[Birdtalk] NORTHERN CA PELAGIC

[James D. McIntyre]

At 7:00 a.m. on Wed September 5, I boarded the TREK II in Fort Bragg, CA
(about 120 miles north of San Francisco) for an all-day pelagic trip off the
northern California coast.  The trip was led by Debra Shearwater and the aim
was to search for 'mega-rarities'.  About 15 birders and 2 crew were
onboard.

 

Outbound we encountered 10-12 foot swells, making it difficult to see
low-flying birds and mammals far from the boat.  Perhaps as a result we saw
no whales.

 

Species seen included (* = lifer for me):

PACIFIC LOON

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS *

NORTHERN FULMAR

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER

BULLER'S SHEARWATER

SOOTY SHEARWATER

BROWN PELICAN

BRANDT'S CORMORANT

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE

LONG-TAILED JAEGER

PARASITIC JAEGER

POMARINE JAEGER

HEERMANN's GULL

CALIFORNIA GULL

COMMON TERN

MARBLED MURRELET *

RHINOCEROS AUKLET *

OSPREY

 

PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN *

DALL'S PORPOISE *

 

Black-footed Albatross breed in the remote atolls and islands of the
Hawaiian Archipelago (Laysan, Midway, Kure, Pearl & Hermes Reef, etc.)
During breeding season these birds may travel great distances to forage - as
far away as the continental shelf off OR and northern CA.  The round trip
may be more than 9300 miles and last more than 2 weeks!  Meanwhile the other
parent remains on the nest to protect the single chick.  These albatross are
threatened by longline (and formerly driftnet) fishing.

 

No mega-rarities, but a great day of seabirding and shooting.  I'll post
some pics soon on NatureScapes (www.naturescapes.net
<http://www.naturescapopes.net/> ).

 

Jim

 

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