Tour #1: Bahia Magdalena

Hello whalewatchers,
We had a spectacular day off of Bahia Magdalena today with a lot of life.
It started off with good bird life and a group of six masked boobies (which was a treat), a Laysan albatross and plenty of shearwaters, frigatebirds and gulls.
After identifying the boobies ,we had a humpback whale breach directly behind the boat and while we circled back around to take a look we spotted two blue whales. We spent a couple of hours with the blue whales and had some great looks with clean water and good sea conditions. We saw one other blue whale in the distance.
After leaving the blue whales we came across two very large groups of long-beaked common dolphin with birds associated with them, and some jumping small tuna as well.
After a “Whales of the World” lecture in the bow, we opened the Searcher boutique for some shopping and then finished the day with breaching humpbacks. We saw at least five humpbacks breaching at different times and we were able to get a close look at one breacher. It was a great way to end the day.
Looking forward to tomorrow and more humpbacks.
More then,
Capt Art

2012-02-12T20:31:26-08:00February 12th, 2012|Trip Reports|

Tour #1: Laguna San Ignacio, day 2

Hello whalewatchers,
We’ve enjoyed another picture-perfect day in Laguna San Ignacio with clear skies and light winds. We started the day with a visit from a cow and calf next to the Searcher. The cow was interested in the anchor line and had a good time rubbing on it for a while. They returned for two more visits throughout the day and they were here right up until we had to leave this afternoon

The pangas had good whalewatching all day with great viewing and close encounters on just about every trip. The last trip of the day provided everyone with a trip of a lifetime with close encounters with a cow and calf.
We also had a trip to the mangroves for one panga. There was an interesting sighting made on that trip, a red tailed tropicbird was seen by all and some good photos to make sure of the ID. Not too many sightings of that bird in this area! Also there was enough interest in going to the beach for the final trip this afternoon for one panga.
We are headed south and look forward to the area outside Bahia Magdalena tomorrow.
More then,
Capt Art

2012-02-24T08:08:09-08:00February 11th, 2012|Trip Reports|

Tour #1: Laguna San Ignacio

Hello all,
Today was our first day in Laguna San Ignacio. It is wonderful to be back in this very special place. The weather was phenomenal with clear skies, warm temperatures and very light winds all day. There are plenty of gray whales here and the group all had a close encounter with a whale. Mostly cows with calves! We viewed all behaviors today with a little mating and a couple of breaches and spyhopping.
The galley is buzzing this evening with happy whalewatchers sharing tales of today. Looking forward to tomorrow as the weather forecast looks favorable.
Can’t stress how great it is to be back here.
Capt Art

2020-07-15T16:35:20-07:00February 10th, 2012|Trip Reports|

Tour #1: Islas San Benito

Hello whalewatchers,
Today was a glorious day at Islas San Benito. There has been some rain here in the recent past because there were some green areas and  flowers in bloom–blue dicks , island mallow, cliff spurge and more. There were plenty of northern elephant seals including hauled out males and females with pups. There was a lack of Guadalupe fur seals in the usual spots, but the large swell might have something to do with it. Some of the group found a colony of about 65 animals on the north side of west island. There were plenty of ospreys on the nests as well. All in all, it was a wonderful day with hiking, photography and wildlife watching
We are currently headed southeast towards Laguna San Ignacio, hoping to arrive just after breakfast tomorrow. We hope to find some whales and dolphins this afternoon.
More tomorrow,
Capt Art

2012-02-09T16:30:49-08:00February 9th, 2012|Trip Reports|

Tour #1–Ensenada and Islas Todos Santos

Hello whalewhatchers,
We are excited to be on our first trip of the 2012 natural history season Today we saw several northbound gray whales, big groups of short-beaked common dolphins. three different species of pinnipeds, plenty of black oystercatches, and peregrine falcon at Islas Toda Santos.
The weather has improved greatly this afternoon with a period of wind just after lunch. The seas are calm now andsthe swell has dissipated. The front from yesterday has passed and the forecast for tomorrow looks promising.
Looking forward to Isla San Benito in the morning where we will anchor the boat and take people ashore for a nice island hike among the elephant seals.
Capt Art

2012-02-09T08:07:32-08:00February 8th, 2012|Trip Reports|

Tour #1 scheduled for departure!

After weeks of glorious and sunny San Diego weather, things turned gray and wet today, just in time for our intrepid whalewatchers to wake up in town or arrive by plane. However, they are headed south to Baja where the sun lives and should have wonderful whales and weather soon enough. Some of our UK guests dealt with cancelled flights due to snow in London, so I guess a little bit of rain won’t get them down!

Stay tuned as the boat enters the whale-y waters of Baja California tomorrow. Smooth sailing!

2012-02-07T16:01:56-08:00February 7th, 2012|Trip Reports|

Pelagic Birding Trip Report Sept. 5-9, 2011

Sept 5-9, 2011 * SEARCHER * San Diego/Channel Islands/Shelf Edge: White-chinned Petrel, 12 Red-billed Tropicbirds

(San Diego) The 95-foot live-aboard Searcher departed San Diego’s Fisherman’s Landing on a sunny, warm Labor Day afternoon, bound for a 5-day pelagic expedition through the Channel Islands, over deep water canyons and along the continental shelf-edge.  We headed to the Nine Mile Bank and worked our way slowly north in a zigzag fashion, following the life zones as we found them until the sunset as we were west of Oceanside.

Read the Full Report Here

2011-11-23T16:15:17-08:00November 23rd, 2011|Trip Reports|

Pelagic Birding Trip: Day 3

Today was a good day for seabirds and for whales. We saw sperm whales, blue whales,  fin whales, Baird’s beaked whales and Pacific white-sided and common dolphins.

We added lots of shearwaters to our list and had a really good look at three south polar skuas flying around the boat. The passengers were complaining that the birds were too close and they couldn’t get a good picture!

Photo of Black-footed albatross by Tim Worfolk

 

2011-09-16T16:46:03-07:00September 7th, 2011|Trip Reports|

Sightings posted for May 28-30 Whale and Seabird trip

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

2020-07-15T16:35:21-07:00June 9th, 2011|Trip Reports|

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