August 26 Trip Report

 By Tim Amaral trip leader  and spotter Photo copyrights by Martijn Verdoes by permission only

We had a great day out on the bay without any megas.  We had all the expected birds except black storm-petrel.  Bird of the day was fork-tailed stormies on both sides of the county line.  Marine mammals gave us a great show:  5 blue, 5 fin, 2 humpback, 1 mystery (beaked?), 6 Dall's, 200+ Pacific white-side, 1 harbor porpoise, 1 northern fur seal, 1 elephant seal.   Perfect conditions, no problems of any kind, and a very happy crowd of passengers.  Dan will be posting to eBird, so everyone can see the trip list.  Thanks for the support everyone;  you all helped make for a great day.

Fork-tailed Storm-petre

Fin Whale

And spotter Matthew Dodder:


Tim managed quite well as our leader today. Despite an out-of-our-control lull-zone, we had many close encounters with Sabine's Gulls, Pomarine Jaegers, both Phalaropes and enough Buller's Shearwaters to choke a horse! There was nothing rare for west-coaters, but there was plenty to keep the out-of-staters happy, especially those with cameras! All around I heard nothing but praise for today's trip. Tim, you did an awesome job of keeping things going and fielding requests.

Buller's Shearwaters

Thanks everyone for another great day on M-bay!

Matthew

Spotter Dan Singer's eBird Report:

Santa Cruz County waters:

Black-footed Albatross  1
Pink-footed Shearwater  20
Buller's Shearwater  33     This species just arriving in Central CA waters. Only a couple birds out of Half Moon Bay on 25 August and one there on 19 Aug. Also had 75 in MTY waters during today's trip. Most were sitting on the water in flocks - 2, 19, 6, 6 in SCZ. Immaculate below with contrasting blackish crown, mostly gray upperparts with striking blackish "M" pattern across wings/back.
Sooty Shearwater  15
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel  2
Ashy Storm-Petrel  5
Red-necked Phalarope  4
Western Gull  X
California Gull  1
Arctic Tern  5
Pomarine Jaeger  1
Rhinoceros Auklet  10

Pacific White-sided Dolphins

Monterey County inshore/harbor:

Brandt's Cormorant  250
Brown Pelican  150
Great Egret  1     standing on kelp bed
Black Turnstone  5
Red-necked Phalarope  45
Heermann's Gull  100
Western Gull  200
Elegant Tern  25
Common Murre  15
Pigeon Guillemot  10
Rhinoceros Auklet  5
Peregrine Falcon (North American)  1     perched on radio tower along Cannery Row

Monterey County offshore:

Black-footed Albatross  11
Pink-footed Shearwater  72
Buller's Shearwater  75
Sooty Shearwater  84
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel  3     These were in the vicinity of a slick we put down. Not everyone saw these birds. Larger and bulkier than Ashy Storm-Petrel; medium gray storm-petrels with black underwing coverts and mask.
Ashy Storm-Petrel  13
Red-necked Phalarope  15
Red Phalarope  12
Sabine's Gull  17
Western Gull  X
California Gull  3
Common Tern  3
Arctic Tern  10
Common/Arctic Tern  5
Pomarine Jaeger  7     One second-summer bird (third-cycle type) stayed with the boat for awhile and provided many photo-ops and great study.
Parasitic Jaeger  2
Long-tailed Jaeger  1
Common Murre  55
Cassin's Auklet  3
Rhinoceros Auklet  49