Monday, August 11, 2014

MONTEREY SEABIRDS: TRIP REPORT AUGUST 8, 2014 with SHEARWATER JOURNEYS

Howdy, Birders,
Monterey seabirds came through at the last minute when two TUFTED PUFFINS flew toward our boat, and circled us on Shearwater Journeys's August 8th trip! BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES, SOOTY & PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS & TUFTED PUFFINS, OH MY!
TUFTED PUFFINS had a good breeding season at the Farallon Islands this year with a total of 75 active sites. 
I am getting ahead of myself, though. 
CALIFORNIA SEA LION, on a buoy inside of the harbor.
Passing the MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM, we glimpse the octopus on the far side! 
This is part of their new display, "Tentacles."
This aquarium was recently voted the "Best Aquarium in the World."
More CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS on the buoy just off the aquarium. 
We encountered four PARASITIC JAEGERS, along Cannery Row, as is typical during this time of year. They chase the Elegant Terns. 
BROWN PELICAN long "the row."
Not far off Point Pinos, the first of many BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES flies in. Many albatrosses have been close to shore over the past few weeks, likely due to the presence of loads of squid.

We went to the far corners of the bay in search of storm-petrels, but found none on this day. 
I laid out a large slick which we sat on for an hour, watching BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES pile in. 
A NORTHERN (PACIFIC) FULMAR splashing down on the slick.
I finally got to meet a longtime internet buddy, TOMMY PEDERSEN, who is one of the top World eBirders! Tommy who is Norwegian by birth, lives in the UAE
We thank all the folks who joined us from near and far, and very far, for this day!
The leaders were: Rick Fournier, Jennifer Green, Debi Shearwater. 
All images, Beth Hamel, copyright.
Please do not use without permission.
THE COMPLETE SPECIES LIST FOR SHEARWATER JOURNEYS'S AUGUST 8, 2014 MONTEREY BAY TRIP FOLLOWS: MONTEREY/SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 16/36
NORTHERN FULMAR- 3/6
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 62/59
SOOTY SHEARWATER- 1780/1220
BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER- 2/0
BROWN PELICAN- +
BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 450/0
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT- 1/0
PELAGIC CORMORANT- 6/0
MARBLED GODWIT- 2/0
BLACK TURNSTONE- 3/0
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 56/37
PARASITIC JAEGER- 4/0
HEERMANN'S GULL- +
CALIFORNIA GULL- 26/18
WESTERN GULL- 160/45
ELEGANT TERN- 135/15
COMMON MURRE- 160/205
PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 14/0
RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 0/4
*TUFTED PUFFIN- 2/0 (one adult, one 2nd year?)
SEA OTTER- 4
CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 250
HARBOR SEAL- 4
HUMPBACK WHALE- 4
RISSO'S DOLPHIN- 10
BY-THE-WIND-SAILORS- 20, fewer than on earlier trips
EGG YOLK JELLIES- 2

UPCOMING MONTEREY TRIPS & LEADERS

AUG. 15: TODD MCGRATH, JIM DANZENBAKER, RICK FOURNIER, SOPHIE WEBB, JENNIFER GREEN, DEBI SHEARWATER
AUG. 22: SCOTT TERRILL, RICK FOURNIER, JENNIFER GREEN, DEBI SHEARWATER
SEP. 5: NICK LEVENDOSKY, RICK FOURNIER, JENNIFER GREEN, DEBI SHEARWATER
SEP. 6: SCOTT TERRILL, LINDA TERRILL, DEBI SHEARWATER
SEP. 9: TOM JOHNSON, RICK FOURNIER, DEBI SHEARWATER
SEP. 10: TOM JOHNSON, DEBI SHEARWATER
SEP. 11: JENNIFER GREEN, DEBI SHEARWATER
SEP. 12: DEBI SHEARWATER + TBA
SEP. 13: ALBACORE TRIP: SCOTT TERRILL, LINDA TERRILL, JENNIFER GREEN, DEBI SHEARWATER
SEP. 14: DEBI SHEARWATER + TBA
SEP. 25: JON DUNN, NICK LEVENDOSKY, JIM DANZENBAKER, DEBI SHEARWATER
SEP. 26: KENN KAUFMAN, KIMBERLY KAUFMAN, SCOTT TERRILL, DEBI SHEARWATER
SEP. 27: JIM DANZENBAKER, JENNIFER GREEN, DEBI SHEARWATER
SEP. 28: RICK FOURNIER, MARISSA ORTEGA-WELCH, COURTENAY RAY, DEBI SHEARWATER
OCT. 4: NICK LEVENDOSKY, JENNIFER GREEN, DEBI SHEARWATER
OCT. 11: NICK LEVENDOSKY, RICK FOURNIER, DEBI SHEARWATER
SEE OUR COMPLETE SCHEDULE INCLUDING TRIPS DEPARTING FROM
SEE YOU OUT THERE! 
SHEARWATERS FOREVER,
DEBI SHEARWATER
debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

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