Here are some snapshots from the Mexico Pelagic Birding Tour, which included Isla Guadalupe, Alijos Rocks, Isla Socorro, and many offshore locations
Townsend’s shearwaters, Socorro wrens, Ainley’s storm-petrels, and many other fascinating sightings were enjoyed by 24 passengers and leaders. Many thanks to WildWings for their organization of this journey.
Birders in the bow photographing Storm petrels.
Hello birders,
We were traveling all day today. We are headed to Cabo San Lucas for arrival tomorrow morning. We stopped for a final fish oil slick at about 95 miles south of Cabo. We attracted Least and Leach’s storm petrels; Pomarine jaegers; and Brown, Red-footed and Masked boobies–a great way to end a birding trip to Mexico!
Since this was the first trip of its kind from San Diego to Guadalupe Island and the Revillagigedo islands to Isla Socorro, we would consider this a huge success. Two species were at the top of the list: Ainley’s storm petrel at Isla Guadalupe and Townsend’s shearwater at Isla Socorro, and we were able to locate and observe them both.
We learned much about all these birding locations and so when we return next year ,we will have a better idea where to go and a much more defined itinerary. We can’t wait to go back! Many thanks to the organization that made this happen–WildWings, John Brodie-Good, and leaders Chris Collins and Steve Howell.
Photo today is a Pomarine jaeger.
Team Searcher
Hello birders,
For day two at Isla Socorro Island we started just after daylight with a skiff ride to Playa Blanca, adjacent to Cabo Henslow. The group had plenty of views of the Socorro wren in the 2 hours they were out in some windy conditions. We left there and circled the island for the rest of the morning, going around the north-end and down the northeast side of the island. Unfortunately there wasn’t much life. We wanted to check that side of the island in case we missed something yesterday.
We ended up 9 miles south of the island looking at boobies, frigates and terns, hoping to find more shearwaters. We worked back towards the island with the sun at our backs. We came across 3 Townsend’s shearwaters for our efforts today–a little disappointing as we hoping for more birds today.
We would consider our visit here a success locating Townsend’s shearwaters. We are headed north tonight with a day at sea and arrival Tuesday morning in Cabo San Lucas.
Photo today is Cabo Henslow. We saw several hundred boobies leaving there early this morning. It is a very pretty location.
Team Searcher
Hello birders (morning report):
We arrived at Isla Socorro at at daylight today. We experienced some tropical weather to start –20 knot winds and heavy rain. It was a tropical welcome to the island! We checked in with the Mexican navy at their base here, and gave them all the proper documents needed. Then we headed to the southern side of the island, anchored at Grayson Cove and put the skiffs in the water. Almost everyone went out in the skiffs for a coastal cruise. They saw the endemic Socorro Wren from the skiffs!
After lunch we plan to go offshore a few miles and look for the Townsend’s shearwater. Wish us luck!
This is a spectacular island and we are really glad to be here. The photo is our skiffs in Grayson Cove on a coastal cruise.
Team Searcher
Hello birders (day’s end report),
We had success this afternoon finding Townsend’s shearwaters! Windy conditions made it a bit difficult to photograph them close up, but everyone had a chance to see the bird. Approximately 30 shearwaters were seen today along with several Masked, Brown, Red-footed and Blue-footed boobies; Magnificent and Great frigatebirds, Noddy terns, and Socorro wren. We are spending another day here and then we will head towards Cabo tomorrow night.
Team Searcher
Hello birders,
Another day at sea and a good day with light winds and calm seas. With 82 degree sea temp and warm air as well, we are definitely in the tropics! We stopped twice today to put a fish oil slick out and we saw more Leach’s storm-petrels. They have quite a range. We had Red-footed, Masked and Brown boobies joining us from time to time during the day with the occasional Pink-footed shearwater, Jaeger and Red-billed tropicbird.
The highlight for me was a group of Rough-toothed dolphin. We saw a barrel floating with a few dolphin around it and as we got closer, we identified them – a first sighting for me and for the crew. The crew also wanted to see a Red-footed booby and they had lots of opportunities today.
More tomorrow from Isla Socorro.
-Captain Art and Team Searcher
Hello birders,
We ended our day by creating another fish-oil slick and multiple storm petrels came in to our view. Then we enjoyed a small group of common dolphins and a green flash at sunset. After a great dinner of chicken parmesan, salad, and boat-baked bread, we turned off the lights and slowed down to do some star gazing. It was spectacular since we had such clear skies! A few people knew their constellations well, so everyone enjoyed the night sky.
We are headed for Isla Soccorro and are due to arrive tomorrow night.
Team Searcher
Hello all,
We are currently 160 miles off the Baja peninsula and 330 miles from Isla Socorro. We are at the same latitude as the tropic of Cancer and will be in the tropics shortly. The weather is awesome with light winds, calm seas, warm air and the sea temperature is 77 degrees.
We have seen a couple of Masked boobies, a Brown booby, Frigatebirds and plenty of Leach’s storm-petrels associated with our fish oil slick this morning. We are currently travelling after stopping for 2 hours to disperse the fish oil slick. Our plan is to stop again late this afternoon for a couple of hours for more viewing opportunities as we add another slick.Here is a photo of our guests who are enjoying the addition of the shade canopy to the seating area on the stern.
More later,
Team Searcher
Hello birders,
We arrived at Alijos Rocks after lunch today. We motored around the rocks and found a spot to drop the anchor with the correct lighting to see the rocks. We looked at Layson albatross; Red-billed tropicbirds; Frigatebirds; and Masked, Blue-footed and Brown boobies. A few California sea lions and a hammerhead shark came by the boat as well.
We went off the rocks a couple of miles, into deep water, and put out a fish oil slick and attracted several storm petrels, Northern fulmar, Glaucous-winged gull and another albatross.
We are headed back to the rocks to anchor for dinner, and then we will continue southeast towards Isla Socorro, arriving Friday night.
The photo shows people on back deck with Alijos Rocks in background. Lots of room back there with the bait tanks removed!
Team Searcher
Hello birders,
One of the target birds everyone hoped to see came to us! It is an Ainsley’s storm-petrel. We didn’t see any yesterday offshore, but after anchoring at Isla Guadalupe at the south end, we had several come aboard the Searcher! Everyone had an opportunity to see and photograph them. Since this bird is only seen around Isla Guadalupe, it is very special to see it.
We left Isla Guadalupe at 4 am to be offshore at daylight. We stopped just after daylight about 25 miles southeast of the island. We started a fish oil slick and stayed close by for 3.5 hours. There was no sign of Ainsley’s in this area but we see a Layson albatross, Cooks petrel, Leach’s and Least storm-petrels along with some more Northern fulmars. A good morning!
Pictured is the fly bridge where a few passengers were watching the slick just off the bow.
More later,
Team Searcher
Hello!
We started our day 50 miles northeast of Isla Guadalupe at a seamount that rises out of 2000 fathoms, and comes up to 200 fathoms. We laid a large chum slick of Rice Krispies and fish oil. We stayed with the slick for 2 hours and had some good looks at Least, Black and Leach’s storm petrels, along with several Northern fulmars. We left that area and headed to the island of Guadalupe. We stopped at the north end to view the northern elephant seals hauled out on the beach. We counted around 125 seals including six adult males and five adult females with pups.
Our photo is of people on the fly bridge looking at the beach with northern elephant seals.
Team Searcher
p.s. An exciting call came in around 8 p.m.: Many Ainley’s storm-petrels were flying around the boat. This is one of the main target species for this trip, so there was much celebrating on board, including by the leaders Chris Collins and Steve Howell!
