September 30th Trip Report

Manx Shearwater

 Photos by Matt Victoria copyrights

 eBird report by Alex Rinkert

Monterey pelagic--within Calif. current to Pt. Sur (MTY Co.), Monterey, US-CA
Sep 30, 2012 8:26 AM - 2:50 PM
Protocol: Traveling
60.0 mile(s)
Comments:     [Following pelagic eBird format of D. Roberson] Aboard the 'Pt Sur Clipper' on Monterey Bay Seabirds trip with John Meyer, captain; Roger Wolfe, Todd Easterla, spotters; and myself (Alex Rinkert), designated chummer. Conditions were alright; light to moderate wind, water was very choppy at times, visibility was to the horizon once we got out of the dense fog near the coast, mostly clear almost the entire day though. This checklist 8:26-2:50 PM
23 species (+2 other taxa)

Pacific Loon  8
Black-footed Albatross  6
Pink-footed Shearwater  300
Buller's Shearwater  10
Sooty Shearwater  260
Short-tailed Shearwater  2     Coming in to back of the boat; at least two (one photographed), but possibly a few more.
Manx Shearwater  1     Well seen and photographed individual that made one pass fairly close to Point Pinos. Same one that was seen at beginning of trip?
Black-vented Shearwater  13
Brandt's Cormorant  14
Brown Pelican  7
Marbled Godwit  2     two flying by well offshore
peep sp.  1
Red-necked Phalarope  8
Heermann's Gull  65
Western Gull  80
California Gull  40
Common Tern  1
Common/Arctic Tern  2
Elegant Tern  10
South Polar Skua  3
Pomarine Jaeger  18
Parasitic Jaeger  1
Common Murre  80
Cassin's Auklet  6
Rhinoceros Auklet  20

Manx Shearwater

Photo Matt Victoria copyrights

eBird report by Alex Rinkert 

Monterey Bay pelagic--inshore Monterey Harbor to Pt. Pinos, Monterey, US-CA 

Surf Scoter  12
Pink-footed Shearwater  3
Buller's Shearwater  2
Sooty Shearwater  25
Manx Shearwater  1     Seen close to shore flying 100 meters beyond the kelp bed off the Monterey Bay Aquarium. A small shearwater, resembling BVSH, with quick choppy wingbeats. Noticeably darker uppersides that contrasted nicely with clean white undersides (including white undertail coverts). Well-defined dark auriculars with a crescent curling up in the back. Seen well by Todd Easterla, myself, and a few other participants, but the majority missed it as it only made two quick passes. Same one seen later in trip?
Brandt's Cormorant  65
Brown Pelican  35
Great Egret  3
Black Turnstone  4
Surfbird  2
Red-necked Phalarope  1
Heermann's Gull  65
Western Gull  40
California Gull  4
Elegant Tern  20
Pomarine Jaeger  3
Parasitic Jaeger  3
jaeger sp.  1
Common Murre  60
Rhinoceros Auklet  75
Rock Pigeon  30