No Swells

Hello, Seabirders - Shearwater Journey's participants enjoyed yet another wonderful day on Monterey Bay, today. Seas were great, with no swells, and winds were very light from the southeast in the morning. The forecast called for afternoon winds which never materialized. It was one more beautiful day of seabirds and marine mammals!

Highlights

Highlights included the female HARLEQUIN DUCK, still in the harbor; a very nice show of a single MINKE WHALE off the Pacific Grove coastline; the first documented, with photographs, LEAST STORM-PETRELS of the fall season; and the first ANCIENT MURRELETS, calling, of the fall season. SOUTH POLAR SKUAS and POMARINE JAEGERS put on a great show for the many, many photographers on board. BLACK, ASHY, and 2 WILSON'S STORM- PETRELS, BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS, NORTHERN FULMAR, PINK-FOOTED, BULLER'S and SOOTY SHEARWATERS were also observed.

Skipper

A special treat today was being out on the "Star of Monterey" with skipper, Nick Lemon. Nick has been a boat captain since 1961 - longer than anyone else in Monterey Bay. In fact, when he received his license he was the youngest person ever to acquire a captain's license in California. It was a joy for me to spend such a beautiful day with Nick.

Leaders

Shearwater Journeys thanks all of the participants and photographers, and leaders on this day: Luke Cole, Jim Danzenbaker, Jennifer Green, Brian Sullivan, Steve Howell, & Debra Shearwater. Spaces are open on all of our trips on the schedule.

Species List

The complete species report follows for SEPTEMBER 28, 2007 MONTEREY BAY

PACIFIC LOON-1
COMMON LOON-2
EARED GREBE-2
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS-6
NORTHERN FULMAR-21
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER-72
BULLER'S SHEARWATER-23
SOOTY SHEARWATER-20
WILSON'S STORM-PETREL-2
ASHY STORM-PETREL-1000
BLACK STORM-PETREL-1250
LEAST STORM-PETREL-6
BROWN PELICAN-34
BRANDT'S CORMORANT-150
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT-7
PELAGIC CORMORANT-1
HARLEQUIN DUCK-1 female, in the harbor
SURF SCOTER-7
NORTHERN PINTAIL-130
NORTHERN SHOVELER-12
BLACK TURNSTONE-8
SURFBIRD-2
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE-35
RED PHALAROPE-1
SOUTH POLAR SKUA-14
POMARINE JAEGER-25
POMARINE/PARASITIC-1
PARASITIC JAEGER-2
PARASITIC/LONG-TAILED-1
JAEGER sp.-1
HEERMANN'S GULL-87
CALIFORNIA GULL-100
HERRING GULL-1 ad.
WESTERN GULL-200
WESTERN/GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL-1
SABINE'S GULL-3
ELEGANT TERN-27
COMMON TERN-1
ARCTIC TERN-1
COMMON MURRE-12
PIGEON GUILLEMOT-2
ANCIENT MURRELET-2
RHINOCEROS AUKLET-22
SEA OTTER-12
CALIFORNIA SEA LION-150
NORTHERN FUR SEAL-1
NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL-1
HARBOR SEAL-10
MINKE WHALE-1
HUMPBACK WHALE-2
PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN-14
OCEAN SUNFISH-4
BLUE SHARK-3
MOON JELLIES++


SHEARWATERS FOREVER,

DEBI SHEARWATER
PO BOX 190
HOLLISTER, CA 95024
831/637-8527