Seabirders on the September 5-9 trip were thrilled to report a very unusual sighting of a southern ocean bird–the white chinned petrel. They are searching around the Channel Islands today and the bird flew past the boat. We should get photos when the birders return on Friday morning! All on board got a new life bird today, including all the esteemed leaders, Todd McGrath, Paul Guris, Terry Hunefeld, and Adam Searcy.
They left the dock about three hours ago and already report seeing all three jaegers and nice shows of fin and blue whales! We are hoping for a birdy afternoon and evening. More reports to follow.
Photo of Northern Fulmar by Tim Worfolk
Klamath, California – In a ceremony screened by tall willows, the Yurok Tribe last week laid to rest a 45-foot (14-meter) gray whale that had delighted residents, passers-by and scientists after swimming into the lower Klamath River with its calf nearly two months ago.
http://www.iol.co.za/scitech/science/environment/whale-s-burial-like-a-rock-concert-1.1122917
Join us for a special springtime visit to beautiful Baja in April, 2012. Spots are selling now for April 7-18–to the gray whale lagoons on the Pacific coast to the gorgeous islands and blue whale waters of the southern Sea of Cortez. Don’t miss out!
Hello whalewatchers,
The other day on our way home from a 4-day fishing trip, we were fortunate to see several blue whales in a concentrated area. We stopped for awhile and watched since it is so great to see blue whales ANY time. It turned out that there were 20 blue whales in a 2-mile area and they were feeding on the surface–that made this sighting even more special!
We were close to the coast, about 190 miles south ast of San Diego. We have seen blue whales in this area in the past. Everyone was amazed with what they saw. People come from all over the globe to get a look at a single blue whale so to see 20 in a very short period of time is really special. I would love to show everyone this special creature!
Capt Art
SATURDAY 28 May 2011
(San Diego) North America’s most luxurious live-aboard birding vessel – SEARCHER – sailed on a three day adventure weekend to see seabirds and marine mammals. On the way out of the harbor we saw Caspian, Royal, Elegant and Least Terns. We stopped by the bait tanks to get close ups of the California Sea Lions, Black-crowned Night Herons, Great and Snowy Egrets, Great Blue Herons and Brandt’s and Double-crested Cormorants.
Several miles out to sea we encountered our first Sooty and Pink-footed Shearwaters of the trip. At the Nine Mile Bank we encountered a BROWN BOOBY and our first Black Storm-Petrels. Windy conditions made for challenging alcid and storm-petrel viewing conditions. Crossing into the deep water between the Nine and Thirty Mile Banks we encountered two SABINE’S GULLS our first two BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES, two Xantus’s Murrelets, our first Cassin’s Auklets and several California Flying Fish in San Diego County waters.
Beyond the Thirty Mile Bank we crossed into Los Angeles County Waters encountering another Black-footed Albie and 100 Short-beaked Common Dolphin. Three Brown Pelicans were unusually far offshore 30 – 40 miles from the mainland.
We found quiet waters in San Clemente Island’s Pyramid Cove where we had dinner, spent the night, and breakfasted Sunday morning before riding the swells southeast to the Los Coronados Islands about 9 miles south of the US/Mexican border.
SUNDAY
We encountered our first SOUTH POLAR SKUA 6 miles southeast of San Clemente Island, and a second Skua 9 miles south east of the island, plus an alternate plumaged Red Phalarope and a Northern Fulmar. (LA County.)
We encountered eight ARCTIC TERNS about 35 miles wsw of Point Loma in LA County waters. Also seen between San Clemente and the Coronados Islands was a Fin Whale, an Ashy Storm-Petrel and 40 Leach’s Storm-petrels, at least 20 with white rumps (presumably nominate) and eleven dark-rumped (presumably Chapman’s) – the others too distant to identify to subspecies.
At the Los Coronados Islands we saw two Black Oystercatchers on North Island and counted 26 Brown Boobies on Middle Rock. Participants enjoyed good looks at Harbor and Elephant Seals. The number of Brown Pelicans on North Island far exceeded last year’s counts where few young were seen. This trip we counted more than 800 Brown Pelicans – more than 600 of them were young “birds of the year.”
MONDAY
Monday morning dawned bright and clear with 10 knot winds. Another Black Oystercatcher was seen on South Island as we traveled six miles south from the Coronados Islands (11 miles offshore of Rosarito) and discovered a rich life zone, spending several hours in the midst of 5 or 6 enormous Blue Whales plus a close encounter with a Minke Whale.
Memorial Day sightings in this life zone in Mexican waters included COMMON MURRE (1), BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS (2) and SOUTH POLAR SKUA (1), all about six miles south of the islands as we enjoyed the whale show and 11 miles west of Rosarito. Also in this krill rich environment we saw 22 Xantus’s Murrelets, 40 Cassin’s Auklets and 250 Sooty Shearwaters – all enjoying their Memorial Day breakfasts.
Upon returning to United States waters we encountered an adult male BROWN BOOBY eight miles ssw of Point Loma flying towards the Coronados Islands.
Terry’s Pelagic List Grand Totals
| Pacific Loon | 25 |
| Black-footed Albatross | 5 |
| Northern Fulmar | 1 |
| Pink-footed Shearwater | 133 |
| Sooty-Shearwater | 447 |
| Black Storm-Petrel | 183 |
| Ashy Storm-Petrel | 1 |
| Leach’s Storm Petrel (total) | 40 |
| Leach’s nominate | 20 |
| Brown Booby (US waters) | 2 |
| Brown Booby (Mexican waters) | 26 |
| Black Oystercatcher | 3 |
| Red Phalarope | 1 |
| Heermann’s Gull | 7 |
| California Gull | 9 |
| Western Gull | 730 |
| Sabine’s Gull | 2 |
| Elegant Tern | 43 |
| Royal Tern | 11 |
| Caspian Tern | 2 |
| Arctic Tern | 8 |
| Least Tern | 15 |
| South Polar Skua | 3 |
| Common Murre | 1 |
| Xantus’s Murrelet | 31 |
| Cassin’s Auklet | 53 |
| Blue Whale | 5 |
| Fin Whale | 1 |
| Minke Whale | 1 |
| Risso’s Dolphin | 10 |
| Bottlenose Dolphin | 47 |
| Common Dolphin (total) | 151 |
| Short-beaked Common Dolphin | 105 |
| California Sea Lion | 278 |
| Elephant Seal | 8 |
| Harbor Seal | 20 |
| Mola Mola | 2 |
| California Flying Fish | 6 |
Dave Povey’s “by the area: numbers and his totals:
Area #1 San Diego Bay , May 28th
Area #2 Pt. Loma to the outer edge of the Nine Mile Bank ( 0-12n.m. )
Area #3 The outer edge of the Nine Mile Bank thru the 30 Mile Bank (12-30n.m.)
Area #4 The 30 Mile Bank to about 5 n. miles from Pyramid Cove, San Clemente Is. (30-55n.m.)
Area #5 Pyramid Cove and the s.e. end of San Clemente Is. May 28-29th
Area #6 5 n.miles from Pyramid Cove to the Mexican Border (55-25n.miles)
Area #7 The Mexican Border to within 2 n. miles of N. Coronado Is. (25-14n. miles)
Area #8 The Coronado Islands, May 29-30th.
Area #9 from 2n.m from the Middle Rock, of the Coronado Is. to the south, west and north. (15-8n.m.)
Area #10 From the Mexican Border to Point Loma ( 8 to 0 n.m. ).
* * * * * *
areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, = total ( bold are Mexican birds)
Pacific Loon 0, 8, 0, 0, 2, 0, 0, 15, 0, 0, =25
Osprey 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, = 2
Black-ft. Albatross 0, 0, 2, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 0, =5
N. Fulmar 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, =1
Pink-ft. Shearwater 0, 21, 29, 38, 0, 12, 22, 0, 11, 0 =133
Sooty Shearwater 0, 36, 25, 18, 2, 44, 50, 7, 250, 15 =447
Black Storm Petrel 0, 20, 46, 12, 0, 100, 4, 0, 1, 0 =183
Ashy Storm Petrel 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0 = 1
Leach’s Strom Petrel 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 25, 3, 0, 0, 0 = 28
Wht-rump 16, 0
Dark-rump 9, 3
Brown Booby 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 26, 0, 1 =28
Brown Pelican 120, 68, 6, 3, 40, 5, 8, 600, 4, 30 =884
Double-cr. Cormorant 5, 1, 0, 0, 4, 0, 0, 10, 1, 2 = 23
Brandt’s Cormorant 250, 15, 1, 1, 45, 0, 3, 85, 4, 12 = 416
Pelagic Cormorant 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 0, 0 = 2
Great Blue Heron 6, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 = 6
Great Egret 8, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 = 8
Snowy Egret 11, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 = 11
Black-cr. Nigth Heron 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 = 1
Black Oystercatcher 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 3, 0, 0 = 3
Red Phalarope 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0 = 1
Heermann’s Gull 3, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 2, 0 =7
Western Gull 75, 60, 35, 40, 100, 25, 15, 300, 50, 30 = 730
California Gull 1, 5, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 0 = 9
Sabine’s Gull 0, 0, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 = 2
Elegant Tern 0, 15, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 8, 5, 14 = 43
Royal Tern 2, 3, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 5, 0, 0 = 11
Caspian Tern 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 = 2
Least Tern 0, 9, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 6 = 15
Arctic Tern 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 8, 0, 0, 0, 0 = 8
Common Murre 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0 = 1
Xantus’s Murrelet 0, 0, 2, 0, 0, 4, 2, 1, 22, 0 = 31
Cassin’s Auklet 0, 5, 4, 0, 0, 2, 2, 0, 40, 0 = 53
South Polar Skua 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 0, 0, 1, 0 = 3
jaeger sp. 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 = 1
Red-cr. Parrot 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 = 2
Cliff Swallow 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0 = 1
Barn Swallow 4, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 = 4
Mammals
Blue Whale 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 2 = 3
Fin Whale 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0 = 1
Minke Whale 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0 =1
Risso’s Dolphin 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 5+, 0, 0, 0 = 5
Bottle-nosed Dolphin 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 12, 5, 30, 0 = 47
Common Dolphin 0, 0, 0, 6, 100+, 10, 0, 0, 35, 0 = 151
Short-beaked 65, 10, 35, = 105
sp 6, 35, = 41
Calif. Sealion 50, 8, 2, 1, 12, ,3, 4, 175, 15, 6, 2 = 278
Harbor Seal 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 20, 0, 0 = 20
Elephant Seal 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 8, 0, 0 = 8
Fish;
Mola mola (Ocean Sunfish) 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0 = 2
Flying Fish sp. 0, 0, 4, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 = 6
Dave Povey 6-2-2011
http://www.youtube.com/user/thunefeld?blend=1&ob=5
Thanks to Terry Hunefeld, videographer and pelagic bird leader.
The Wildlife Weekend passengers got the break they were looking for…better weather! Then there were THREE blue whales and a minke whale to add some large cetacean sightings to the sightings list. A full report will follow!
…a BLUE WHALE! Capt Art finally has the conditions we hoped for (no wind) and has found a beautiful blue for Wildlife Weekenders to watch. Full report later!
Hello all,
Our conditions have been less than perfect so far this trip, with big seas and strong winds. We made it out to San Clemente island yesterday evening and had very difficult conditions. Our sightings were good until lunch time. We had sooty and pink-footed shearwaters, black-footed albatross, black storm petrel, Sabines gulls, and Arctic tern. We didn’t see any marine mammals yesterday which was a disappointment.
We anchored in Pyramid Cove last night and then headed east today with 30 knot winds and 8 foot seas. Thankfully we were going the same direction as the sea and swell ,so it made for a comfortable ride. We weren’t able to turn on any birds or whales, so we looked at whatever came by.
We had several shearwaters and storm petrels–both black and leach’s. A south polar skua was the bird of the day! We did see several short-beaked common dolphin and as we approached the Coronado Islands, we saw a few Rissos dolphin and some bottlenose dolphins.
We toured the Coronado Islands and saw oystercatchers, brown boobys, double crested, brandts and pelagic comorants, and hundreds of juvenile brown pelicans. In the pinnipeds, we saw northern elephant seal, harbor seal and Californina sea lion.
We have high hopes for tomorrow, with the forecast calling for less wind and swell. We will go west of the Coronado Islands and then northwest towards the nine mile bank in hopes of seeing dolphins and whales that we can actually stop and look at.
More tomorrow,
Capt Art
