The NOAA web site reports 253 gray whale cow/calf pairs and 389 adults/juveniles have passed by the census station in central California. They will count for one more week which makes the season census dates March 28-May 28, 2011.
We are getting ready for the Wildlife Weekend this Memorial Day weekend. Check back to this blog for the wildlife news!
We are hosting an exciting pelagic trip to Guadalupe Island, Mexico in search of the Ainley’s Storm-petrel. In the late fall and winter, the islands surrounding Guadalupe are the home of “Ainley’s” Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa.cheimomnestes). “Ainley’s” is currently considered a subspecies of Leach’s Storm-petrel, but a growing body of evidence, including vocal and genetic differences suggest full species status is warranted.
Join top-notch leaders Steve Howell and Todd McGrath on this prime-time Nov 30-Dec 4, 2011 trip. Many other seabirds are on the target list as well. Click below for details:
http://www.bajawhale.com/pelagic/guadalupe-island-mexico-seabirding-expedition/
Which way should we look?!
So far 118 pairs of gray whale moms and calves have passed by the census station in central California, and NOAA scientists will continue the count until the end of May. The 2010 season only counted 71 pairs. Full report here, including the historical records of the census work with gray whales and other marine life spotted during the annual census:
http://swfsc.noaa.gov/textblock.aspx?Division=PRD&ParentMenuId=211&id=16464
Our ninth annual 5-day deep-water pelagic birding trip will take place from Monday September 5 to Friday September 9, 2011.
September trips from 2003-2009 have amassed an amazing list of species. We find rarities and mega-rarities in deep water along the edge of the continental shelf on nearly every trip. The diverse array of birds seen is a result of a diverse itinerary – from near-shore to inter-islands to the edge of the Continental Shelf.
Click here for sightings lists on previous trips: http://www.bajawhale.com/wildlife-tours/pelagic-birding-tours/
NEW PRE-TRIP EXTENSION: Guests who sign up for the 2011 pelagic trip may participate in a special field trip to the Salton Sea led by Todd McGrath (one of your Searcher trip leaders) and sponsored by the Buena Vista Audubon Society on Sunday, September 4, the day before you board Searcher. Learn more here: http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/saltonseasep42011.html
AND THERE’S MORE: Participants who come to San Diego in advance of the pelagic trip may join us for a presentation by Todd McGrath at the Ramada Limited Motel. He will share photos, review possible sightings and offer insights for getting most out of your trip. Free to all! Sunday, September 4 at 7 p.m.
We love the story about the amazing gray whales of Laguna San Igancio published today in UK’s Daily Mail today, but an “old trout?!”
And best of all, scroll down to the video at the bottom–that was taken by Searcher passenger Matt Dillon on the early March, 2011 tour! Capt Aaron and his passengers are featured in it. Well, really the whales are the stars…
Hello whalewatchers,
Well our final day of 2011 season is here and we started the day in a great place at a great time–sunrise at Punta Colorado Isla San Jose. This is one of my favorite places in all of Baja.Thank you to Ilka Serpell who took this shot of Searcher at Punta Colorado earlier this year.
We had a beach walk on this beautiful island and then started south towards Los Islotes looking for whales. We saw a juvenile humpback and a fin whale in windy conditions. We arived at Los Islotes and the wind died and we were able get a skiff ride and a snorkel in. We had great looks at blue-footed boobies and lots of sea lions.
We ended the trip by seeing a big group of long-beaked common dolphin and then had a quick look at a dwarf sperm whale.
What a great day for our final day! And what an incredible season we had with really good whale sightings all season and terrific guests! I can’t say enough about the people we met this year and how much fun we all had.
Thank you all so very much for joining us this year and we hope to see some of you in the future.
Keep checking my blog as we’ll continue to report from the San Diego area and about our upcoming Memorial Day Wildlife Weekend.
Capt Art
Hello whalewatchers,
Well today we started our day at Bahia Agua Verde with a great sunrise and a beach walk, followed by a snorkel. There were a few schools of mobulas around and everyone got a good look at them leaping out of the water. We departed there and saw a good group of bottlenose dolphin. We stopped at Bahia Tambobiche for some birding and then moved on to Nopolo Village for the final stop of the day. We got great views of the endemic Xantus hummingbird and more there.
Tonight was margarita night and back deck buffet with Chef Charles’s famous ribs and Steve’s famous potato salad. What a team!
We are headed to Punta Colorado tonight and will visit there at daylight tomorrow.
More then,
Capt Art
Spring is shaping for a great offshore whalewatching and seabird season. Regular sightings of fin and humpback whales have been fantastic and we expect the migration to be in full swing for blue whales and seabirds. Surround yourself with wildlife for a weekend!
We have a dozen spaces open, so book yourself today. May 28-30, 2011 (over the holiday weekend). We’ll have Terry Hunefeld as your seabird guide and Dr Tom Jefferson as your marine mammal guide, plus our fabulous Searcher crew!
