallon Islands was held on August 6th. Under totally gorgeous skies and seas, we enjoyed outstanding views of a dozen TUFTED PUFFINS, the target species for this trip. Two boats of birders departed from Sausalito for the islands at 8 am. The skies were bright, sunny, (no fog!), and seas were calm and it was a balmy, warm day. We not only enjoyed great views of the islands and their associated breeding seabirds, but also the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline, normally enshrouded in fog. Seabird highlights included 1 MANX SHEARWATER (seen only by one of the boats), 1 NORTHERN FULMAR (again, seen by only one of the boats), PINK-FOOTED and SOOTY SHEARWATERS, RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, thousands of COMMON MURRES, at least 200 PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, 30 CASSIN'S AUKLETS, 8 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, the TUFTED PUFFINS with their golden tufts blowing in the wind, a dozen HUMPBACK WHALES, HARBOR PORPOISES on the shelf, and fantastic views of a male ORCA!

Whenever two boats are doing a trip, there is always the possibility that one boat will see some species that the other boat will not see, especially if the birds are flying by, even if the boats are within sight distance of each other. This was the case for August 6th. But, overall, we did pretty much see the same species suite, and even close to the same numbers of birds. This trip always sells out, every year, and usually by June 1st. Even adding a second boat, we still had to turn people away from the trip. Shearwater Journeys only does one trip to the Farallon Islands. The purpose of the trip is to see Tufted Puffins, which we have a 100% success rate of accomplishing this. The second reason to go on this trip, is to see the islands, and experience the sights and sounds of the largest nesting seabird colony south of Alaska on the west coast. To protect the nesting seabirds, landing is not permitted on the islands. However, hearing the squeaky calls of the Pigeon Guillemots, and gutteral calls of the Common Murres, and seeing the alcids flying in and out of their nesting sites, is quite a spectacle. Because the trip out to the islands is on the continental shelf, very few true seabirds are found on this trip. Hence, no albatrosses and few jaegers and other species. Even though we did get beyond the shelf on this trip, there were precious few seabirds around. This is not always the case, but it was on this day. If you really want to see albatrosses and lots of shearwaters and possibly storm-petrels, you should do this trip in combination with a Bodega Bay or Monterey trip, where we hit the edge of the shelf early in the day.

The total species list follows:

NORTHERN FULMAR-1
SOOTY SHEARWATER-2000
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER-2
MANX SHEARWATER-1
BROWN PELICAN- 1000's
BRANDT'S CORMORANT-1000's
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT-100
PELAGIC CORMORANT-20
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE-35
RED PHALAROPE-2
JAEGER Sp.-2
HEERMANN'S GULL-10
CALIFORNIA GULL-10
WESTERN GULL-1000's
ELEGANT TERN-75
CASPIAN TERN-2
COMMON MURRE-1000's
PIGEON GUILLEMOT-200+
CASSIN'S AUKLET-35
RHINOSCEROS AUKLET-8
TUFTED PUFFIN-12
CALIFORNIA SEA LION-600
STELLER'S SEA LION-1 male
NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL-10
HARBOR SEAL-12
HUMPBACK WHALE-12
KILLER WHALE-3
RISSO'S DOLPHIN-15
HARBOR PORPOISE-10-12


The leaders for this trip were Alan Hopkins, Lisa Hug, Steve Howell, and Debra Shearwater. The sea surface temperature was 59-60 F.

Our annual Farallon Islands trip for next year is scheduled for Sunday, August 5, 2007.

Shearwater Journeys has a number of upcoming pelagic trips, as this is the beginning of the fall seabird migration. From MONTEREY: Aug 11 & 18 and Sep 3, 9, 11, 22. 23, 29, Oct 1, 6, 8, 22, and 28. Our Albacore-Offshore Monterey trips are scheduled for Sep 10 (limited spaces available), Sep 30, Oct 7 & 15. These trips run from 5:30 am until 5:30 pm and specifically search for Xantus and Craveri's Murrelets. They are also excellent for finding South Polar Skua and lots of jaegers. From FORT BRAGG, we have trips running Aug 13, 25, & 26 and Sep 17. These trips depart from Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg at 6:30 am on the TREK II. From BODEGA BAY, we have trips running on Aug 15 & 28 and Sep 8, 15, 24 (limited spaces), and Oct 9 & 13. Spaces are available on all of these trips at this time.

RESERVATIONS: You can secure a reservation by sending a check or money order to Debra Shearwater at PO Box 190, Hollister, CA 95924. Be sure to include your name, address, phone/email, for each person signing up, and the date of the trip(s). Please note: Debra will be out of the office, beginning August 11th, either on a boat, driving to a boat, or working her booth at the British Bird Fair until August 29th. For reservations during the period Aug 12-28 ONLY, please contact Jennifer Green at greenotr@cruzio.com, or 831/479-3521.

Thank you to all the wonderful folks who made the Farallon Islands' trip such a great success! Hope to see you out there.

Shearwaters forever,
Debra Love Shearwater
Shearwater Journeys
www.shearwaterjourneys.com
debi@shearwaterjourneys.com
PO Box 190
Hollister, CA 95024 USA
831/637-8527


"Real birds eat squid." -Tony Marr