Seabirds All Day Long

Hello, Seabirders - Shearwater Journeys' offshore trip from Monterey yesterday, October 14th was filled with seabirds all day long, from the moment the sun came up! Sea conditions were excellent, and we traveled some 40 miles off Point Pinos. Sea surface temperatures ranged from 55F to 59.3F offshore. There was a constant stream of seabirds. Highlights included: 11 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES; a good movement of 215 NORTHERN FULMARS; 148 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS; 6 FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATERS; 275 BULLER'S SHEARWATERS, many in flocks of 30-60, with beautiful ballet like flights; 305 ASHY STORM-PETRELS; 11 BLACK STORM- PETRELS; 24 SOUTH POLAR SKUAS; 31 POMARINE JAEGERS; 12 SABINE'S GULLS (all adults!); 32 CASSIN'S AUKLETS; 25 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS; 1 SHORT- EARED OWL 38 miles offshore, flying high in the sky! A YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER landed on our boat, was put into a box, and released in a cypress tree in the harbor. A Red-winged Blackbird landed on the boat, and flew off when we reached the harbor. And, a Western Meadowlark landed on the dock during the morning orientation talk! It was a bird-filled day with pleasant sea conditions.

Leaders

Shearwater Journeys thanks all of the participants of this trip, and the leaders: Brian Sullivan, David Vander Pluym, Jennifer Green, Oscar Johnson, & Debra Shearwater. We also thank the participants and leaders of the October 13th trip. Leaders for that trip were: Luke Cole, Clay Kempf, Linda Terrill, Jon Dunn, David Vander Pluym, Oscar Johnson, & Debra Shearwater.

Upcoming Trips

We currently have spaces open on our last Monterey trip of the season, Saturday, October 20th. Only a very few spaces are open on our last Bodega Bay trip of the season, Friday, October 19th. Please contact Debra at debi@shearwaterjourneys.com or 831/637-8527 for a reservation.

Species List

The complete species list for SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2007 FOLLOWS:

WESTERN GREBE-8
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS-11
NORTHERN FULMAR-215
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER-148
FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER-6
BULLER'S SHEARWATER-275
ASHY STORM-PETREL-305
BLACK STORM-PETREL-11
BROWN PELICAN-20
BRANDT'S CORMORANT-20
SURF SCOTER-4
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE-5
RED PHALAROPE-5
SOUTH POLAR SKUA-24
POMARINE JAEGER-31
HEERMANN'S GULL-25
CALIFORNIA GULL-450
HERRING GULL-6
THAYER'S GULL-1
WESTERN GULL-20
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL-3
SABINE'S GULL-12, all adults, all offshore
ELEGANT TERN-4
COMMON MURRE-16
CASSIN'S AUKLET-32
RHINOCEROS AUKLET-25
SHORT-EARED OWL-1, 38 miles offshore
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD-1
WESTERN MEADOWLARK-1, at the dock
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER-2
CALIFORNIA SEA OTTER-5
NORTHERN FUR SEAL-6
HARBOR SEAL-1
HUMPBACK WHALE-3
NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN-8
RISSO'S DOLPHIN-20
PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN-6
DALL'S PORPOISE-8
OCEAN SUNFISH-3

Shearwaters forever,

Debra Shearwater
PO Box 190
Hollister, CA 95024
831.637.8527