Pelagic Birding Tours

Bird ABA’s southernmost borders and beyond

Spend several days offshore over deep-water canyons, underwater seamounts, and around islands of the southern California bight. Our 5-day tour travels north over the 9 Mile Bank, weaves through the Channel Islands, and continues past Point Conception to Arguello Canyon, Rodriguez Dome, San Juan Seamount and wherever the seabirds lead us.

A history of stellar sightings

Since our first trips in 2003, we have amassed an amazing list of species which include: Black-footed and Laysan Albatross; Northern Fulmar; Murphy’s, Cook’s, Bulwer’s, White-chinned, and Hawaiian Petrel; Flesh-footed, Buller’s Pink-Footed, Sooty, and Black-vented Shearwaters; Least, Leach’s, Ashy, and Black Storm-Petrels; Red-billed and Red-tailed Tropicbirds; Red and Red-necked Phalaropes; South Polar Skua; Pomarine, Parasitic, and Long-tailed Jaegers; Sabine’s Gull; Arctic Tern; Pigeon Guillemot; Common Murre; Cassin’s and Rhinoceros auklets. Offshore San Diego is prime for locating Guadalupe, Scripps’, and Craveri’s Murrelets in ABA waters.

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Round-trip from San Diego, California

All-inclusive price!

5-day/4-night trip cost includes:
  • all meals and snacks
  • all beverages including beer and wine
  • shared accommodations in air-conditioned cabins
  • expert on-board birding leaders
  • souvenir coffee mug and water bottle
  • pre-trip evening program by leaders

View Schedule

Awesome food and service from the captain to the deckhands to the chef. Trip was well-planned for maximizing birds. The gold standard of pelagic trips.
Ron Weeks, September, 2019

Great trip! Thanks for getting on the birds, great meals, and care/attention from the crew!

K Gabriel, September 2020

5-day Itinerary

Our signature birding voyage

San Diego

Board Searcher at Fisherman’s Landing by 11 a.m. for passenger orientation. Depart at noon. Spend the day birding to the 9 Mile Bank and other underwater banks, ridges and canyons.

Offshore

Our second day at sea will find us in the Channel Islands. From there we travel north and west to deeper waters, past Point Conception to Arguello Canyon, Rodriguez Dome.

Offshore

Today finds us in 2,000 fathom waters where we explore the known Pterodroma corridors near San Juan Seamount and other seamounts at and past the edge of the Continental Shelf, where the rarities roam.

Offshore

Search the area 40 miles southwest of the Cortez Bank, 150 miles offshore – as far southwest as anyone can get in the ABA area.

Return to San Diego

Arrive Fisherman’s Landing, San Diego by 8 a.m.

Sightings Archive

See What’s Out There

Variety is the spice of the pelagic