Weather

Hello, Seabirders - More puffy clouds and RAIN this morning could not dampen the Shearwater Journey's pelagic trip today on Monterey Bay! I was remiss in not mentioning how beautiful the clouds and lighting were on yesterday's trip - a delight for photographers. In fact, the singular highlight of the past two days could well be our unusual weather. This morning it was raining at the dock! This low pressure system from Canada made its way south, only to spin around, and head north today. This is dramatic weather for those of us who live in the Mediterranean climate of coastal California. We were not slowed down at all!

Highlights

Highlights of today's trip included: the same SABINE'S GULL IN THE HARBOR; 2 FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATERS; four species of STORM- PETRELS: 6 or 7 WILSON'S, 2 FORK-TAILEDS, 10,000 ASHYS, and 2000+ BLACKS! The predicted increase in the number of BLACK STORM-PETRELS was borne out today. The southerly movement of seabirds will likely continue for the next two days. The climax at the end of a fantastic day of seabirding was eight KILLER WHALES in glassy-smooth water!

Upcoming Trips

Spaces are still available for tomorrow's trip, and Monday's trip. The marine forecast continues to be excellent. All of the trips for the remainder of our fall season also have spaces open.

Species List

We thank all of the participants and leaders of today's trip: Brian Sullivan, Jennifer Green, Steve Howell, Michael O'Brien, & Debra Shearwater. The complete species list follows:

SEPTEMBER 22, 2007 MONTEREY BAY


COMMON LOON-1
PACIFIC LOON-1
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS-4 or 5
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER-255 (1 DARK MORPH)
FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER-2
BULLER'S SHEARWATER-55
SOOTY SHEARWATER-110
WILSON'S STORM-PETREL-6 or 7
FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL-2
ASHY STORM-PETREL-10,000
BLACK STORM-PETREL-2000+
BROWN PELICAN-150
BRANDT'S CORMORANT-550
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT-1
PELAGIC CORMORANT-1
BLACK TURNSTONE-4
WESTERN SANDPIPER-40
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE-28
MARBLED GODWIT-1
WILLET-7
SOUTH POLAR SKUA-7
POMARINE JAEGER-20
POMARINE/PARASITIC-3
PARASITIC JAEGER-1
JAEGER sp.-1
HEERMANN'S GULL-40
CALIFORNIA GULL-110
WESTERN GULL-150
SABINE'S GULL-6 (1 in the harbor, determined to be injured)
ELEGANT TERN-14
COMMON MURRE-34
PIGEON GUILLEMOT-2
RHINOCEROS AUKLET-24
SEA OTTER-6
CALIFORNIA SEA LION-150
NORTHERN FUR SEAL-1
HARBOR SEAL-10
HUMPBACK WHALE-7
KILLER WHALE-8 (2 ad. males, 2 ad. females + others)
RISSO'S DOLPHIN-10
DALL'S PORPOISE-16
OCEAN SUNFISH-2
BLUE SHARK-3


Storm-petrels forever,

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