Searcher Natural History Tours offers an exciting pelagic trip to bird the offshore ABA waters of Southern California.

Travel north past Point Conception to the Arguello Canyon, Rodriguez Dome, San Juan Seamount, and an outermost seamount 40 miles southwest of Cortez Bank which is 150 miles offshore. We will have three full days of birding along the 2,000-fathom line, around the Channel Islands, and wherever else the birds take us.

Target species will vary with the seasons. During the spring trips we have observed Laysan Albatross, Black-footed Albatross, Northern Fulmar, Murphy's Petrel, Cookileria Petrel, Pink-footed Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Short-tailed Shearwater, Black-vented Shearwater, Leach's Storm-Petrel, Ashy Storm-Petrel, Black Storm-Petrel, Red-billed Tropicbird, Red-necked Phalarope, Red Phalarope, Pomarine Jaeger, Parasitic Jaeger, Long-tailed Jaeger, Sabine's Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, Arctic Tern, Common Murre, Xantus' Murrelet, Cassin's Auklet, and Rhinoceros Auklet. During the fall trip we will be on the lookout for Cook's Petrel, Black Storm-petrel, Least Storm-petrel, Red-billed Tropicbird, all Craveri's Murrelet, and Xantus' Murrelet.

While our primary focus will be on birds, there's also a chance to see several species of cetaceans, including blue, fin, humpback, beaked, and sperm whales.

Bird Blog - Click here to find out what's happening with pelagic birds at sea.

Check our past trip sightings lists:
April 17-21, 2003
April 24-28, 2003
September 4-7, 2003 (Note: this was a 3 day trip)
April 21-25, 2004
April 28- May 2, 2004 (click for trip map)
September 8-12, 2004 (click for trip map)
April 13-16, 2005 (click for trip report)
September 5-9, 2005 (click for trip report)
April 26-30, 2006 (Click for trip report)
September 4-8, 2006 (Click for trip report)
April 14-18, 2007 (Click for trip report)
September 3-7, 2007 (Click for trip report)
June 2-6, 2008 (Click for trip report)
Sept. 1-5, 2008 (Click for trip report)
Sept. 7-11, 2009 (Click for trip report)

Departure	Arrival	Cost
Monday, Sept. 6, 2010	Friday, Sept. 10, 2010	$1,075
There will be 28 birders and four leaders/guides. A 50% deposit is due at the time of reservation. The balance is due 30 days prior to the trip. 90% of the deposit is refundable if you cancel more than 60 days prior to departure.

Click here to find out what our customers have said about our birding trips!

If you have any questions regarding the birds we may see, please contact Terry Hunefeld at thunefeld@gmail.com.