copyright 2006 Shearwater Journeys

Hi, Seabirders!

This is a compilation report of the Shearwater Journey's September 29 & 30 and October 1 trips from Monterey Bay. This entire weekend was one of the most unforgettable times I've had in recent years. All three days, the seas were glassy calm. Afternoon lighting was just beautiful. I previously reported on the September 30th trip where we documented a STREAKED SHEARWATER. I also reported on the October 1 trip where we documented a MANX SHEARWATER. I forgot to include in that report that we also saw two different dark morph Pink-footed Shearwaters. These dark Pink-foots can be extremely confusing. I did not write a trip report for the September 29th trip. So, the species list is reported here for the first time.

Several enthusiastic birders participated in all three trips, and were very pleased with their results: 40 species of seabirds, including 6 species of shearwaters and 5 species of alcids, and 11 species of marine mammals. Nothing can top the Streaked Shearwater, though.

The species list for Sep 29/Sep 30/Oct 1 follows:

RED-THROATED LOON-1/0/0
COMMON LOON-0/0/1
EARED GREBE-35/7/1
WESTERN GREBE-5/0/0
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS-0/1/3
NORTHERN FULMAR-2/5/0
***STREAKED SHEARWATER-0/1/0
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER-332/245/310
FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER-3/0/4
BULLER'S SHEARWATER-53/25/60
SOOTY SHEARWATER-10,000/2,000/750
MANX SHEARWATER-0/0/1
WILSON'S STORM-PETREL-0/2 or 3/1
ASHY STORM-PETREL-700/8000/6000
BLACK STORM-PETREL-0/200/175
BROWN PELICAN-+/150/+
BRANDT'S CORMORANT-++/900/700
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT-1/0/0
PELAGIC CORMORANT-4/1/1
HARLEQUIN DUCK-1/0/1
NORTHERN PINTAIL-0/0/1
BLACK TURNSTONE-13/0/6
DUNLIN-0/0/4
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE-150/125/55
SOUTH POLAR SKUA-9/26/7
POMARINE JAEGER-32/68/45
POMARINE/PARASITIC-8/10/7
PARASITIC JAEGER-3/6/3
JAEGER sp.-10/12/0
HEERMANN'S GULL-+/250/200
CALIFORNIA GULL-+/1000+/1500+
WESTERN GULL-+/300/400
SABINE'S GULL-5/21/16
ELEGANT TERN-82/48/30
COMMON TERN-3/2/0
COMMON/ARCTIC-0/2/0
ARCTIC TERN-4/0/0
FORSTER'S TERN=0/0/1
COMMON MURRE-40/18/130
PIGEON GUILLEMOT-5/1/3
CASSIN'S AUKLET-1/4/3
RHINOCEROS AUKLET-85/80/50
TUFTED PUFFIN-0/0/1
PEREGINE FALCON-0/0/2
SEA OTTER-+/1/+
CALIFORNIA SEA LION-++/400/500+
NORTHERN FUR SEAL-1/11/0
NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL-3/3/0
HARBOR SEAL-+/+/+
BLUE WHALE-0/2/0
HUMPBACK WHALE-21/18/15
NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN-500/0/750
RISSO'S DOLPHIN-200+/0/11
PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN-80/80/250
DALL'S PORPOISE-25/24/19
OCEAN SUNFISH-3/2/4
BLUE SHARK-0/2/0


Upcoming trips: We have spaces available on the following trips: October 6, 8, 14, 22, & 28 from Monterey, 7 am - 3pm; October 7 and 15 offshore from Monterey, 5:30 am - 5:30 pm; and October 9 and 13 from Bodega Bay. If you would like to make a reservation, please call or email me as soon as possible.

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