Captain's Blog

We departed Shelter Island after dawn for a run down to the lower (U.S.) end of the Nine Mile Bank. We found that  the amazing numbers of Common Murres, and Rhinoceros Auklets are still present. After the wind storms of the last two weeks, I say they are doing well enough to tough it through some pretty wild weather. We also had very good numbers of Xantus’s Murrelets, and a fair sprinkling of Cassin’s Auklets for an overall  nice alcid show.
We were surprised to find a small flock of Red-necked Phalaropes decked out in their summer plumage, and got to see a couple of additional groups (with at least two birds still in basic plumage) as the day went on. These  at the early end of the migration with many more to come.
The center of the Nine Mile Bank had a slow but steady stream of newly arrived, north bound Sooty Shearwaters. Black-vented Shearwaters were nearly absent with only three seen. Likely they are already heading for the breeding islands in Baja.
The north end of the Nine Mile was quiet, but “Eagle Eyes” Paul saw a distant dark storm petrel. We gave chase but a small bird like that can move over the swells with ease, and lose itself in any number of troughs.
We headed to La Jolla, picking up more alcids in twos and threes and fives and sixes. Sometimes in mixed groupings, which is always nice for comparisons. We passed a good sized group of south bound Common Dolphin( 200+), of course they had to show off, as Common Dolphin are want to do. We saw three pods of Common Dolphin for the day
La Jolla was a bit disapointing. We worked all the way to the canyon, but never had much to show for it. That area was alive during the Bird Festival trips in early March.
We swung out to the west and then in a big lazy loop. Out here we found one of the better concentrations of Bonaparte’s Gulls, though thin compared to earlier in the month.
This area produced our only whale of the day a smallish, but cooperative Minke Whale. The whale actually paced us for several minutes, and maybe 6 or 7 breath cycle. I think we were being checked out as it stuck it’s rostrum, and eye out of the water each time it surfaced. That gave us a chance to see the white on the pectoral fins. The whale stayed within 30 ft and was not much longer than my 21 ft boat.
We bee-lined south and east to Pt Loma running passed one of the two Jaegers on the day. This one a Parasitic, the other on the outbound, a little further from the Point, a Pomarine.
We took a quick look at Zuniga Jetty, and found a nice mix of rocky shoreline birds, with a Wandering Tattler first, a couple of Black Turnstones, and Tom got a nice  group photo of four alternated plumaged Surfbirds. The Surfbirds likely already in northward migration from points south.
Nice day overall. Good numbers of birds,  pleasant company onboard. What more could one ask for? Would be nice to have a rarity, but  any day at sea is better than staying home. The sun even broke out for us as we arrived home.
The following is a list of birds seen on the outer reaches of San Diego Bay, and the ocean to about 10 n. miles. 1st number on or over the bay, 2nd the ocean.

Brant   20, 0                                                                                                        Bonaparte’s Gull    0, 50
Surf Scoter   15, 10                                                                                           Heermann’s Gull    1, 2
California Gull    0, 12
Common Loon    3,  4                                                                                     Western Gull   40, 50
Pacific Loon    1, 30
Red-throated Loon   0,  1
Elegant Tern   10,  23
Eared Grebe    1,  3                                                                                          Caspain Tern   4, 1

Sooty Shearwater    0, 44                                                                              Common Murre   0,  30
Black-vented Shearwater  0, 3                                                                    Xantus’s Murrelet   0, 48
Cassin’s Auklet   0, 18
Brown Pelican   40,  14                                                                                    Rhinoceros Auklet   0,  170
Double-crested Cormorant   10, 1
Brandt’s Cormorant   350, 25                                                                        Pomarine Jaeger   0, 1
Parasitic Jaeger    0, 1
Great Blue Heron    1,0
Snowy Egret   1,0

Willet   1, 0
Wandering Tattler   1, 0                                                                                  Barn Swallow   2, 0
Whimbrel   1, 0
Surfbird   6, 0
Black Turnstone   5, 0
Red-necked Phalarope   0,  32

Marine Mammals list;

Common Dolphin    0, 300+
Minke Whale     0, 1
California Sealion   5, 12

Observers; Tom Blackman, Barbara Carlson, Paul Lehman, and Dave Povey.

Time;  6hrs   0700-1300

Distance travel;  63 n. miles

Conditions; Heavy overcast to partly cloudy, visibility hazy to 10 n.miles, air temp low  to mid 60’s, south swell at 3-4ft, west swell at 3-5ft. Winds light to near calm. Sea surface temps 57.3 F to 58.3F. Note we saw a couple of areas of dense pea green algae south of La Jolla.

Dave Povey
April 1, 2012

These are some buff dudes! Team Searcher (Cole Crafton. Kenny Merrell, Joe Soares, Aaron Remy and Capt Art) carry Lee down the fashion trail in Baja California aboard Searcher!

Blue WHALES! Nearshore sightings of blue whales are starting, just in time for our Memorial Day Weekend Blue Whale/Seabird trip. Spaces available. Don’t miss the boat!