copyright 2006 Shearwater Journeys

Hello, Seabirders!

This is a trip report for Shearwater Journey's October 8, 2006 pelagic trip from Monterey. Conditions were very good, with winds light and small swells of 2-4 feet. Sea surface temperature ranged from 59-61F. A MANX SHEARWATER spotted by leader Clay Kempf 1 mile off Lover's Point was the first shearwater of the morning. NORTHERN FULMAR numbers picked up, while SOOTY SHEARWATERS decreased, most of them having departed for the southern hemisphere. The remaining Sootys are non-breeders. BULLER'S SHEARWATER was the most abundant shearwater of the day, although PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS were still present in good numbers. A single FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER was found. Either swells prevented us from finding the storm-petrel flocks, or they moved elsewhere-20 ASHYS and 2 BLACK STORM-PETRELS were found. A single SABINE'S GULL made a brief appearance, most having departed already. Jaegers continued to give us a good show - 8 SOUTH POLAR SKUAS, 28 POMARINES, and 3 PARASITICS. The PEREGRINE falcon was on the radio tower on Cannery Row and the HARLEQUIN DUCK was just outside the Coast Guard Breakwater. We are thinking that the Harlequin Duck may be a hatch year male. Time will tell.

The leaders for this trip were: Clay Kempf, Gerry McChesney, Ryan Terrill, Matt Brady, & Debi Shearwater. Many thanks to all who participated. The complete species list follows.

A few spaces remain on our Oct 14 trip from Monterey. Our last offshore trip from Monterey will be on Sunday, October 15th. Our last two trips from Monterey this fall will be Oct 22 & 28. Both have spaces available. And, finally, our last fall trip this season from Bodega Bay will be TOMORROW!! There is space for anyone who wants to show up for this trip: be at Port O'Bodega at 6:30 am. For reservations for any of the other trips, it is best to email me as soon as possible.

Species list for OCTOBER 8, 2006 MONTEREY:

COMMON LOON
EARED GREBE-2
WESTERN GREBE-1
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS-12
NORTHERN FULMAR-20
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER-175
BULLER'S SHEARWATER-325
SOOTY SHEARWATER-50
MANX SHEARWATER-1
ASHY STORM-PETREL-20
BLACK STORM-PETREL-2
BROWN PELICAN-+
BRANDT'S CORMORANT-300
HARLEQUIN DUCK-1
BLACK TURNSTONE-6
SOUTH POLAR SKUA-8
POMARINE JAEGER-28
POMARINE/PARASITIC-2
PARASITIC JAEGER-3
HEERMANN'S GULL-150
CALIFORNIA GULL-450
WESTERN GULL-250
SABINE'S GULL-1
ELEGANT TERN-9
COMMON MURRE-85
PIGEON GUILLEMOT-3
RHINOCEROS AUKLET-24
GREAT EGRET-1
PEREGRINE FALCON-1
SEA OTTER-4-6
CALIFORNIA SEA LION-300
HUMPBACK WHALE-2
NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN-500
RISSO'S DOLPHIN-250
OCEAN SUNFISH-4

Shearwaters forever,
Debi

Shearwater Journeys
PO Box 190
Hollister, CA 95024 USA
831/637-8527

"Real birds eat squid." - Tony Marr