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30 Jun Upcoming trip: Perpetua Bank: August 8 ["thebirdguide" ] 25 Jun Trip Report: Alabama deepwater pelagic, June 20, 2009 [] 25 Jun Ned Brinkley to lead SoCal Searcher Pelagic with Todd McGrath ["Terry Hunefeld" ] 19 Jun Cook's Petrels off Baja 19JUNE2009 ["Terry Hunefeld" ] 14 Jun Cape Hatteras Grand Slam Photos; SoCal Pelagic Trips ["Terry Hunefeld" ] 21 May July 25th and Aug 24-26 Deepwater California Pelagics ["toddamcgrath" ] 12 Jun South Padre Island, TX pelagics - July 25 and more [Mary Gustafson ] 12 Jun South Padre Island, TX pelagics - July 25 and more [Mary Gustafson ] 12 May Trip Report: SoCal Cook’s Petrels, Laysan Albatrosses, Tropicbird ["Terry Hunefeld" ] 06 May Manteo NC - Country Girl Pelagic - space available [Mary Gustafson ] 06 May Manteo NC - Country Girl Pelagic - space available [Mary Gustafson ] 19 Apr In search of pterodroma in southern California May 9 ["Terry Hunefeld" ] 30 Apr SEARCHER deep water expedition in September ["Terry Hunefeld" ] 29 Apr Western Pacific Odyssey 2009 - a report [Tony Pym ] 25 Apr Results: 18 April 2009: Perpetua Bank, Oregon USA ["thebirdguide" ] 22 Apr In search west coast pterodroma ["Terry Hunefeld" ] 31 Mar Update on May and June Pelagic Trips From Hatteras, NC ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] 14 Mar FW: [obschile] Rv: Phalacrocorax bougainvillii anillado ["Alvaro Jaramillo" ] 12 Mar Texas and Manteo, North Carolina Pelagics [] 12 Mar Texas and Manteo, North Carolina Pelagics [] 11 Mar San Diego Manx Shearwaters & Blue-footed Boobies ["Terry Hunefeld" ] 10 Mar Red-billed Tropicbird Ashore at Cape Hatteras, NC ; Spring Pelagic Trips ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] 10 Mar Red-billed Tropicbird Ashore at Cape Hatteras, NC ; Spring Pelagic Trips ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] 5 Mar Re: Pelagic from Tumbes, Peru. [Gunnar Engblom ] 5 Mar Re: Pelagic from Tumbes, Peru. [Gunnar Engblom ] 5 Mar Pelagic from Tumbes, Peru. [Gunnar Engblom ] 5 Mar Pelagic from Tumbes, Peru. [Gunnar Engblom ] 5 Mar Re: [Seabird-News:924] Fw: Great Skua, Dovekies, 4 spp. tubenoses Feb. 28 [Gunnar Engblom ] 5 Mar Re: Fw: Great Skua, Dovekies, 4 spp. tubenoses Feb. 28 [Gunnar Engblom ] 2 Mar Great Skua, Dovekies, 4 spp. tubenoses Feb. 28 ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] 2 Mar Great Skua, Dovekies, 4 spp. tubenoses Feb. 28 ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] 26 Feb Re: Re: I'll run the list my way ["John Hansen" ] 26 Feb Re: Re: I'll run the list my way ["John Hansen" ] 26 Feb Re: Re: I'll run the list my way ["John Hansen" ] 26 Feb Re: Re: I'll run the list my way [Gunnar Engblom ] 26 Feb Re: I'll run the list my way [Robert Wallace ] 26 Feb Re: Happy Birthday ["John Hansen" ] 26 Feb Re: Re: Reply=Reply All, but excludes the individual [Robert Wallace ] 25 Feb Happy Birthday ["Terry Hunefeld" ] 25 Feb Re: Re: Reply=Reply All, but excludes the individual ["John Hansen" ] 25 Feb Re: Reply=Reply All, but excludes the individual ["John Hansen" ] 25 Feb RE: Trip results: Oregon Perpetua Bank pelagic: 21 February 2009 ["Terry Hunefeld" ] 25 Feb Re: Reply=Reply All, but excludes the individual ["Terry Hunefeld" ] 25 Feb Reply=Reply All, but excludes the individual ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] 25 Feb Re: Trip results: Oregon Perpetua Bank pelagic: 21 February 2009 ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] 25 Feb Space on Feb. 28 pelagic trip; Recent sightings off Cape Hatteras ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] 25 Feb Space on Feb. 28 pelagic trip; Recent sightings off Cape Hatteras ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] 24 Feb Re: Trip results: Oregon Perpetua Bank pelagic: 21 February 2009 ["W. Terry Hunefeld" ] 24 Feb Trip results: Oregon Perpetua Bank pelagic: 21 February 2009 ["thebirdguide" ] 18 Feb Space on Feb. 21 (22) Hatteras Pelagic Trip ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] 18 Feb Space on Feb. 21 (22) Hatteras Pelagic Trip ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] 2 Feb Tumbes pelagic confirmed for March 18. [Kolibri Expeditions ] 2 Feb Tumbes pelagic confirmed for March 18. [Kolibri Expeditions ] 02 Feb Sat Oceanside Winter Pelagic: Rhino invasion, Minke, Risso's nursery, sunshine ["Terry Hunefeld" ] 25 Jan California chase trip for Parakeet Auklets [Don Roberson ] 21 Jan Jan. 17, 2009 Pelagic Trip from Hatteras, NC ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] 19 Jan Southern California Pelagic Trip Apr 30-May4, 2009 ["Terry Hunefeld" ] 14 Jan Australian Seabird Expedition Leg 2 TRIP REPORT [richard baxter ] 14 Jan Australian Seabird Expedition FINAL TRIP REPORT [richard baxter ] 14 Jan Australian Seabird Expedition 2008 leg 1 TRIP REPORT [richard baxter ] 14 Jan Australian Seabird Expedition 2008 Leg 3 TRIP REPORT [richard baxter ] 14 Jan Australian Seabird Expedition FINAL TRIP REPORT [richard baxter ] 14 Jan Australian Seabird Expedition 2008 Leg 3 TRIP REPORT [richard baxter ] 14 Jan Australian Seabird Expedition Leg 2 TRIP REPORT [richard baxter ] 14 Jan Australian Seabird Expedition 2008 leg 1 TRIP REPORT [richard baxter ] 13 Jan 2009 PELAGIC BIRDING TRIPS out of Southern California ["Terry Hunefeld" ] 13 Jan Save the Dates - Country Girl, North Carolina and Texas Pelagics [] 13 Jan Save the Dates - Country Girl, North Carolina and Texas Pelagics [] 7 Jan NC Pelagic Trips This Winter and Spring ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] 30 Nov Awesome Pelagic off Dunedin, New Zealand ["russellcannings" ] 20 Nov Seabird photos [Ed McVicker ] 10 Nov From Tony re: From Tony Pym - new Seabirding website [Tony Pym ] 9 Nov Re: From Tony Pym - new Seabirding website ["Mike and Sue Cobley" ] 7 Nov From Tony Pym - new Seabirding website [Tony Pym ] 05 Nov Trip Report: San Diego to the Continental Shelf Edge Nov 1-3, 2008 ["Terry Hunefeld" ] 22 Oct October Seabirds off Hatteras, NC and a thought about late fall, winter and early spring ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] Subject: Upcoming trip: Perpetua Bank: August 8 From: "thebirdguide" <greg AT thebirdguide.com> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:13:37 -0000 Friends, Oregon's fantastic fall pelagic season begins with a trip on August 8, 2009. The "Perpetua Bank: Albatross Hotspot" trip is 11 hours to 40 miles offshore at an underwater feature that is a seabird magnet. We chum twice, for an hour each, about 10 miles apart, bringing ALBATROSSES, FULMARS, JAEGERS and other seabirds right up to the boat for photo opportunities. Many other species are detected during the run out to deeper water and back. Plus, we usually spend a half hour or so near shore on either end of the trip for nearshore specialists including MARBLED MURRELETS and GRAY WHALES. This early fall trip features the best chance during the year for FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS, LONG-TAILED JAEGERS, RED and RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, and ARCTIC and COMMON TERNS, and SABINE'S GULLS. If seas are calm this trip often encounters many sharks and marine mammals; HUMPBACK WHALES are frequently seen. Rarities in August have included XANTUS'S MURRELETS, but last year's bird of note was Oregon's first state record of GREATER SHEARWATER! Photo trip report from last year: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/archive/08092008.htm Our two other Perpetua Bank trips are September 12 and October 3. Check out the full details on our web site. It will include full trip descriptions, preparation including what to eat, wear, and bring, map to charter, registration form, checklists, and trip report archives. http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/ Less than 6 weeks to go! Only 15 spaces remain! Greg Gillson Forest Grove, Oregon greg AT thebirdguide.com Subject: Trip Report: Alabama deepwater pelagic, June 20, 2009 From: Swmavocet AT aol.com Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:00:42 -0400 Dawn last Saturday rose to find 15 intrepid pelagic birders heading south at 17+ knots out of Orange Beach (Alabama) targeting the deepwater area off our state's?continental shelf.? Despite oppressive temperatures and a poor forecast for encountering blue-water, cooperative seas (1-2 ft) and a fast boat allowed us to reach the locations we wanted to and have an enjoyable trip. By around 9:00 we had passed the 100 fathom (600 ft) curve and at 10:11 found our first, true pelagic species in 700 fathom (4,200 ft) waters:? one BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL and one STORM-PETREL "SPECIES."??? After slowing the boat to almost a stop and laying out a thicker fish oil slick and other chewables, we managed to attract five more storm-petrels close to the boat for definitive looks and photos:? 4 BAND-RUMPED and 1 WILSON'S.? Continuing on we turned northwest to the large Petronius production platform to check the outrigger bouys for resting seabirds.? Surprisingly, the bouys were gone - I later found out they had been removed four years ago.? Oh well.? This sidetrip was not in vain, however, as the mate soon spotted one (or more!) feeding tuna schools.? Several dolphins (the mammal) were also observed in the surface action and a single STORM-PETREL "SPECIES" was seen to be feeding in the distance as well.? Two MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRDS floated effortlessly in the wind over and near the platform.? Later we ran over to some soaring white birds only to find 4 SANDWICH TERNS (location ~62 nautical miles from shore!). Our maximum offshore distance was around 73 nm (900 fathom waters). I found the trip noteworthy in many respects not the least of which was the relative lack of Black Terns and the total absence of pelagic terns. I will gladly share the full trip list and Google Earth path plot with anyone who requests them. Steve McConnell Hartselle, AL swmavocet AT aol.com p.s.? A similar trip sometime between mid-August and early-September is being considered.? If you are interested please drop me a line to my personal email address above. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Ned Brinkley to lead SoCal Searcher Pelagic with Todd McGrath From: "Terry Hunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:23:20 -0000 Greetings Ned Brinkley will join Todd McGrath as the Senior Leaders on Searcher this September on the live-aboard's long-range SoCal deep water pelagic trip from San Diego to the Channel Islands and the edge of the Continental Shelf. Ned is the author of the "National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Birds of North America" and editor of North American Birds, the American Birding Association's quarterly journal of ornithological record. He has authored over 100 articles on the distribution and identification of birds between 1981 and 2009. Ned is an avid pelagic birder who has guided scores of days into Gulf Stream waters as a senior leader for Brian Patteson and five other pelagic birding companies. He recorded the first verifiable sight record of a Bermuda Petrel at sea in July 1993. There are four spaces remaining on the nearly-sold-out September trip. What will we see & registration details: http://socalbirding.com/searcherexpeditions.html More about Ned: http://socalbirding.com/leaders/nedbrinkley.html W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole. "Come on out with us to see what's out there." www.SoCalBirding.com Southern California Seabirding Trips Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands, Channel Islands to the Edge of the Continental Shelf Subject: Cook's Petrels off Baja 19JUNE2009 From: "Terry Hunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:42:17 -0000 Greetings, Just received word from Art Taylor, captain of SEARCHER that they saw three COOK'S PETRELS Friday morning, June 19, 2009, about 80 nautical miles offshore Baja, 170 nautical miles south of San Diego. There have already been reports this year of Cook's Petrel well into Northern California, and we saw three on our May 9-10 48-hour trip from San Diego aboard Grande. This could be the year for some good sightings on our monthly deep-water trips from San Diego and Santa Barbara. As Oprah would say, "Woooo-hooooo!" Upcoming SoCal Pelagic Trips: http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips.html W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole "Come on out with us to see what's out there." Southern California Seabirding Trips Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands, Channel Islands to the Edge of the Continental Shelf Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/SoCalBirding Subject: Cape Hatteras Grand Slam Photos; SoCal Pelagic Trips From: "Terry Hunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 02:33:04 -0000 Greetings, Did you hear about the Petrel Grand Slam from Brian Patteson's boat out of Cape Hatteras on May 29? Bermuda, Fea's, Trindade and Black-capped all in the same day, PLUS European and Band-rumped Storm-Petrels. Five birders from SoCal and Colin Campbell of Deleware rented a house in nearby Avon and did seven trips in a row. Trip photos including the Grand Slam birds, plus some photos of what it's like to bird off North Carolina's Outer Banks, can be found at the link below: Hatteras Photos and Trip Report: http://www.socalbirding.com/tripreports/hatterasmay2009.html SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PELAGIC – JULY Saturday, July 25. A one-day trip to deep water sponsored by the Los Angeles Audubon Society aboard the Condor Express. This 12-14 hour trip departs from Santa Barbara and heads for deep water (either the San Juan Seamount or Arguello Canyon, depending on weather and sea surface temps). Our one previous trip at this time of year produced a Tristram's Storm-Petrel and a Red-billed Tropicbird. Late July is an ideal time to look for Cook's Petrels, and there have already been reports well into Northern CA (including three on our May trip from San Diego in early May). Details on the July Trip: http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/santabarbarajul252009.html SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PELAGIC – AUGUST This 48-hour trip by Buena Vista Audubon Society trip is aboard the live-aboard Grande. We will depart San Diego at 4:00 p.m. Monday August 24 and return at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday August 26. Red-billed Tropicbirds have never been missed on Grande 48 hour trips and are at their peak numbers in August. Red-tailed tropicbird has been recorded in this area in early September. Least Storm-Petrels are regular in late summer and early fall, and these southern waters are the best areas in the ABA to look for Xantus's (both races) and Craveri's Murrelets. Cook's Petrels are regular but unpredictable along the shelf edge. Three were seen well on our may trip, perhaps a sign that 2009 will be a good year to find this species off SoCal. August is also peak time to look for Hawaiian Petrel. Details on the August Trip: http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/sandiegoaug24262009.html SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PELAGIC – SEPTEMBER THE MOTHER OF ALL PELAGICS The mother of all ABA pelagic trips aboard the plush live-aboard SEARCHER will run it seventh consecutive September long-range trip on Labor Day week, Sept 7-11 out of San Diego into the richest ABA pelagic waters at the richest time of year. INCREDIBLE SPECIES-SEEN LIST: September SEARCHER trips from 2003-2008 have amassed an incredible list of species seen: Black-footed Albatross, Northern Fulmar, Bulwer's Petrel, Murphy's Petrel, Cook's Petrel, Hawaiian Petrel, Flesh-footed Shearwater, Buller's Shearwater, Pink-Footed Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Black-vented Shearwater, Least Storm-Petrel, Leach's Storm-Petrel, Ashy Storm-Petrel, Black Storm-Petrel, Red-billed Tropicbird, Red-necked Phalarope, Red Phalarope, South Polar Skua, Pomarine Jaeger, Parasitic Jaeger, Long-tailed Jaeger, Sabine's Gull, Arctic Tern, Pigeon Guillemot, Common Murre, Xantus's Murrelet, Craveri's Murrelet, Cassin's Auklet, Rhinoceros Auklet. Seen in SoCal July - September and ready for addition to Searcher's roster are: Shy and Laysan Albatross, Stejneger's Petrel, Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Streaked Shearwater, Red-tailed Tropicbird. The diverse array of birds seen from SEARCHER is a result of a diverse itinerary - from near-shore to inter-islands to the edge of the Continental Shelf. We depart San Diego at noon and spend the day birding our way up the Nine-mile bank and other underwater banks, ridges and canyons. The morning or our second day at sea will find us in the Channel Islands. From there we travel north past Point Conception to Arguello Canyon, Rodriguez Dome, then spend two days bearing south past the San Juan Seamount and other seamounts at the edge of the Continental Shelf, 40 miles southwest of Cortez Bank, 150 miles offshore. We see lots of birds near shore and around the Channel Islands, fewer birds out along the shelf edge - but the shelf edge is where the rarities roam. SEARCHER trip logs & species reports: http://www.bajawhale.com/birdingtrips.asp Details on the upcoming September SEARCHER trip: http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/searchersep711.html Not only does SEARCHER get great birds, it is positively luxurious with 4 air-conditioned cabins – 12 are double-occupancy and three are triple-occupancy, each with fresh-water sink, mirror and AC electrical outlet. Each cabin has sleeping bunks, storage shelves, and hammocks for gear storage. Each bunk has a private reading light. There are four sparkling-clean bathrooms on the main deck, two with showers. There are large, roomy birding and wildlife observation decks on the stern, upper deck, and in the bow area. Here is a typical participant comment following the trip: "The trip was truly a wonderful experience. As a veteran of over 100 pelagic trips, I would rate this in the top five I have ever taken. Great birds & mammals, great leadership, marvelous food & a very friendly and accommodating crew. It was also the keenest & most co-operative group of participants I have ever shared a boat with. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who would contemplate taking it in the future. WELL DONE!" -- Mike Austin, Friendswood, TX Beverages and snacks are all included and are available 24 hours per day, in addition to the three delicious meals each day. SEARCHER offers a wide variety of special request meals and diets with prior notice. Meals are typically made from fresh meats, fish, and produce and are wonderful. There's nothing quite like standing on the bow of Searcher in the sun and wind with a hot, fresh-from-the-oven blueberry muffin and cup of coffee. One thing all the leaders agree on: you won't find a better meal at sea than SEARCHER. Fresh salads, home-made cookies, pancakes, bacon, burgers, pizza, roast chicken, fresh fish tacos, prime rib, ice cream sundaes, wine with dinner, warm brownies with ice cream, apples, bananas, oranges and a bottomless cooler of complimentary juice, coke, diet coke, bottled water and, most importantly to some of the leaders, beer. Southern California seas and weather in September are usually calm and balmy. SEARCHER accommodates 28 passengers very comfortably plus 4 leaders/spotters/chummers. There are 8 spots still available for this September's trip. We hope can join us. More details at: http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/searchersep711.html W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. "Come on out with us to see what's out there." Southern California Seabirding Trips Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands, Channel Islands to the Edge of the Continental Shelf Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/SoCalBirding Subject: July 25th and Aug 24-26 Deepwater California Pelagics From: "toddamcgrath" <toddamcgrath AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 00:31:07 -0000 Birders, Here is some information on two upcoming pelagics speonsored by the Los Angeles (July 25th) and Buena Vista (August 24-26) Audubon Societies July 25th The Condor Express will be headed out to deep water (either the San Juan Seamount or Arguello Canyon, depending on weather and sea surface temps). This is a 12-14 hour trip. Our one previous trip at this time of year produced a Tristam's Storm-petrel and a Red-billed Tropicbird. Late July is an ideal time to look for Cook's Petrels, and there have already been reports well into Northern CA (including three on our May trip from San Diego in early May). Perhaps 2009 will resemble 2005, when Cook's Petrels were seen repeatedly on deepwater trips throughout the summer, including one from the Condor Express in early September 2005. Speaking of 2005, A Ringed Storm-petrel was photgraphed from a NOAA vessel August 5, 2005 SW of Santa Rosa, an area we will likely cover on this trip. This is a great time to look for other southern vagrants such as Hawaiian Petrel (recorded in early Sept, but possible April to Sept with a peak in Jul-Aug), as well as the southern races of Leach's storm-petrel, one of which is a good candidiate for a split. Ashy and Black Storm-petrels are ususally present in good numbers this time of year, and Xantus's (both races) and Craveri's Murrelets are also possible. The Condor Express is a fast stable Catamaran will a large comfortable cabin and great viewing from the two decks. We have done two birding on the boat this spring, with the first trip recording a pair of Parakeet Auklets, and the second finding a Horned Puffin. Our only deepwater trip of the spring was weathered out; July is usually a great weather month, so weather should not be a factor. The boat is more than half full, so please sign-up as soon as possible. The cost is $195 and the boat leaves from Santa Barbara at 7AM, with an expected return of between 7 and 8 PM. August 24-26 (4pm to 4pm) We will be doing a 48 hour pelagic from San Diego on the Grande. We have been running these trips for about year, and this is the trip to be on for Red-billed Tropcibird (never missed on a Grande 48 hour trip). This trip will visit the far southern reaches of the ABA area, looking for the vagrants noted in the July 25th trip. Cost is $285 ($250 before July 24th). If asked to compare these trips, I would say that the Condor Express trip probably has a better shot at deepwater petrels such as Hawaiian, as this trip will spend time in 2000+ fathom water. More notherly residents such as Asky storm-petrel will also be more numerous. Both trips have an excellent chance to see the Gualalupe Island summer breeding race of Leach's storm-petrel, murrelets, and red-billed tropicbird (with an edge on tropicbird to the Grande). Both these trips will be well stocked with experienced, helpful leaders. Late August is a better time to look for Least storm-petrel, and the Grande will spend more time near shore where this species is more frequent. Both trips will likely see Black storm-petrels. Alcids are unpredicatble in the summer, but give the Condor Express the advantage on northern alcids like Cassin's and Rhinocerous Auklets. Murrelets could go either way. In short, both of these trips have good rarity potential, plus should provide a variety of some sought after regualr species. For you county listers, the Condor Express trip will be in SBC and likely VEN, while the Grande trip will focus on SD and LA. Please note that these trips have different sposnors. Go to Socalbirding.com for sign-up information on both these trips. I hope to see you on one or both of these trips. So far 2009 is off to a great pelagic start, and I am sure that there are more goodies out there waiting to be found. Todd McGrath SKUA AT ... Marina Del Rey (soon to be Calabasas) Visit SoCalbirding.com for more details Subject: South Padre Island, TX pelagics - July 25 and more From: Mary Gustafson <live4birds AT aol.com> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:53:31 -0400 We have a full schedule of trips off of the south Texas coast scheduled for this summer. The first trip is July 25 and it is more than half full. Trips are also scheduled for August 29, September 19, and (save the date) November 15. See http://www.texaspelagics.com/ for information on the first three dates. Mary Gustafson Mission, Texas http://www.countrygirlcharters.com/outer_banks_bird_trips.htm Subject: South Padre Island, TX pelagics - July 25 and more From: Mary Gustafson <live4birds AT aol.com> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:53:31 -0400 We have a full schedule of trips off of the south Texas coast scheduled for this summer. The first trip is July 25 and it is more than half full. Trips are also scheduled for August 29, September 19, and (save the date) November 15. See http://www.texaspelagics.com/ for information on the first three dates. Mary Gustafson Mission, Texas http://www.countrygirlcharters.com/outer_banks_bird_trips.htm --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Seabird News" group. To post to this group, send email to Seabird-News AT googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to Seabird-News+unsubscribe AT googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Seabird-News?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- Subject: Trip Report: SoCal Cook’s Petrels, Laysan Albatrosses, Tropicbird From: "Terry Hunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 23:35:35 -0000 Greetings The Buena Vista Audubon's 48-hour pelagic trip over the weekend of May 9-11, 2009 from San Diego aboard Grande took us as far south and west as possible in ABA waters along the Mexican border. All participants enjoyed dynamic aerial displays of three COOK'S PETRELS. At the Nine Mile Bank we saw an unusually-close-to-the-mainland Skua and picked the first two of nearly 50 Black-footed Albatrosses we would see on the trip. Grande has never missed on Red-Billed Tropicbird on the weekend overnight trips and this trip was no exception – just beyond the Thirty Mile Bank at the San Clemente Basin we flushed a RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD and picked up our first two of 14 LAYSAN ALBATROSSES for the trip. As Google Maps and GPS mapping technology have evolved, we've experimented with various formats of illustrating pelagic trip tracks. I believe Matt Sadowski hit the jackpot with his new format to display our May 9-11 trip to the southwest corner of ABA waters. Matt's ingenious format is at once easy to comprehend and full of detail. Thanks, Matt, for setting a new standard. Matt's trip maps, a full trip report, species seen list and trip photos for the May 9-11 SoCal deepwater pelagic trip are now posted at: http://socalbirding.com/tripreports/sandiegomay9102009.html The Buena Vista Audubon and the Los Angeles Audubon Societies offer a full slate of deep-water pelagic seabirding trips every spring, summer and fall from San Diego (aboard Grande) and Santa Barbara (aboard the Condor Express). Deep-water trips are scheduled for July, Aug, Sept, Oct and November of this year. All trips and registration details are posted at http://www.SoCalBirding.com under the "UPCOMING TRIPS" link. http://socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips.html See you "out there." W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. SoCal Seabirding Trips Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands Nine-mile, Thirty-mile, Sixty-mile Banks Cortes & Tanner Banks Channel Islands Keep track of SoCal Pelagic shenanigans. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/SoCalBirding Subject: Manteo NC - Country Girl Pelagic - space available From: Mary Gustafson <live4birds AT aol.com> Date: Wed, 06 May 2009 18:15:26 -0400 Space is available on the Country Girl out of Manteo, NC on May 30, 31, and June 1, and August 15, 16, and 17.? We're headed to the Gulf Stream in search of pelagic birds including Black-capped Petrel and Band-rumped Storm-Petrel.? Pelagic possibilities include a wide range of shearwaters, storm-petrels and gadfly petrels, whales, dolphins, and fish.? Join experienced leaders as we head to deep water looking for life.? Last year these trips were run by See Life Paulagics.? This year, due to Paul Guris's illness the trips are being run by the captain/owner of the Country Girl.? Hopefully Paul will be able to participate again next year.? Memorial Day falls early this year, so we're headed out the next weekend when hotels are cheaper and the birds are in.? Manteo is ideal for a combination land/shore trip with its proximity to Alligator River and Palmetto Peartree Preserve with Swainson's Warblers and Red-cockaded Woodpeckers.? For more information send me an email, or see http://www.countrygirlcharters.com/outer_banks_bird_trips.htm.? To reserve a trip, call the dock at 252-473-5577.? Trips are $135 each - discount for multiple days! Mary Gustafson Mission, Texas [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Manteo NC - Country Girl Pelagic - space available From: Mary Gustafson <live4birds AT aol.com> Date: Wed, 06 May 2009 18:15:26 -0400 Space is available on the Country Girl out of Manteo, NC on May 30, 31, and June 1, and August 15, 16, and 17.? We're headed to the Gulf Stream in search of pelagic birds including Black-capped Petrel and Band-rumped Storm-Petrel.? Pelagic possibilities include a wide range of shearwaters, storm-petrels and gadfly petrels, whales, dolphins, and fish.? Join experienced leaders as we head to deep water looking for life.? Last year these trips were run by See Life Paulagics.? This year, due to Paul Guris's illness the trips are being run by the captain/owner of the Country Girl.? Hopefully Paul will be able to participate again next year.? Memorial Day falls early this year, so we're headed out the next weekend when hotels are cheaper and the birds are in.? Manteo is ideal for a combination land/shore trip with its proximity to Alligator River and Palmetto Peartree Preserve with Swainson's Warblers and Red-cockaded Woodpeckers.? For more information send me an email, or see http://www.countrygirlcharters.com/outer_banks_bird_trips.htm.? To reserve a trip, call the dock at 252-473-5577.? Trips are $135 each - discount for multiple days! Mary Gustafson Mission, Texas --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Seabird News" group. To post to this group, send email to Seabird-News AT googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to Seabird-News+unsubscribe AT googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Seabird-News?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- Subject: In search of pterodroma in southern California May 9 From: "Terry Hunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 05:46:54 -0000 Greetings Brad Schram, noted author of the American Birding Association's "A Birder's Guide To Southern California" will join the expert SoCal deep-water birding leader team on Buena Vista Audubon's 48-hour weekend double-nighter to deep water aboard Grande on May 9-11. Brad will join SoCal area pelagic leaders/guides/spotters and question-answerers Todd (Skua) McGrath, Paul (PAJA) Lehman, Jon (Tricolored Blackbird) Feenstra, Dave (Mountain Lion x 2) Pereksta and Chummer Wes (Fishguts) Fritz. We will depart Point Loma San Diego early Saturday morning, May 9 and return to the dock by 6:00 a.m. Monday morning in time for those of you with jobs to get to work on Monday or catch a plane back home. That gives us 48 hours of solid pelagic birding time – a full day of it about 100 miles offshore – to see what's out there this spring. Join us as we go in search of tropicbirds and pterodroma – a Hawaiian Petrel was seen from a NOAA research trip off Pescadero 23 May 2007; dozens of Cook's Petrels were seen by Searcher crew on fishing trips in June 2007 off northern Baja and more than 80 Murphy's Petrels were seen offshore San Diego in deep water in April of 2003. Pterodroma reports: http://socalbirding.com/seabirdreference/petrels.html Trip Details: http://socalbirding.com/grande48hourweekends.html Reserve on or before April 30 and save $40. The boat landing is a $10 cab ride or free hotel shuttle from the airport. Fly in Friday, get a hotel for $70 for Friday night, walk across the street to Grande Sat morning (see the website for lodging details across the street from the sportfishing harbor), sleep on Grand Sat and Sun eve, fly home Monday morning. A VIDEO PEEK INSIDE GRANDE: http://www.grandesportfishing.com/video.htm About half way into this video you see the cook making dinner giving you a taste of what the evening dinners look like, or a look at what they taste like. The video is about fishing but it gives you a behind-the-scenes peek into Grande. Just mentally take out the fishermen/women and insert birders with binoculars in place of fishing poles! Enjoy! p.s. when you see Wes Fritz on Condor Express or Grande, ask him about his boating adventure from California to Hawaii and how they hit something that put a hole in the side of their boat so big they had to stuff it with a life raft and bail water for days in pouring rain and 15 foot seas and finally get stranded on an island with unfriendly natives who steal his cell phone so he has to hide in the jungle and eat raw octopus... it's all true. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. Subject: SEARCHER deep water expedition in September From: "Terry Hunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:15:07 -0000 Greetings, I received an email from Celia Condit, owner of Searcher Natural History Tours, reporting that the SEARCHER deep water expedition this coming Labor Day week (Sept 7-11 Monday - Friday) is already half sold out. There are about 12 spots left for this one-of-a-kind, awesome live-aboard pelagic birding experience. This is THE trip with chances for Bulwer's Petrel, Stejneger's Petrel, Hawaiian Petrel, Streaked Shearwater, Buller's Shearwater, five species of Storm-Petrel, tropicbirds, South Polar Skua, 3 jaeger species, Sabine's Gull, Arctic Tern, Craveri's Murrelet. Labor Day Week trip details: http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/searchersep711.html More Searcher Trip Information including the "to die for" trip lists: http://www.socalbirding.com/searcherexpeditions.html Terry Hunefeld, San Diego Life is short. Seabird often. Seabirding Trips From San Diego Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands Nine-mile, Thirty-mile, Sixty-mile Banks Cortes & Tanner Banks Channel Islands Subject: Western Pacific Odyssey 2009 - a report From: Tony Pym <tony_pym AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:04:32 +0100 Hi everyone Western Pacific Odyssey (March/April 2009) The report for those that travelled with Ornitholidays and Cruises for Nature is now on the web and can be accessed here: www.seabirding.co.uk Go into 'Trip Reports' and it's the top one. There are some great photos included, of some mouth-watering birds like Short-tailed Albatross, Japanese Crested Murrelet, Matsudaira's Storm-petrel, Bonin Petrel plus more. Only record shots were taken of Heinroth's Shearwater, and the Beck's Petrels were just too distant for the cameras. Also of interest are photos of a Ginkgo-toothed Beaked Whale, a rare and poorly known species - see the 'More Photos' section. The cruise was outstanding for its variety - 39 species of procellariids and 16 species of cetaceans tallied. Many of the seabirds seen being uncommon or range-restricted. It was a seabirding trip from heaven! Best regards Tony Pym _________________________________________________________________ Share your photos with Windows Live Photos – Free. http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/134665338/direct/01/ ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:pelagics-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:pelagics-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: pelagics-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Results: 18 April 2009: Perpetua Bank, Oregon USA From: "thebirdguide" <greg AT thebirdguide.com> Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:04:29 -0000 18 April 2009 0700-1800 hours From Newport, Oregon Boat: Misty Captain: Robert Waddell Guides: Tim Shelmerdine, Tom Snetsinger, Russ Namitz, David Mandell, Amy Kocourek, Greg Gillson This is the official estimated tally of species seen on The Bird Guide's pelagic trip from Newport, Oregon to Perpetua Bank, about 35 miles offshore. The seas were calm and the weather was sunny and in the low 50's with a slight breeze--perfect for seabirding. As usual for spring there were lots of atypical birds offshore, including geese, puddle ducks, shorebirds, and migrants such as Rufous Hummingbird and Yellow-rumped Warbler. Early in the trip a MANX SHEARWATER was flushed from in front of the boat with a flock of COMMON MURRES and was briefly glimpsed flying away by a very few persons on the bow. This was 1/2 mile off South Beach. Two LAYSAN ALBATROSSES joined us, one at each of the chum stops, the first off Newport 35 miles, the next 10 miles to the south an hour later. The first bird showed newer but worn outer primaries and older worn inner and mid primaries. It was oiled on one side of the belly. The second bird was a first-year bird with all-new primaries and clean, fresh plumage. Several flocks of 2-8 ANCIENT MURRELETS were rather a surprise, so late in the season. They were seen from near shore to out 20 miles. Everyone got great looks. We encountered about 7 small groundfish draggers offshore, accompanied by albatrosses. Surprisingly, except for the one Manx Shearwater, only SOOTY SHEARWATERS were seen. Few NORTHERN FULMARS were around, as expected for spring. A single TUFTED PUFFIN was spotted on the water and circled by the boat for good views. Two others were glimpsed briefly by a few individuals on the return trip. We spent a few minutes with a couple of GRAY WHALES near shore on the return trip. Otherwise, marine mammals were not seen closely, except for a STELLER'S SEA LION on the channel buoy. Brant 135 Cackling Goose 150 Mallard 1 Northern Pintail 75 Northern Shoveler 20 Green-winged Teal 3 Greater Scaup 3 Harlequin Duck 2 Surf Scoter 350 Black Scoter 1 (bay) Bufflehead 6 (bay) Red-breasted Merganser 2 (bay) LAYSAN ALBATROSS 2 Black-footed Albatross 200 Northern Fulmar 15 Sooty Shearwater 250 MANX SHEARWATER 1 (Seen by few, Greg Gillson) Red-throated Loon 5 Pacific Loon 35 Common Loon 20 Horned Grebe 2 (bay) Red-necked Grebe 3 (bay) Western Grebe 5 (bay) Brown Pelican 1 Brandt's Cormorant 140 Double-crested Cormorant 10 (bay) Pelagic Cormorant 35 Black-bellied Plover 4 Black Turnstone 25 (jetty) Surfbird 40 (jetty) Greater Yellowlegs 7 (bay) Dunlin 45 Bonaparte's Gull 7 Mew Gull 8 (bay) California Gull 40 Thayer's Gull 1 (bay) Herring Gull 15 Western Gull 100 Glaucous-winged Gull 40 Gl-w x West gull 30 GLAUCOUS GULL 1 (bay, present since January) Black-legged Kittiwake 30 Caspian Tern 1 (bay) Common Murre 1200 Pigeon Guillemot 45 Marbled Murrelet 14 ANCIENT MURRELET 35 Cassin's Auklet 25 Rhinoceros Auklet 45 Tufted Puffin 3 Rufous Hummingbird 1 (at sea) Belted Kingfisher 1 (bay) Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 (at sea) Savannah Sparrow 1 (jetty) Northern Fur Seal 1 California Sea Lion 10 (bay) Steller's Sea Lion 5 Harbor Seal 5 (bay) Gray Whale 5 Harbor Porpoise 5 Dall's Porpoise 5 Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg AT thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com Subject: In search west coast pterodroma From: "Terry Hunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:11:21 -0000 Greetings Brad Schram, noted author of the American Birding Association's "A Birder's Guide To Southern California" will join the expert SoCal deep-water birding leader team on Buena Vista Audubon's 48-hour weekend double-nighter to deep water aboard Grande on May 9-11 from San Diego. Brad will join SoCal area pelagic leaders/guides/spotters and question-answerers Todd (Skua) McGrath, Paul (PAJA) Lehman, Jon (Tricolored Blackbird) Feenstra, Dave (Mountain Lion x 2) Pereksta and Chummer Wes (Fishguts) Fritz. http://ventbird.com/people/brad-schram We will depart Point Loma early Saturday morning, May 9 and return to the dock by 6:00 a.m. Monday morning in time for those of you with jobs to get to work on Monday. That gives us 48 hours of solid pelagic birding time – a full day of it about 100 miles offshore – to see what's out there this spring. Join us as we go in search of tropicbirds and pterodroma – a Hawaiian Petrel was seen from a NOAA research trip off Pescadero 23 May 2007; dozens of Cook's Petrels were seen by Searcher crew on fishing trips in June 2007 off northern Baja and more than 80 Murphy's Petrels were seen offshore San Diego in deep water in April of 2003. Pterodroma reports: http://socalbirding.com/seabirdreference/petrels.html Trip Details: http://socalbirding.com/grande48hourweekends.html Reserve on or before April 30 and save $40. A VIDEO PEEK INSIDE GRANDE: http://www.grandesportfishing.com/video.htm About half way into this video you see the cook making dinner giving you a taste of what the evening dinners look like, or a look at what they taste like. The video is about fishing but it gives you a behind-the-scenes peek into Grande. Just mentally take out the fishermen/women and insert birders with binoculars in place of fishing poles! Enjoy! p.s. when you see Wes on Condor Express or Grande, ask him about his boating adventure from California to Hawaii and how they hit something that put a hole in the side of their boat so big they had to stuff it with a life raft and bail water for days in pouring rain and 15 foot seas and finally get stranded on an island with unfriendly natives who steal his cell phone so he has to hide in the jungle and eat raw octopus... it's all true. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. Subject: Update on May and June Pelagic Trips From Hatteras, NC From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:39:11 -0500 Seabirders, Since our last update about three weeks ago, another trip has filled and five more are almost full. As of March 29, the following trips are full: May 21, 22, 28, and 29. There are only one to four spaces left open on May 25, 26, 27, 30, and 31. Surprisingly, there are still at least six spaces open each day on May 23 and 24 (Memorial Day Weekend)! This is the first time in several years that we have had openings for MDW in late March, but the trend over the last couple of years has been for some of the weekday trips to fill first. For anyone who wants to make a four or five day commitment in late May, time is running out as there are only two spaces left on Monday, May 26. For a five day booking in May or June, we are selling the trips for $20/day off the single day rate. Two to four days is $10/day off. Groups of eight or more people booking together are eligible for a discount on single days. Good news for those who can schedule it is that all of our trips in early June (daily June 1-7) have space for several more participants. The first week of June can be every bit as good as the last ten days of May. For some species, particularly Greater Shearwater, Band-rumped and Leach's Storm-Petrels, and tropicbirds, June is usually the superior month. And the odds of seeing a Fea's Petrel or Bermuda Petrel in EARLY June are not much different than late May. In 2005, two of the four days we saw European Storm-Petrels were in June (4 and 5.) Here is a list of birds we have seen during the first week of June in previous years: Herald (Trindade) Petrel, Fea's Petrel (High Count=3), Bermuda Petrel, Black-capped Petrel, Cory's Shearwater, Greater Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, Audubon's Shearwater, Wilson's Storm-Petrel, European Storm-Petrel, Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel, Leach's Storm-Petrel, Band-rumped Storm-Petrel, White-tailed Tropicbird, Red-billed Tropicbird, Masked Booby, Brown Boooby, Northern Gannet, Sooty Tern, Bridled Tern, Arctic Tern, South Polar Skua, Pomarine Jaeger, Parasitic Jaeger, and Long-tailed Jaeger. The ONLY species that we have ever seen more than twice on trips in May but not in June are earlier migrants- Northern Fulmar, both phalaropes, and Sabine's Gull- species that you would not typically see the last week of May. No doubt the positive reviews we have gotten from the many hundreds of people who have gone with us on trips around Memorial Day over the last 15 years have been very beneficial for us, making it possible to run the trips in May annually without much promotion. But early June should not be underrated, nor should any other time of year when we have not done quite as many trips over the years. For all but the last three years we have done these trips, it was a big gamble for us to schedule any trips where we could not draw a crowd of at least 20 to 30 participants. That is the reason why we do not have a long history of running trips in mid to late June (or early July or mid to late September or late April and early May.....) Several of us can still remember the time when trips in late May were rare and most pelagic trips here were scheduled in August- still a good time! I would like to thank everyone who has signed up so far for trips this year, and I hope that many more of you can join us yet. The trips that we are able to run now, with a limited number of people each day on our own vessel, are truly the best trips we have ever run, day in and day out. For more information, see our website, below, or call me at (252) 986-1363. Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC brian AT patteson.com http://www.seabirding.com/ Subject: FW: [obschile] Rv: Phalacrocorax bougainvillii anillado From: "Alvaro Jaramillo" <chucao AT coastside.net> Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 19:27:15 -0700 Anyone have an idea who is banding Guanay Cormorants? Alvaro Alvaro Jaramillo chucao AT coastside.net Half Moon Bay, California Field Guides - Birding Tours Worldwide www.fieldguides.com _____ From: obschile AT gruposyahoo.com.ar [mailto:obschile AT gruposyahoo.com.ar] On Behalf Of nataly hidalgo Sent: Saturday, March 14, 2009 6:13 PM To: obschile AT gruposyahoo.com.ar Subject: [obschile] Rv: Phalacrocorax bougainvillii anillado Talvez sea de interés para algunos (english below) El día de hoy encontré un individuo de Phalacrocorax bougainvillii muerto en Punta Mesas en Tacna- Perú , el individuo estaba anillado con el siguiente código PSJ PB 080, talvez alguien del grupo conozca a la(s) personas y/o institución que anillaron a este individuo. Si alguien desea mayor información al respecto pueden contactarme fuera de la lista. Saludos. I found a dead Guanay Cormorant in Punta Mesas Tacna, the cormorant had a ring with the code PSJ PB 080, perhaps someone knows who was working with this individual. If anyone needs further information can contact me off the list. Regards. Nataly A. Hidalgo Aranzamendi __________________________________________________ Correo Yahoo! Espacio para todos tus mensajes, antivirus y antispam ¡gratis! Regístrate ya - http://correo. yahoo.com.mx/ __________________________________________________ Correo Yahoo! Espacio para todos tus mensajes, antivirus y antispam ¡gratis! Regístrate ya - http://correo. yahoo.com.mx/ [Se han eliminado los trozos de este mensaje que no contenían texto] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Texas and Manteo, North Carolina Pelagics From: live4birds AT aol.com Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:11:01 -0400 Texas pelagics are being offered through the South Padre Island World Birding Center on July 25, August 29, and September 19.? Trips 12 hours and run $150.? For more information, see http://www.texaspelagics.com.? Captain Foreman is offering 12 hour pelagic birding trips for only $130 on the legendary Country Girl out of Manteo, North Carolina.? For reservations, call (252) 473-5577.? Manteo is near great birding sites like Alligator River with breeding warblers including Swainson's and Prothonotary, and Palmetto Pear Tree Preserve with nesting Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. Shorebirds, herons, and rails are nearby at Trips are available May 30, 31, and June 1 and August 15, 16, 17.? Leaders in May include Mike Fritz, Angus Wilson, and myself.? Don't hesitate to send me an email if you'd like more information on either set of trips!? Mary Gustafson Mission, Texas [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Texas and Manteo, North Carolina Pelagics From: live4birds AT aol.com Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:11:01 -0400 Texas pelagics are being offered through the South Padre Island World Birding Center on July 25, August 29, and September 19.? Trips 12 hours and run $150.? For more information, see http://www.texaspelagics.com.? Captain Foreman is offering 12 hour pelagic birding trips for only $130 on the legendary Country Girl out of Manteo, North Carolina.? For reservations, call (252) 473-5577.? Manteo is near great birding sites like Alligator River with breeding warblers including Swainson's and Prothonotary, and Palmetto Pear Tree Preserve with nesting Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. Shorebirds, herons, and rails are nearby at Trips are available May 30, 31, and June 1 and August 15, 16, 17.? Leaders in May include Mike Fritz, Angus Wilson, and myself.? Don't hesitate to send me an email if you'd like more information on either set of trips!? Mary Gustafson Mission, Texas --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Seabird News" group. To post to this group, send email to Seabird-News AT googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to Seabird-News+unsubscribe AT googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Seabird-News?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- Subject: San Diego Manx Shearwaters & Blue-footed Boobies From: "Terry Hunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:33:16 -0000 Greetings, The Sunday San Diego Bird Festival Pelagic Trip report, photos and videos are posted to http://www.SoCalBirding.com including details on the Common Murre photographed in Mexican waters. You never know what you will find "out there" even just a few miles out in the Pacific Ocean as you can see in the VIDEO of the army of marine mammals advancing on, then surrounding, Grande last Sunday. http://www.socalbirding.com/tripreports/sdbirdfest382009.html Thursday's March 5 trip had a Blue-footed Booby circling the boat about 5 miles off San Diego. Saturday's March 7 trip started off with TWO Manx Shearwaters less than 3 miles off the coast of San Diego. Complete trip reports of all of the three Bird Festival pelagic trips (and, indeed, ALL SoCal Pelagic trips for the past year) including photos of the rarities and list of the sightings are posted at http://www.SoCalBirding.com under the "Trip Reports" tab. The next pelagic whale, marine mammal and seabird trip from San Diego is Saturday, April 4 to the Coronados Islands and the Nine Mile Bank, sponsored by the Buena Vista Audubon Society. Visit http://www.SoCalBirding.com and click the "Upcoming Trips" tab for itinerary and registration information. Many of us will drive up to Santa Barbara on April 25 for a day on the Condor Express chartered by the Los Angeles Audubon Society. We found two Parakeet Auklets up there last week from the Condor Express, and saw seven of them on April 21, 2007 from the Condor. I love this trip because we get to 2000 fathom-deep water around the San Juan Seamount which is where rarities like as Murphy's, Cook's and Hawaiian Petrel can be found this time of year as well as Black-footed and Laysan Albatrosses. The April 25 trip as well as all pelagic trips from Southern California are posted at http://www.SoCalBirding.com under the "UPCOMING TRIPS" link. Terry Hunefeld, San Diego Life is short. Seabird often. Subject: Red-billed Tropicbird Ashore at Cape Hatteras, NC ; Spring Pelagic Trips From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:00:42 -0500 Greetings Seabirders, I got a call from local bird club lady Pat Moore this morning, alerting me that she had found a Red-billed Tropicbird at Cape Point. Fortunately, I was at home in nearby Frisco and I was able to rush out to the point. When I arrived, the bird was circling a pond populated with coots and puddle ducks a couple of hundred yards from the sea. It flew by fairly close to us and I was able to get some photos before it landed, farther away on the pond.. Within an hour, it flew out to sea. I've posted a couple of pictures on my website- http://www.seabirding.com/ It was a nice adult with an extemely long tail. Red-billed Tropicbird is a species we sometimes see in May and June on our pelagic trips from Hatteras. Last year they were scarce, but some years we see them on a few trips. This spring we have many trips planned, with a daily run of trips starting on May 20 and going through June 7. Kate Sutherland and Steve Howell have plans to be on all nineteen trips from May 20 to June 7, and we have several other sharp-eyed spotters coming along. A few of these trips are full- so far, May 21, 22, and 28. May 20 and 23 still have several openings, and there are a limited number of spaces still available on May 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, and 30. We are only running one boat this year on May 23, 24, and 25 so if you want to get on those Memorial Day Weekend Trips, be sure to book soon. Last year we booked up solid for the last nine or ten days of May! The trips from May 31 to June 7 presently have a good number of spaces left. These last eight days should not be underrated- the big influx of European Storm-Petrels in 2005 occurred May 30 to June 5, and last year's Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel was seen on June 2. The first Black-bellied Storm-Petrel (for North America- seen here) was on May 31, 2004, and the next two were in late June and mid July! Typically, the first week of June is better for numbers of shearwaters, especially Greater Shearwater, which might not even arrive until the last day or two of May. With the shearwaters there are sometimes South Polar Skuas. June is also the best month for Leach's Storm-Petrel. All of the gadfly petrels occur in early June and two of three of the highest counts for Fea's Petrel were made in June! Of course we also have a good number of trips planned for summer, when the White-tailed Tropicbird is most likely to occur, and we also have a weekend devoted to searching for White-faced Storm-Petrels in August. And if you have a group who would be interested in chartering our boat for a trip for a day when we don't have a trip planned, we can do that too! Private trips can be arranged on our boat at a very reasonable rate. It is encouraging to have already gotten reservations for this year from so many people who have sailed with us in past years. But I can't help but think there are a lot of people out there who have not yet been, but who would probably enjoy a pelagic trip with us. If you know someone who might find these trips interesting, please feel free to pass along this information. I am looking forward to an epic run of spring trips. Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC brian AT patteson.com http://www.seabirding.com/ Subject: Red-billed Tropicbird Ashore at Cape Hatteras, NC ; Spring Pelagic Trips From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:00:42 -0500 Greetings Seabirders, I got a call from local bird club lady Pat Moore this morning, alerting me that she had found a Red-billed Tropicbird at Cape Point. Fortunately, I was at home in nearby Frisco and I was able to rush out to the point. When I arrived, the bird was circling a pond populated with coots and puddle ducks a couple of hundred yards from the sea. It flew by fairly close to us and I was able to get some photos before it landed, farther away on the pond.. Within an hour, it flew out to sea. I've posted a couple of pictures on my website- http://www.seabirding.com/ It was a nice adult with an extemely long tail. Red-billed Tropicbird is a species we sometimes see in May and June on our pelagic trips from Hatteras. Last year they were scarce, but some years we see them on a few trips. This spring we have many trips planned, with a daily run of trips starting on May 20 and going through June 7. Kate Sutherland and Steve Howell have plans to be on all nineteen trips from May 20 to June 7, and we have several other sharp-eyed spotters coming along. A few of these trips are full- so far, May 21, 22, and 28. May 20 and 23 still have several openings, and there are a limited number of spaces still available on May 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, and 30. We are only running one boat this year on May 23, 24, and 25 so if you want to get on those Memorial Day Weekend Trips, be sure to book soon. Last year we booked up solid for the last nine or ten days of May! The trips from May 31 to June 7 presently have a good number of spaces left. These last eight days should not be underrated- the big influx of European Storm-Petrels in 2005 occurred May 30 to June 5, and last year's Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel was seen on June 2. The first Black-bellied Storm-Petrel (for North America- seen here) was on May 31, 2004, and the next two were in late June and mid July! Typically, the first week of June is better for numbers of shearwaters, especially Greater Shearwater, which might not even arrive until the last day or two of May. With the shearwaters there are sometimes South Polar Skuas. June is also the best month for Leach's Storm-Petrel. All of the gadfly petrels occur in early June and two of three of the highest counts for Fea's Petrel were made in June! Of course we also have a good number of trips planned for summer, when the White-tailed Tropicbird is most likely to occur, and we also have a weekend devoted to searching for White-faced Storm-Petrels in August. And if you have a group who would be interested in chartering our boat for a trip for a day when we don't have a trip planned, we can do that too! Private trips can be arranged on our boat at a very reasonable rate. It is encouraging to have already gotten reservations for this year from so many people who have sailed with us in past years. But I can't help but think there are a lot of people out there who have not yet been, but who would probably enjoy a pelagic trip with us. If you know someone who might find these trips interesting, please feel free to pass along this information. I am looking forward to an epic run of spring trips. Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC brian AT patteson.com http://www.seabirding.com/ --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Seabird News" group. To post to this group, send email to Seabird-News AT googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to Seabird-News+unsubscribe AT googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Seabird-News?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- Subject: Re: Pelagic from Tumbes, Peru. From: Gunnar Engblom <kolibriexp AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 15:13:41 -0500 Alvaro pointed out that the page was not showing the pictures well. It has now been fixed. Let me know if there are any problems viewing it. Gunnar > On Thu, Mar 5, 2009 at 12:29 AM, Gunnar Engblom wrote: > >> Dear all >> >> I am proud to announce the second pelagic from Tumbes in Norhtern Peru on >> March 18. We ran a short one last year and we had a number of good records >> including Galapagos Petrel. Last night I posted some pictures from last >> years pelagic on my blog >> http://bit.ly/sBuwR >> This time we hope also to get Galapagos Shearwater -and hopefully >> photograph it for the first time in Peru. >> >> Prices to Peru are low now. Less than 400$ from Miami. >> The pelagic offered is a part of a wholesome program - for a birding and >> non/birding couple....Here is a discription of their program which is on >> last-minute sale if anyone feels called to join. >> http://bit.ly/xTQ47 >> >> Saludos >> >> Gunnar Engblom >> Kolibri Expeditions >> Lima >> Peru >> >> > > > -- > Gunnar Engblom-Lima, Peru. > Kolibri Expeditions http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com > http://www.birding-peru.com Peru Birdwatching Portal . Checklists, pics & > site info, etc. > http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/birdingperu/blog/ - Gunnar's Blog - > updated frequently. > Tel: +51 1 2737246 . Cell: +51 1 988 555 938, RPM #752-755. 99900 7886 > (Elita) > Follow me on www.twitter.com/kolibrix > > -- Gunnar Engblom-Lima, Peru. Kolibri Expeditions http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com http://www.birding-peru.com Peru Birdwatching Portal . Checklists, pics & site info, etc. http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/birdingperu/blog/ - Gunnar's Blog - updated frequently. Tel: +51 1 2737246 . Cell: +51 1 988 555 938, RPM #752-755. 99900 7886 (Elita) Follow me on www.twitter.com/kolibrix [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Pelagic from Tumbes, Peru. From: Gunnar Engblom <kolibriexp AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 15:13:41 -0500 Alvaro pointed out that the page was not showing the pictures well. It has now been fixed. Let me know if there are any problems viewing it. Gunnar > On Thu, Mar 5, 2009 at 12:29 AM, Gunnar Engblom wrote: > >> Dear all >> >> I am proud to announce the second pelagic from Tumbes in Norhtern Peru on >> March 18. We ran a short one last year and we had a number of good records >> including Galapagos Petrel. Last night I posted some pictures from last >> years pelagic on my blog >> http://bit.ly/sBuwR >> This time we hope also to get Galapagos Shearwater -and hopefully >> photograph it for the first time in Peru. >> >> Prices to Peru are low now. Less than 400$ from Miami. >> The pelagic offered is a part of a wholesome program - for a birding and >> non/birding couple....Here is a discription of their program which is on >> last-minute sale if anyone feels called to join. >> http://bit.ly/xTQ47 >> >> Saludos >> >> Gunnar Engblom >> Kolibri Expeditions >> Lima >> Peru >> >> > > > -- > Gunnar Engblom-Lima, Peru. > Kolibri Expeditions http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com > http://www.birding-peru.com Peru Birdwatching Portal . Checklists, pics & > site info, etc. > http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/birdingperu/blog/ - Gunnar's Blog - > updated frequently. > Tel: +51 1 2737246 . Cell: +51 1 988 555 938, RPM #752-755. 99900 7886 > (Elita) > Follow me on www.twitter.com/kolibrix > > -- Gunnar Engblom-Lima, Peru. Kolibri Expeditions http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com http://www.birding-peru.com Peru Birdwatching Portal . Checklists, pics & site info, etc. http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/birdingperu/blog/ - Gunnar's Blog - updated frequently. Tel: +51 1 2737246 . Cell: +51 1 988 555 938, RPM #752-755. 99900 7886 (Elita) Follow me on www.twitter.com/kolibrix --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Seabird News" group. To post to this group, send email to Seabird-News AT googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to Seabird-News+unsubscribe AT googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Seabird-News?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- Subject: Pelagic from Tumbes, Peru. From: Gunnar Engblom <kolibriexp AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 00:36:31 -0500 Sorry all... Should have changed the subject .. (getting sleepy) Gunnar On Thu, Mar 5, 2009 at 12:29 AM, Gunnar Engblom wrote: > Dear all > > I am proud to announce the second pelagic from Tumbes in Norhtern Peru on > March 18. We ran a short one last year and we had a number of good records > including Galapagos Petrel. Last night I posted some pictures from last > years pelagic on my blog > http://bit.ly/sBuwR > This time we hope also to get Galapagos Shearwater -and hopefully > photograph it for the first time in Peru. > > Prices to Peru are low now. Less than 400$ from Miami. > The pelagic offered is a part of a wholesome program - for a birding and > non/birding couple....Here is a discription of their program which is on > last-minute sale if anyone feels called to join. > http://bit.ly/xTQ47 > > Saludos > > Gunnar Engblom > Kolibri Expeditions > Lima > Peru > > -- Gunnar Engblom-Lima, Peru. Kolibri Expeditions http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com http://www.birding-peru.com Peru Birdwatching Portal . Checklists, pics & site info, etc. http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/birdingperu/blog/ - Gunnar's Blog - updated frequently. Tel: +51 1 2737246 . Cell: +51 1 988 555 938, RPM #752-755. 99900 7886 (Elita) Follow me on www.twitter.com/kolibrix [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Pelagic from Tumbes, Peru. From: Gunnar Engblom <kolibriexp AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 00:36:31 -0500 Sorry all... Should have changed the subject .. (getting sleepy) Gunnar On Thu, Mar 5, 2009 at 12:29 AM, Gunnar Engblom wrote: > Dear all > > I am proud to announce the second pelagic from Tumbes in Norhtern Peru on > March 18. We ran a short one last year and we had a number of good records > including Galapagos Petrel. Last night I posted some pictures from last > years pelagic on my blog > http://bit.ly/sBuwR > This time we hope also to get Galapagos Shearwater -and hopefully > photograph it for the first time in Peru. > > Prices to Peru are low now. Less than 400$ from Miami. > The pelagic offered is a part of a wholesome program - for a birding and > non/birding couple....Here is a discription of their program which is on > last-minute sale if anyone feels called to join. > http://bit.ly/xTQ47 > > Saludos > > Gunnar Engblom > Kolibri Expeditions > Lima > Peru > > -- Gunnar Engblom-Lima, Peru. Kolibri Expeditions http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com http://www.birding-peru.com Peru Birdwatching Portal . Checklists, pics & site info, etc. http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/birdingperu/blog/ - Gunnar's Blog - updated frequently. Tel: +51 1 2737246 . Cell: +51 1 988 555 938, RPM #752-755. 99900 7886 (Elita) Follow me on www.twitter.com/kolibrix --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Seabird News" group. To post to this group, send email to Seabird-News AT googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to Seabird-News+unsubscribe AT googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Seabird-News?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- Subject: Re: [Seabird-News:924] Fw: Great Skua, Dovekies, 4 spp. tubenoses Feb. 28 From: Gunnar Engblom <kolibriexp AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 00:29:50 -0500 Dear all I am proud to announce the second pelagic from Tumbes in Norhtern Peru on March 18. We ran a short one last year and we had a number of good records including Galapagos Petrel. Last night I posted some pictures from last years pelagic on my blog http://bit.ly/sBuwR This time we hope also to get Galapagos Shearwater -and hopefully photograph it for the first time in Peru. Prices to Peru are low now. Less than 400$ from Miami. The pelagic offered is a part of a wholesome program - for a birding and non/birding couple....Here is a discription of their program which is on last-minute sale if anyone feels called to join. http://bit.ly/xTQ47 Saludos Gunnar Engblom Kolibri Expeditions Lima Peru -- Gunnar Engblom-Lima, Peru. Kolibri Expeditions http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com http://www.birding-peru.com Peru Birdwatching Portal . Checklists, pics & site info, etc. http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/birdingperu/blog/ - Gunnar's Blog - updated frequently. Tel: +51 1 2737246 . Cell: +51 1 988 555 938, RPM #752-755. 99900 7886 (Elita) Follow me on www.twitter.com/kolibrix [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Fw: Great Skua, Dovekies, 4 spp. tubenoses Feb. 28 From: Gunnar Engblom <kolibriexp AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 00:29:50 -0500 Dear all I am proud to announce the second pelagic from Tumbes in Norhtern Peru on March 18. We ran a short one last year and we had a number of good records including Galapagos Petrel. Last night I posted some pictures from last years pelagic on my blog http://bit.ly/sBuwR This time we hope also to get Galapagos Shearwater -and hopefully photograph it for the first time in Peru. Prices to Peru are low now. Less than 400$ from Miami. The pelagic offered is a part of a wholesome program - for a birding and non/birding couple....Here is a discription of their program which is on last-minute sale if anyone feels called to join. http://bit.ly/xTQ47 Saludos Gunnar Engblom Kolibri Expeditions Lima Peru -- Gunnar Engblom-Lima, Peru. Kolibri Expeditions http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com http://www.birding-peru.com Peru Birdwatching Portal . Checklists, pics & site info, etc. http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/birdingperu/blog/ - Gunnar's Blog - updated frequently. Tel: +51 1 2737246 . Cell: +51 1 988 555 938, RPM #752-755. 99900 7886 (Elita) Follow me on www.twitter.com/kolibrix --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Seabird News" group. To post to this group, send email to Seabird-News AT googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to Seabird-News+unsubscribe AT googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Seabird-News?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- Subject: Great Skua, Dovekies, 4 spp. tubenoses Feb. 28 From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 18:20:58 -0500 Seabirders, We ran our last scheduled winter trip from Hatteras on Saturday, Feb. 28. It was the best trip all winter for diversity of seabirds. Although we had light rain for much of the day, there was little wind and the sea conditions were rather nice overall. There was still cold water (47 degrees F) well to the south of Cape Hatteras, but we did not have to go as far to find 60-some degree water as we did last week. Much like the previous weekend, however, there was no sharp temperature change, just a gradual blend from high 40's to low 60's. Inshore, there were still good numbers of Razorbills around Diamond Shoals, but we did not venture as far north as we did on the previous trip, so I cannot comment on numbers of auks off Avon. There were a few fulmars flying around not far from Cape Point, but we didn't see any more for several miles to the east. Red-throated Loons were scarce compared to the previous two weekends, but there were more Common Loons around. Generally, there were not as many birds around the shoals as there had been a week or two ago- not surprising considering the three days of mild weather preceding the trip. With a rather ambiguous weather forecast and the possibility of strong southerly winds for the afternoon, I decided to chart a course to the southwest after reaching the easternmost extent of the cold water. This actually worked out well as we found a better swath of Dovekie habitat (sea temperature and depth) by going this way than I think we would have found had we gone north for a few miles. Dovekie numbers were down considerably compared to the previous weekend, but we managed to get looks at a few. We also saw a Greater Shearwater and a Black-capped Petrel along the way, and we gathered a flock a Northern Fulmars such that there were usually at least ten in view at any given time behind the boat. A first winter Glaucous Gull also joined the gull flock for a couple of hours and we had a number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls around all day. Gannets put on an impressive show diving for fish scraps off the stern as usual. With just a light southerly wind and rain, it got foggy around midday in the cold water, but after an hour or so, the wind shifted to the north, the air got a lot colder, and the fog went away. There had been some doubt as to whether the cold front would reach us before nightfall, but it did. This was a great turn of events because it made our feeding flock more visible to distant birds. And sure enough a Great Skua was tempted by the commotion and came charging in to have a go at the gulls. Unlike the last couple of skuas we have seen, this one even came back and made a "victory lap" through the flock again, so that everyone had a good look. This was our most seaward skua this winter- 7 miles off Cape Point and about 13 miles from Hatteras Inlet! We saw a few more Razorbills on the way back to the inlet, and we also saw a Manx Shearwater about a mile from the sea buoy. The most amazing part of the ride back was the persistence of the fulmars. Jamie Cameron was true to his word and chummed some fulmars INTO Hatteras Inlet, past the first couple of markers, but not quite to the soundside. This was our sixth winter trip in 2009. I wish it had been better attended, but at least we got to run it. It was a great species list for winter. Northern Fulmar- probably 25+, hard to count b/c of their following- fun birds to watch Black-capped Petrel- 1 Greater Shearwater- 2 Manx Shearwater- 1 Red Phalarope- 55 (one flock) Dovekie- 8+ Razorbill- 45+ Glaucous Gull- 1 Great Skua- 1 (seen on 3 of 5 Feb. trips this year) We also saw both loons, numerous Northern Gannets, and plenty of Bonaparte's, Herring, GBB, and LBB Gulls. I would like to thank Kate Sutherland and Jamie Cameron for helping to lead the trip and everyone else who came out. This was Kate's fifth trip this winter. Our next scheduled trip is not until May 20, but we are available for charter in the meantime. We have had some good birding offshore in mid March and late April. This is the first time in years that we still have space open on most of our spring trips- even a few on Memorial Day weekend. See our website for more information about this year's trips- http://www.seabirding.com/. Thanks, Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC brian AT patteson.com http://www.seabirding.com/ --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Seabird News" group. To post to this group, send email to Seabird-News AT googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to Seabird-News+unsubscribe AT googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Seabird-News?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- Subject: Great Skua, Dovekies, 4 spp. tubenoses Feb. 28 From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 18:20:58 -0500 Seabirders, We ran our last scheduled winter trip from Hatteras on Saturday, Feb. 28. It was the best trip all winter for diversity of seabirds. Although we had light rain for much of the day, there was little wind and the sea conditions were rather nice overall. There was still cold water (47 degrees F) well to the south of Cape Hatteras, but we did not have to go as far to find 60-some degree water as we did last week. Much like the previous weekend, however, there was no sharp temperature change, just a gradual blend from high 40's to low 60's. Inshore, there were still good numbers of Razorbills around Diamond Shoals, but we did not venture as far north as we did on the previous trip, so I cannot comment on numbers of auks off Avon. There were a few fulmars flying around not far from Cape Point, but we didn't see any more for several miles to the east. Red-throated Loons were scarce compared to the previous two weekends, but there were more Common Loons around. Generally, there were not as many birds around the shoals as there had been a week or two ago- not surprising considering the three days of mild weather preceding the trip. With a rather ambiguous weather forecast and the possibility of strong southerly winds for the afternoon, I decided to chart a course to the southwest after reaching the easternmost extent of the cold water. This actually worked out well as we found a better swath of Dovekie habitat (sea temperature and depth) by going this way than I think we would have found had we gone north for a few miles. Dovekie numbers were down considerably compared to the previous weekend, but we managed to get looks at a few. We also saw a Greater Shearwater and a Black-capped Petrel along the way, and we gathered a flock a Northern Fulmars such that there were usually at least ten in view at any given time behind the boat. A first winter Glaucous Gull also joined the gull flock for a couple of hours and we had a number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls around all day. Gannets put on an impressive show diving for fish scraps off the stern as usual. With just a light southerly wind and rain, it got foggy around midday in the cold water, but after an hour or so, the wind shifted to the north, the air got a lot colder, and the fog went away. There had been some doubt as to whether the cold front would reach us before nightfall, but it did. This was a great turn of events because it made our feeding flock more visible to distant birds. And sure enough a Great Skua was tempted by the commotion and came charging in to have a go at the gulls. Unlike the last couple of skuas we have seen, this one even came back and made a "victory lap" through the flock again, so that everyone had a good look. This was our most seaward skua this winter- 7 miles off Cape Point and about 13 miles from Hatteras Inlet! We saw a few more Razorbills on the way back to the inlet, and we also saw a Manx Shearwater about a mile from the sea buoy. The most amazing part of the ride back was the persistence of the fulmars. Jamie Cameron was true to his word and chummed some fulmars INTO Hatteras Inlet, past the first couple of markers, but not quite to the soundside. This was our sixth winter trip in 2009. I wish it had been better attended, but at least we got to run it. It was a great species list for winter. Northern Fulmar- probably 25+, hard to count b/c of their following- fun birds to watch Black-capped Petrel- 1 Greater Shearwater- 2 Manx Shearwater- 1 Red Phalarope- 55 (one flock) Dovekie- 8+ Razorbill- 45+ Glaucous Gull- 1 Great Skua- 1 (seen on 3 of 5 Feb. trips this year) We also saw both loons, numerous Northern Gannets, and plenty of Bonaparte's, Herring, GBB, and LBB Gulls. I would like to thank Kate Sutherland and Jamie Cameron for helping to lead the trip and everyone else who came out. This was Kate's fifth trip this winter. Our next scheduled trip is not until May 20, but we are available for charter in the meantime. We have had some good birding offshore in mid March and late April. This is the first time in years that we still have space open on most of our spring trips- even a few on Memorial Day weekend. See our website for more information about this year's trips- http://www.seabirding.com/. Thanks, Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC brian AT patteson.com http://www.seabirding.com/ Subject: Re: Re: I'll run the list my way From: "John Hansen" <majorhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:28:49 -0600 That's fine - I will. ----- Original Message ----- From: Robert Wallace To: majorhart2000 Cc: 2pelagics Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:49 AM Subject: [pelagics] Re: I'll run the list my way Please remove me from your list and your insensitive comments, and previous snubbing of Brian Patteson. There are better more inclusive pelagic lists available. Bob Wallace Alachua FL ________________________________ From: majorhart2000 To: chnuts AT yahoo.com Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:50:19 AM Subject: I'll run the list my way If you don't like the list - quit it. This subject keeps coming up and If I want to keep the list alive by putting all messages to all - I will. Those who want to post privately can get the email address and put it to that address only. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386) Database version: 5.11850 http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor-antivirus/ E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386) Database version: 5.11850 http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Re: I'll run the list my way From: "John Hansen" <majorhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:28:49 -0600 That's fine - I will. ----- Original Message ----- From: Robert Wallace To: majorhart2000 Cc: 2pelagics Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:49 AM Subject: [pelagics] Re: I'll run the list my way Please remove me from your list and your insensitive comments, and previous snubbing of Brian Patteson. There are better more inclusive pelagic lists available. Bob Wallace Alachua FL ________________________________ From: majorhart2000 To: chnuts AT yahoo.com Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:50:19 AM Subject: I'll run the list my way If you don't like the list - quit it. This subject keeps coming up and If I want to keep the list alive by putting all messages to all - I will. Those who want to post privately can get the email address and put it to that address only. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386) Database version: 5.11850 http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor-antivirus/ E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386) Database version: 5.11850 http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Re: I'll run the list my way From: "John Hansen" <majorhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:21:51 -0600 Hi, Gunnar. I have 175 yahoo lists and 30 or more are bird related. Birdworld has over 100 members - texas birdchat almost 100 - I have california birdchat and az birdchat as well. Only on this list do I ever hear those concerns. This list is TEN years old now and has been running fine. About every 6 months or so - someone wants changes when none are needed - even if possible - so I stand firm. I've seen some lists fail when most or all of the messages sent were private. Who's to say that those messages aren't of interest to many on the group and if they really are of a private nature - they should be sent off the list - the person can just post a public message asking the other person for his or her email and then send it. I run this list for myself and the great majority of members here - who may have an interest in any message that doesn't need to be private - 366 members at last count and that number has stayed stable for most of those years, ranging from a low of 350 to a high of 400. Our main interest is upcoming and past Pelagics trips and reports - and that should be interesting to everyone. When private messages are needed they can be sent offlist. I have 10 websites and they access a phpbb3 email list and blog but many webhosts go out of business so often that I have trouble keeping them up too. Running the Peru list - you probably are familiar with Mary Beth Stowe who birds down that way alot. She files some great reports. I always like to read hers. Thanks for the response. John Hansen ----- Original Message ----- From: Gunnar Engblom To: pelagics AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 11:27 AM Subject: Re: [pelagics] Re: I'll run the list my way Point is though that all lists run by Yahoo does not give the option that RW wants... It is a list your own, and message you post goes to the whole list....It is a simple as that. I run two quite big lists on Yahoo (BirdingPeru and Incaspiza), and occasionally people send private messages the way it happened now, but mostly not - and it is not a problem really. As an administrator I have the option to moderate mails from anyone constantly sending messages that does not concern the list. I also moderate new members by default in the settings as admin. It¨d be a shame you leave the list Bob! Gunnar -- Gunnar Engblom-Lima, Peru. Kolibri Expeditions http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com http://www.birding-peru.com Peru Birdwatching Portal . Checklists, pics & site info, etc. http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/birdingperu/blog/ - Gunnar's Blog - updated frequently. Tel: +51 1 2737246 . Cell: +51 1 988 555 938, RPM #752-755. 99900 7886 (Elita) Follow me on www.twitter.com/kolibrix [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386) Database version: 5.11850 http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor-antivirus/ E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386) Database version: 5.11850 http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Re: I'll run the list my way From: Gunnar Engblom <kolibriexp AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:27:46 -0500 Point is though that all lists run by Yahoo does not give the option that RW wants... It is a list your own, and message you post goes to the whole list....It is a simple as that. I run two quite big lists on Yahoo (BirdingPeru and Incaspiza), and occasionally people send private messages the way it happened now, but mostly not - and it is not a problem really. As an administrator I have the option to moderate mails from anyone constantly sending messages that does not concern the list. I also moderate new members by default in the settings as admin. It¨d be a shame you leave the list Bob! Gunnar -- Gunnar Engblom-Lima, Peru. Kolibri Expeditions http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com http://www.birding-peru.com Peru Birdwatching Portal . Checklists, pics & site info, etc. http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/birdingperu/blog/ - Gunnar's Blog - updated frequently. Tel: +51 1 2737246 . Cell: +51 1 988 555 938, RPM #752-755. 99900 7886 (Elita) Follow me on www.twitter.com/kolibrix [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: I'll run the list my way From: Robert Wallace <chnuts AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 07:49:42 -0800 (PST) Please remove me from your list and your insensitive comments, and previous snubbing of Brian Patteson. There are better more inclusive pelagic lists available. Bob Wallace Alachua FL ________________________________ From: majorhart2000 To: chnuts AT yahoo.com Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:50:19 AM Subject: I'll run the list my way If you don't like the list - quit it. This subject keeps coming up and If I want to keep the list alive by putting all messages to all - I will. Those who want to post privately can get the email address and put it to that address only. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Happy Birthday From: "John Hansen" <majorhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 07:02:13 -0600 Thanks. I was surprise to see it has been that long since I started it. Barbara Passmore and I got together on that idea when she was moderator of birdchat and we saw a need that was not being met. John ----- Original Message ----- From: Terry Hunefeld To: pelagics AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 10:43 PM Subject: [pelagics] Happy Birthday John Happy Birthday to the Yahoo Pelagics Group! What a great forum! W. Terry Hunefeld Life is short. Seabird often. Seabirding Trips From San Diego Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands Nine-mile, Thirty-mile, Sixty-mile Banks Cortes & Tanner Banks Channel Islands -----Original Message----- From: pelagics AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:pelagics AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of John Hansen Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 4:36 PM This list was started by me TEN years ago on Jan 9, 1999 and over all it's been a great place to exchange information. .. John Hansen - list owner E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386) Database version: 5.11850 http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor-antivirus/ E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386) Database version: 5.11850 http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Re: Reply=Reply All, but excludes the individual From: Robert Wallace <chnuts AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 04:46:52 -0800 (PST) Yes, John, it is a problem, the setting should be set to reply to individual not reply all. Most of the time in a reply it is intended to go to the individual, not the group. This has confounded me in the past many times, when a personal note got posted to the group. No other list works this way. I believe you would satisfy the majority of the group by changing this feature. Everyone knows from all of the other lists that if they wish to post to the entire group, then they choose to reply-all. Bob Wallace Alachua FL ________________________________ From: John Hansen To: pelagics AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 12:56:21 AM Subject: Re: [pelagics] Re: Reply=Reply All, but excludes the individual I don't think there's any problem. John ----- Original Message ----- From: Terry Hunefeld To: pelagics AT yahoogroup s.com Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 3:17 PM Subject: [pelagics] Re: Reply=Reply All, but excludes the individual Greetings, I see what Brian means. I thought I was replying to Greg personally from my blackberry after reading his great account of his weekend. I aplogize - didn't mean for that to happen. Perhaps the listowner can change the settings, or. . . I can just be more careful! :-) In an unrelated event, the hastily put-together trip out of Santa Barbara this Sunday to hunt Parakeet Auklets is a definite "go" as we have hit the minimum number. There are still some spaces available if you are up for adventure. Weather and seas forecasts are looking pretty good. Details at: http://www.socalbir ding.com/ upcomingtrips/ santabarbara1mar 2009.html Terry Hunefeld, San Diego Life is short. Seabird often. --- In pelagics AT yahoogroup s.com, "J. BRIAN PATTESON" wrote: > > Why is the e-mail for this group configured so that a reply intended for > the person gets addressed to the group? I'm looking at this, and when > one hits reply, it doesn't even go to the person, just the group- which > is probably why I got Terry's e-mail in the first place. It should be > that I would have to hit "Reply All" to send to the group, and if I hit > "Reply", it should only go to the person. It doesn't work this way on > other groups I subscribe to. > > At least the posts are going through in real time now. > > Brian Patteson > Hatteras, NC > E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386) Database version: 5.11840 http://www.pctools. com/spyware- doctor-antivirus / E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386) Database version: 5.11840 http://www.pctools. com/en/spyware- doctor-antivirus / [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Happy Birthday From: "Terry Hunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:43:01 -0800 John Happy Birthday to the Yahoo Pelagics Group! What a great forum! W. Terry Hunefeld Life is short. Seabird often. Seabirding Trips From San Diego Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands Nine-mile, Thirty-mile, Sixty-mile Banks Cortes & Tanner Banks Channel Islands -----Original Message----- From: pelagics AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:pelagics AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of John Hansen Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 4:36 PM This list was started by me TEN years ago on Jan 9, 1999 and over all it's been a great place to exchange information. .. John Hansen - list owner Subject: Re: Re: Reply=Reply All, but excludes the individual From: "John Hansen" <majorhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:56:21 -0600 I don't think there's any problem. John ----- Original Message ----- From: Terry Hunefeld To: pelagics AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 3:17 PM Subject: [pelagics] Re: Reply=Reply All, but excludes the individual Greetings, I see what Brian means. I thought I was replying to Greg personally from my blackberry after reading his great account of his weekend. I aplogize - didn't mean for that to happen. Perhaps the listowner can change the settings, or. . . I can just be more careful! :-) In an unrelated event, the hastily put-together trip out of Santa Barbara this Sunday to hunt Parakeet Auklets is a definite "go" as we have hit the minimum number. There are still some spaces available if you are up for adventure. Weather and seas forecasts are looking pretty good. Details at: http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/santabarbara1mar2009.html Terry Hunefeld, San Diego Life is short. Seabird often. --- In pelagics AT yahoogroups.com, "J. BRIAN PATTESON" wrote: > > Why is the e-mail for this group configured so that a reply intended for > the person gets addressed to the group? I'm looking at this, and when > one hits reply, it doesn't even go to the person, just the group- which > is probably why I got Terry's e-mail in the first place. It should be > that I would have to hit "Reply All" to send to the group, and if I hit > "Reply", it should only go to the person. It doesn't work this way on > other groups I subscribe to. > > At least the posts are going through in real time now. > > Brian Patteson > Hatteras, NC > E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386) Database version: 5.11840 http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor-antivirus/ E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386) Database version: 5.11840 http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Reply=Reply All, but excludes the individual From: "John Hansen" <majorhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:36:26 -0600 I can't tell you why but I tried to email you alone today and it went to the pelagics group. The only way I know of is to right click and get the person's email and send it directly to them. I right clicked and went to properties and got your email - patteson1 AT embarqmail.com Or put certain people in your address book Yahoo does some funny things but this list has been up for This list was started by me TEN years ago on Jan 9, 1999 and over all it's been a great place to exchange information. .. John Hansen - list owner ----- Original Message ----- From: J. BRIAN PATTESON To: pelagics AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 2:48 PM Subject: [pelagics] Reply=Reply All, but excludes the individual Why is the e-mail for this group configured so that a reply intended for the person gets addressed to the group? I'm looking at this, and when one hits reply, it doesn't even go to the person, just the group- which is probably why I got Terry's e-mail in the first place. It should be that I would have to hit "Reply All" to send to the group, and if I hit "Reply", it should only go to the person. It doesn't work this way on other groups I subscribe to. At least the posts are going through in real time now. Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC ----- Original Message ----- From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" To: Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 3:39 PM Subject: Re: [pelagics] Trip results: Oregon Perpetua Bank pelagic: 21 February 2009 > Terry, > > I mailed some brochures out to you today, hoping you could put them out > on some of the upcoming pelagic trips out there. > > Thanks, > > Brian Patteson > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "W. Terry Hunefeld" > To: > Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 6:17 PM > Subject: Re: [pelagics] Trip results: Oregon Perpetua Bank pelagic: 21 > February 2009 > > > > Greg > > > > Great outing. > > > > I hope to be on the McArthuur II with Scott Mills in march. Whoooo > hoooo, another seasin begins! > > > > Will be on 5 SoCal pelagics over the next two weekends. > > > > Best > > > > > > Terry > > > > Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: "thebirdguide" > > > > Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:05:29 > > To: > > Subject: [pelagics] Trip results: Oregon Perpetua Bank pelagic: 21 > February 2009 > > > > > > Pleasant weather and seas and good birds made The Bird Guide's first > > pelagic trip of the year a great success! > > > > Eight guides joined the 15 participants, so there was ample help for > > all to spot and learn identification. It was a fun trip. > > > > The target for this trip was LAYSAN ALBATROSS. And, success! A bird > > came in and circled the boat early in the trip providing great looks > > for all. This makes 7 of 8 annual February and March Perpetua Bank > > trips recording this striking winter species. > > > > The 114 migrant RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, most in full breeding plumage, > > were expected. However, we were surprised by the 2000 CASSIN'S > > AUKLETS, most about 6-15 miles offshore in a band of exceptionally > > smooth water. This is our 3rd highest total (10,000 in October 2002) > > and was a complete surprise for this time of year. As David Mandell > > said, "miles and miles of gray rubber duckies happily floating > > along." > > > > This trip belonged to the gulls, though. We had 8 species and at > > least two additional hybrids. And we're still puzzling out one gull > > from the photos (either an odd large, pale Thayer's or a hybrid > > Herring x Glaucous-winged). > > > > Two GLAUCOUS GULLS graced this trip, the final one in the marina at > > Newport when nearly dark. We also had a NELSON'S (HERRING x > > GLAUCOUS) GULL at one of the three chum stops. The amazing 50(!) > > THAYER'S GULLS were exceeded only by the 80 HERRING GULLS and the > > typical 159 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES. One of the THAYER'S GULLS was > > banded with a numbered yellow flag. If anyone knows about this, > > please let me know. > > > > A few SOOTY and PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS were rather early, with no > > short-tailed shearwaters perhaps more surprising. > > > > Unfortunately, only a few people saw and identified a rare HORNED > > PUFFIN flying away and several small uncooperative flocks of distant > > ANCIENT MURRELETS. > > > > We counted exactly 20 pairs of MARBLED MURRELETS late in the day on > > two miles of ocean near shore just south of the moth of Yaquina Bay. > > Everyone had great views of these cute birds. We then entered the > > bay at dusk picking out a ROCK SANDPIPER on the Yaquina Bay south > > jetty. > > > > Trip photos: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/pelagic_trip_photos > > > > > > Brant 140 (bay) > > Greater Scaup 4 (bay) > > Surf Scoter 350 > > White-winged Scoter 45 > > Common Goldeneye 6 (bay) > > Bufflehead 4 (bay) > > Western Grebe 5 > > Red-necked Grebe 7 (bay and near shore) > > Horned Grebe 4 (bay) > > Common Loon 60 (most in bay) > > Red-throated Loon 4 (bay fly overs) > > Pacific Loon 2 > > Great Blue Heron 3 (bay) > > Black-footed Albatross 10 > > LAYSAN ALBATROSS 1 > > Northern Fulmar 104 > > Pink-footed Shearwater 6 > > Sooty Shearwater 13 > > Surfbird 10 (jetty) > > Black Turnstone 4 (jetty) > > ROCK SANDPIPER 1 (jetty) > > peep 75 > > Mew Gull 50 (near shore) > > California Gull 5 > > Herring Gull 80 > > Thayer's Gull 50 > > Western Gull 40 (most in bay and near shore) > > Glaucous-winged Gull 25 (most in bay) > > GLAUCOUS GULL 2 (one in bay, one 5 miles off shore) > > Black-legged Kittiwake 159 > > Glaucous-winged x Western Gull 30 > > Herring x Glaucous Gull 1 > > Common Murre 200 > > Pigeon Guillemot 25 > > Marbled Murrelet 40 > > Cassin's Auklet 2000 > > Rhinoceros Auklet 114 > > ANCIENT MURRELET 26 (Jim Danzenbaker, Tom Snetsinger) > > HORNED PUFFIN 1 (David Mandell, Jim Danzenbaker) > > > > Harbor Seal 8 (bay) > > California Sea Lion 10 (most in bay) > > Steller's Sea Lion 10 > > Northern Fur Seal 2 (Russ Namitz) > > Harbor Porpoise 6 > > Dall's Porpoise 3 > > Pacific White-sided Dolphin 2 > > > > > > Our next trip is April 18. We expect higher numbers of most of the > > species seen on Saturday's trip, plus more tubenoses (shearwaters > > and fork-tailed storm-petrels), phalaropes, terns and perhaps > > jaegers. There is still a chance for Laysan Albatrosses, too. This > > is the peak of the waterfowl and shorebird migration, and the > > beginning of the songbird migration, so a great time to spend the > > weekend birding the central Oregon coast. I actually can't think of > > a better place in Oregon to be watching birds in late April than > > along the coast. > > > > See our web site for details: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/ > > > > Greg Gillson > > The Bird Guide, Inc. > > Oregon USA > > greg AT thebirdguide.com > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386) Database version: 5.11840 http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor-antivirus/ E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386) Database version: 5.11840 http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: Trip results: Oregon Perpetua Bank pelagic: 21 February 2009 From: "Terry Hunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:00:59 -0800 Brian Not only will I put them out, I will TALK about them and put them in the galley on the trip in a 3-ring binder. Happy to help however I can. See you in May! Best Terry W. Terry Hunefeld Life is short. Seabird often. Seabirding Trips From San Diego Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands Nine-mile, Thirty-mile, Sixty-mile Banks Cortes & Tanner Banks Channel Islands Inn at Moonlight Beach http://www.InnAtMoonlightBeach.com Ocean view rooms & suites from $115 Encinitas, North County, San Diego -----Original Message----- From: pelagics AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:pelagics AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of J. BRIAN PATTESON Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 12:39 PM To: pelagics AT yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [pelagics] Trip results: Oregon Perpetua Bank pelagic: 21 February 2009 Terry, I mailed some brochures out to you today, hoping you could put them out on some of the upcoming pelagic trips out there. Thanks, Brian Patteson ----- Original Message ----- From: "W. Terry Hunefeld" To: Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 6:17 PM Subject: Re: [pelagics] Trip results: Oregon Perpetua Bank pelagic: 21 February 2009 > Greg > > Great outing. > > I hope to be on the McArthuur II with Scott Mills in march. Whoooo hoooo, another seasin begins! > > Will be on 5 SoCal pelagics over the next two weekends. > > Best > > > Terry > > Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless > > -----Original Message----- > From: "thebirdguide" > > Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:05:29 > To: > Subject: [pelagics] Trip results: Oregon Perpetua Bank pelagic: 21 February 2009 > > > Pleasant weather and seas and good birds made The Bird Guide's first > pelagic trip of the year a great success! > > Eight guides joined the 15 participants, so there was ample help for > all to spot and learn identification. It was a fun trip. > > The target for this trip was LAYSAN ALBATROSS. And, success! A bird > came in and circled the boat early in the trip providing great looks > for all. This makes 7 of 8 annual February and March Perpetua Bank > trips recording this striking winter species. > > The 114 migrant RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, most in full breeding plumage, > were expected. However, we were surprised by the 2000 CASSIN'S > AUKLETS, most about 6-15 miles offshore in a band of exceptionally > smooth water. This is our 3rd highest total (10,000 in October 2002) > and was a complete surprise for this time of year. As David Mandell > said, "miles and miles of gray rubber duckies happily floating > along." > > This trip belonged to the gulls, though. We had 8 species and at > least two additional hybrids. And we're still puzzling out one gull > from the photos (either an odd large, pale Thayer's or a hybrid > Herring x Glaucous-winged). > > Two GLAUCOUS GULLS graced this trip, the final one in the marina at > Newport when nearly dark. We also had a NELSON'S (HERRING x > GLAUCOUS) GULL at one of the three chum stops. The amazing 50(!) > THAYER'S GULLS were exceeded only by the 80 HERRING GULLS and the > typical 159 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES. One of the THAYER'S GULLS was > banded with a numbered yellow flag. If anyone knows about this, > please let me know. > > A few SOOTY and PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS were rather early, with no > short-tailed shearwaters perhaps more surprising. > > Unfortunately, only a few people saw and identified a rare HORNED > PUFFIN flying away and several small uncooperative flocks of distant > ANCIENT MURRELETS. > > We counted exactly 20 pairs of MARBLED MURRELETS late in the day on > two miles of ocean near shore just south of the moth of Yaquina Bay. > Everyone had great views of these cute birds. We then entered the > bay at dusk picking out a ROCK SANDPIPER on the Yaquina Bay south > jetty. > > Trip photos: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/pelagic_trip_photos > > > Brant 140 (bay) > Greater Scaup 4 (bay) > Surf Scoter 350 > White-winged Scoter 45 > Common Goldeneye 6 (bay) > Bufflehead 4 (bay) > Western Grebe 5 > Red-necked Grebe 7 (bay and near shore) > Horned Grebe 4 (bay) > Common Loon 60 (most in bay) > Red-throated Loon 4 (bay fly overs) > Pacific Loon 2 > Great Blue Heron 3 (bay) > Black-footed Albatross 10 > LAYSAN ALBATROSS 1 > Northern Fulmar 104 > Pink-footed Shearwater 6 > Sooty Shearwater 13 > Surfbird 10 (jetty) > Black Turnstone 4 (jetty) > ROCK SANDPIPER 1 (jetty) > peep 75 > Mew Gull 50 (near shore) > California Gull 5 > Herring Gull 80 > Thayer's Gull 50 > Western Gull 40 (most in bay and near shore) > Glaucous-winged Gull 25 (most in bay) > GLAUCOUS GULL 2 (one in bay, one 5 miles off shore) > Black-legged Kittiwake 159 > Glaucous-winged x Western Gull 30 > Herring x Glaucous Gull 1 > Common Murre 200 > Pigeon Guillemot 25 > Marbled Murrelet 40 > Cassin's Auklet 2000 > Rhinoceros Auklet 114 > ANCIENT MURRELET 26 (Jim Danzenbaker, Tom Snetsinger) > HORNED PUFFIN 1 (David Mandell, Jim Danzenbaker) > > Harbor Seal 8 (bay) > California Sea Lion 10 (most in bay) > Steller's Sea Lion 10 > Northern Fur Seal 2 (Russ Namitz) > Harbor Porpoise 6 > Dall's Porpoise 3 > Pacific White-sided Dolphin 2 > > > Our next trip is April 18. We expect higher numbers of most of the > species seen on Saturday's trip, plus more tubenoses (shearwaters > and fork-tailed storm-petrels), phalaropes, terns and perhaps > jaegers. There is still a chance for Laysan Albatrosses, too. This > is the peak of the waterfowl and shorebird migration, and the > beginning of the songbird migration, so a great time to spend the > weekend birding the central Oregon coast. I actually can't think of > a better place in Oregon to be watching birds in late April than > along the coast. > > See our web site for details: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/ > > Greg Gillson > The Bird Guide, Inc. > Oregon USA > greg AT thebirdguide.com > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links Subject: Re: Reply=Reply All, but excludes the individual From: "Terry Hunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:17:26 -0000 Greetings, I see what Brian means. I thought I was replying to Greg personally from my blackberry after reading his great account of his weekend. I aplogize - didn't mean for that to happen. Perhaps the listowner can change the settings, or. . . I can just be more careful! :-) In an unrelated event, the hastily put-together trip out of Santa Barbara this Sunday to hunt Parakeet Auklets is a definite "go" as we have hit the minimum number. There are still some spaces available if you are up for adventure. Weather and seas forecasts are looking pretty good. Details at: http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/santabarbara1mar2009.html Terry Hunefeld, San Diego Life is short. Seabird often. --- In pelagics AT yahoogroups.com, "J. BRIAN PATTESON" wrote: > > Why is the e-mail for this group configured so that a reply intended for > the person gets addressed to the group? I'm looking at this, and when > one hits reply, it doesn't even go to the person, just the group- which > is probably why I got Terry's e-mail in the first place. It should be > that I would have to hit "Reply All" to send to the group, and if I hit > "Reply", it should only go to the person. It doesn't work this way on > other groups I subscribe to. > > At least the posts are going through in real time now. > > Brian Patteson > Hatteras, NC > Subject: Reply=Reply All, but excludes the individual From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:48:53 -0500 Why is the e-mail for this group configured so that a reply intended for the person gets addressed to the group? I'm looking at this, and when one hits reply, it doesn't even go to the person, just the group- which is probably why I got Terry's e-mail in the first place. It should be that I would have to hit "Reply All" to send to the group, and if I hit "Reply", it should only go to the person. It doesn't work this way on other groups I subscribe to. At least the posts are going through in real time now. Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC ----- Original Message ----- From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" To: Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 3:39 PM Subject: Re: [pelagics] Trip results: Oregon Perpetua Bank pelagic: 21 February 2009 > Terry, > > I mailed some brochures out to you today, hoping you could put them out > on some of the upcoming pelagic trips out there. > > Thanks, > > Brian Patteson > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "W. Terry Hunefeld" > To: > Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 6:17 PM > Subject: Re: [pelagics] Trip results: Oregon Perpetua Bank pelagic: 21 > February 2009 > > > > Greg > > > > Great outing. > > > > I hope to be on the McArthuur II with Scott Mills in march. Whoooo > hoooo, another seasin begins! > > > > Will be on 5 SoCal pelagics over the next two weekends. > > > > Best > > > > > > Terry > > > > Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: "thebirdguide" > > > > Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:05:29 > > To: > > Subject: [pelagics] Trip results: Oregon Perpetua Bank pelagic: 21 > February 2009 > > > > > > Pleasant weather and seas and good birds made The Bird Guide's first > > pelagic trip of the year a great success! > > > > Eight guides joined the 15 participants, so there was ample help for > > all to spot and learn identification. It was a fun trip. > > > > The target for this trip was LAYSAN ALBATROSS. And, success! A bird > > came in and circled the boat early in the trip providing great looks > > for all. This makes 7 of 8 annual February and March Perpetua Bank > > trips recording this striking winter species. > > > > The 114 migrant RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, most in full breeding plumage, > > were expected. However, we were surprised by the 2000 CASSIN'S > > AUKLETS, most about 6-15 miles offshore in a band of exceptionally > > smooth water. This is our 3rd highest total (10,000 in October 2002) > > and was a complete surprise for this time of year. As David Mandell > > said, "miles and miles of gray rubber duckies happily floating > > along." > > > > This trip belonged to the gulls, though. We had 8 species and at > > least two additional hybrids. And we're still puzzling out one gull > > from the photos (either an odd large, pale Thayer's or a hybrid > > Herring x Glaucous-winged). > > > > Two GLAUCOUS GULLS graced this trip, the final one in the marina at > > Newport when nearly dark. We also had a NELSON'S (HERRING x > > GLAUCOUS) GULL at one of the three chum stops. The amazing 50(!) > > THAYER'S GULLS were exceeded only by the 80 HERRING GULLS and the > > typical 159 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES. One of the THAYER'S GULLS was > > banded with a numbered yellow flag. If anyone knows about this, > > please let me know. > > > > A few SOOTY and PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS were rather early, with no > > short-tailed shearwaters perhaps more surprising. > > > > Unfortunately, only a few people saw and identified a rare HORNED > > PUFFIN flying away and several small uncooperative flocks of distant > > ANCIENT MURRELETS. > > > > We counted exactly 20 pairs of MARBLED MURRELETS late in the day on > > two miles of ocean near shore just south of the moth of Yaquina Bay. > > Everyone had great views of these cute birds. We then entered the > > bay at dusk picking out a ROCK SANDPIPER on the Yaquina Bay south > > jetty. > > > > Trip photos: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/pelagic_trip_photos > > > > > > Brant 140 (bay) > > Greater Scaup 4 (bay) > > Surf Scoter 350 > > White-winged Scoter 45 > > Common Goldeneye 6 (bay) > > Bufflehead 4 (bay) > > Western Grebe 5 > > Red-necked Grebe 7 (bay and near shore) > > Horned Grebe 4 (bay) > > Common Loon 60 (most in bay) > > Red-throated Loon 4 (bay fly overs) > > Pacific Loon 2 > > Great Blue Heron 3 (bay) > > Black-footed Albatross 10 > > LAYSAN ALBATROSS 1 > > Northern Fulmar 104 > > Pink-footed Shearwater 6 > > Sooty Shearwater 13 > > Surfbird 10 (jetty) > > Black Turnstone 4 (jetty) > > ROCK SANDPIPER 1 (jetty) > > peep 75 > > Mew Gull 50 (near shore) > > California Gull 5 > > Herring Gull 80 > > Thayer's Gull 50 > > Western Gull 40 (most in bay and near shore) > > Glaucous-winged Gull 25 (most in bay) > > GLAUCOUS GULL 2 (one in bay, one 5 miles off shore) > > Black-legged Kittiwake 159 > > Glaucous-winged x Western Gull 30 > > Herring x Glaucous Gull 1 > > Common Murre 200 > > Pigeon Guillemot 25 > > Marbled Murrelet 40 > > Cassin's Auklet 2000 > > Rhinoceros Auklet 114 > > ANCIENT MURRELET 26 (Jim Danzenbaker, Tom Snetsinger) > > HORNED PUFFIN 1 (David Mandell, Jim Danzenbaker) > > > > Harbor Seal 8 (bay) > > California Sea Lion 10 (most in bay) > > Steller's Sea Lion 10 > > Northern Fur Seal 2 (Russ Namitz) > > Harbor Porpoise 6 > > Dall's Porpoise 3 > > Pacific White-sided Dolphin 2 > > > > > > Our next trip is April 18. We expect higher numbers of most of the > > species seen on Saturday's trip, plus more tubenoses (shearwaters > > and fork-tailed storm-petrels), phalaropes, terns and perhaps > > jaegers. There is still a chance for Laysan Albatrosses, too. This > > is the peak of the waterfowl and shorebird migration, and the > > beginning of the songbird migration, so a great time to spend the > > weekend birding the central Oregon coast. I actually can't think of > > a better place in Oregon to be watching birds in late April than > > along the coast. > > > > See our web site for details: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/ > > > > Greg Gillson > > The Bird Guide, Inc. > > Oregon USA > > greg AT thebirdguide.com > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > Subject: Re: Trip results: Oregon Perpetua Bank pelagic: 21 February 2009 From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:39:03 -0500 Terry, I mailed some brochures out to you today, hoping you could put them out on some of the upcoming pelagic trips out there. Thanks, Brian Patteson ----- Original Message ----- From: "W. Terry Hunefeld" To: Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 6:17 PM Subject: Re: [pelagics] Trip results: Oregon Perpetua Bank pelagic: 21 February 2009 > Greg > > Great outing. > > I hope to be on the McArthuur II with Scott Mills in march. Whoooo hoooo, another seasin begins! > > Will be on 5 SoCal pelagics over the next two weekends. > > Best > > > Terry > > Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless > > -----Original Message----- > From: "thebirdguide" > > Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:05:29 > To: > Subject: [pelagics] Trip results: Oregon Perpetua Bank pelagic: 21 February 2009 > > > Pleasant weather and seas and good birds made The Bird Guide's first > pelagic trip of the year a great success! > > Eight guides joined the 15 participants, so there was ample help for > all to spot and learn identification. It was a fun trip. > > The target for this trip was LAYSAN ALBATROSS. And, success! A bird > came in and circled the boat early in the trip providing great looks > for all. This makes 7 of 8 annual February and March Perpetua Bank > trips recording this striking winter species. > > The 114 migrant RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, most in full breeding plumage, > were expected. However, we were surprised by the 2000 CASSIN'S > AUKLETS, most about 6-15 miles offshore in a band of exceptionally > smooth water. This is our 3rd highest total (10,000 in October 2002) > and was a complete surprise for this time of year. As David Mandell > said, "miles and miles of gray rubber duckies happily floating > along." > > This trip belonged to the gulls, though. We had 8 species and at > least two additional hybrids. And we're still puzzling out one gull > from the photos (either an odd large, pale Thayer's or a hybrid > Herring x Glaucous-winged). > > Two GLAUCOUS GULLS graced this trip, the final one in the marina at > Newport when nearly dark. We also had a NELSON'S (HERRING x > GLAUCOUS) GULL at one of the three chum stops. The amazing 50(!) > THAYER'S GULLS were exceeded only by the 80 HERRING GULLS and the > typical 159 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES. One of the THAYER'S GULLS was > banded with a numbered yellow flag. If anyone knows about this, > please let me know. > > A few SOOTY and PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS were rather early, with no > short-tailed shearwaters perhaps more surprising. > > Unfortunately, only a few people saw and identified a rare HORNED > PUFFIN flying away and several small uncooperative flocks of distant > ANCIENT MURRELETS. > > We counted exactly 20 pairs of MARBLED MURRELETS late in the day on > two miles of ocean near shore just south of the moth of Yaquina Bay. > Everyone had great views of these cute birds. We then entered the > bay at dusk picking out a ROCK SANDPIPER on the Yaquina Bay south > jetty. > > Trip photos: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/pelagic_trip_photos > > > Brant 140 (bay) > Greater Scaup 4 (bay) > Surf Scoter 350 > White-winged Scoter 45 > Common Goldeneye 6 (bay) > Bufflehead 4 (bay) > Western Grebe 5 > Red-necked Grebe 7 (bay and near shore) > Horned Grebe 4 (bay) > Common Loon 60 (most in bay) > Red-throated Loon 4 (bay fly overs) > Pacific Loon 2 > Great Blue Heron 3 (bay) > Black-footed Albatross 10 > LAYSAN ALBATROSS 1 > Northern Fulmar 104 > Pink-footed Shearwater 6 > Sooty Shearwater 13 > Surfbird 10 (jetty) > Black Turnstone 4 (jetty) > ROCK SANDPIPER 1 (jetty) > peep 75 > Mew Gull 50 (near shore) > California Gull 5 > Herring Gull 80 > Thayer's Gull 50 > Western Gull 40 (most in bay and near shore) > Glaucous-winged Gull 25 (most in bay) > GLAUCOUS GULL 2 (one in bay, one 5 miles off shore) > Black-legged Kittiwake 159 > Glaucous-winged x Western Gull 30 > Herring x Glaucous Gull 1 > Common Murre 200 > Pigeon Guillemot 25 > Marbled Murrelet 40 > Cassin's Auklet 2000 > Rhinoceros Auklet 114 > ANCIENT MURRELET 26 (Jim Danzenbaker, Tom Snetsinger) > HORNED PUFFIN 1 (David Mandell, Jim Danzenbaker) > > Harbor Seal 8 (bay) > California Sea Lion 10 (most in bay) > Steller's Sea Lion 10 > Northern Fur Seal 2 (Russ Namitz) > Harbor Porpoise 6 > Dall's Porpoise 3 > Pacific White-sided Dolphin 2 > > > Our next trip is April 18. We expect higher numbers of most of the > species seen on Saturday's trip, plus more tubenoses (shearwaters > and fork-tailed storm-petrels), phalaropes, terns and perhaps > jaegers. There is still a chance for Laysan Albatrosses, too. This > is the peak of the waterfowl and shorebird migration, and the > beginning of the songbird migration, so a great time to spend the > weekend birding the central Oregon coast. I actually can't think of > a better place in Oregon to be watching birds in late April than > along the coast. > > See our web site for details: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/ > > Greg Gillson > The Bird Guide, Inc. > Oregon USA > greg AT thebirdguide.com > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > Subject: Space on Feb. 28 pelagic trip; Recent sightings off Cape Hatteras From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:59:24 -0500 Seabirders, We still have room for a more participants on this weekend's pelagic trip off Cape Hatteras, NC on Saturday, Feb. 28 (weather date this Sunday). More information is on our website, but you can also call me at (252) 986-1363 to ask questions, or send an e-mail to brian AT patteson.com if it is a simple question. We've been out four times this month- on Feb. 14, 16, 20 and 21. The Feb. 20 trip was a charter for the Va. Society of Ornithology, but all the others were regular birding trips. Weather has been challenging for some of the trips. Feb. 14 wasn't bad, but on Feb. 15, we didn't go, and it was still windy when we went out on Feb. 16. Another front came through and we had a windy day on Feb. 20 too. The nicest day was Feb. 21- no whitecaps all day! Despite 25 knots of Northwest wind on Feb. 16 and 20, we were able to see some good birds, and we were able to maintain a fairly comfortable ride through most of it. Diversity of seabirds has been a bit lower so far than last February- see our trip lists on http://www.seabirding.com/ for last year's tallies- but we have seen some of the most wanted winter birds. We saw Great Skuas on both Feb. 14 and 16, but not on the last two trips. This doesn't mean they aren't still around, especially considering both skuas we saw were less than five miles from the beach, and we have spent a fair bit of time farther to sea on all of our trips. The strong north winds recntly brought a stream of cold (mid 40's) water down the beach, such that the water was at least ten degrees cooler in some areas than it had been a few days earlier. The Dovekie counts reflected this event- from 0 to 2 to 47 to 124 on Feb. 14, 16, 20 , and 21 respectively. Fulmars were seen on all the trips, but the best day was Feb. 16 when we saw over a hundred, w/ birds flying and feeding at arms length behind the boat. Razorbills have been fairly consistent in 55 degrees or less- counts were 133/ 59/ 39/112 on the four trips; most were w/in five mile of shore. One or two Greater Shearwaters on Feb. 20 made for our third record in Feb. since 1994. A single Parasitic Jaeger on Feb. 16 was also a rare mid winter occurence. Manx Shearwaters were glimpsed at least couple of times. Phalaropes have been hard to find, but there have not been any good Gulf Stream fronts inshore for a couple of weeks. "Good gulls" were a Little on Feb. 16 and a first winter Iceland on Feb. 21. Lesser Black-backed Gulls were numerous and there were sometimes six or more in view at once on all of the trips. Ashore, Iceland, Thayers, California, and Little Gulls (all adults) were seen at Cape Point on Feb. 15. Good numbers of Red-throated Loons have been seen on all of our boat trips, but Common Loons remain scarce in the ocean waters- not unusual during their molting period. As for non-avian wildlife, inshore Bottlenose Dolphins have been seen in good numbers, with some groups several miles out to sea, and there have been a few Loggerhead Turtles around, even in the cold water. We saw a single Basking Shark on Feb. 14 at Diamond Shoals. On Feb. 21, we did not see any turtles (surprising to me, as we visited water to 65 degrees and had calm seas), but we saw 23 Common Dolphins, four offshore Bottlenose, a couple of Sperm Whales (one very close!) and an Ocean Sunfish. This weekend's trip will probably be the last winter outing this year, but if there are any small groups keen to go in early March, we are available to go. Having our own boat for these trips means we can operate a trip with fewer people than if we had to charter another boat. Our boat is excellent for these trips. The deck space, visibility, and stability are all about as good as they get, and we offer some of the best photo ops you will find when we are on the birds. Except for May 28, all of our spring trips have at least a couple of spaces available and it is possible to go out on several consecutive days this year May 20 to June 7. Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC brian AT patteson.com http://www.seabirding.com/ --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Seabird News" group. To post to this group, send email to Seabird-News AT googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to Seabird-News+unsubscribe AT googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Seabird-News?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- Subject: Space on Feb. 28 pelagic trip; Recent sightings off Cape Hatteras From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:59:24 -0500 Seabirders, We still have room for a more participants on this weekend's pelagic trip off Cape Hatteras, NC on Saturday, Feb. 28 (weather date this Sunday). More information is on our website, but you can also call me at (252) 986-1363 to ask questions, or send an e-mail to brian AT patteson.com if it is a simple question. We've been out four times this month- on Feb. 14, 16, 20 and 21. The Feb. 20 trip was a charter for the Va. Society of Ornithology, but all the others were regular birding trips. Weather has been challenging for some of the trips. Feb. 14 wasn't bad, but on Feb. 15, we didn't go, and it was still windy when we went out on Feb. 16. Another front came through and we had a windy day on Feb. 20 too. The nicest day was Feb. 21- no whitecaps all day! Despite 25 knots of Northwest wind on Feb. 16 and 20, we were able to see some good birds, and we were able to maintain a fairly comfortable ride through most of it. Diversity of seabirds has been a bit lower so far than last February- see our trip lists on http://www.seabirding.com/ for last year's tallies- but we have seen some of the most wanted winter birds. We saw Great Skuas on both Feb. 14 and 16, but not on the last two trips. This doesn't mean they aren't still around, especially considering both skuas we saw were less than five miles from the beach, and we have spent a fair bit of time farther to sea on all of our trips. The strong north winds recntly brought a stream of cold (mid 40's) water down the beach, such that the water was at least ten degrees cooler in some areas than it had been a few days earlier. The Dovekie counts reflected this event- from 0 to 2 to 47 to 124 on Feb. 14, 16, 20 , and 21 respectively. Fulmars were seen on all the trips, but the best day was Feb. 16 when we saw over a hundred, w/ birds flying and feeding at arms length behind the boat. Razorbills have been fairly consistent in 55 degrees or less- counts were 133/ 59/ 39/112 on the four trips; most were w/in five mile of shore. One or two Greater Shearwaters on Feb. 20 made for our third record in Feb. since 1994. A single Parasitic Jaeger on Feb. 16 was also a rare mid winter occurence. Manx Shearwaters were glimpsed at least couple of times. Phalaropes have been hard to find, but there have not been any good Gulf Stream fronts inshore for a couple of weeks. "Good gulls" were a Little on Feb. 16 and a first winter Iceland on Feb. 21. Lesser Black-backed Gulls were numerous and there were sometimes six or more in view at once on all of the trips. Ashore, Iceland, Thayers, California, and Little Gulls (all adults) were seen at Cape Point on Feb. 15. Good numbers of Red-throated Loons have been seen on all of our boat trips, but Common Loons remain scarce in the ocean waters- not unusual during their molting period. As for non-avian wildlife, inshore Bottlenose Dolphins have been seen in good numbers, with some groups several miles out to sea, and there have been a few Loggerhead Turtles around, even in the cold water. We saw a single Basking Shark on Feb. 14 at Diamond Shoals. On Feb. 21, we did not see any turtles (surprising to me, as we visited water to 65 degrees and had calm seas), but we saw 23 Common Dolphins, four offshore Bottlenose, a couple of Sperm Whales (one very close!) and an Ocean Sunfish. This weekend's trip will probably be the last winter outing this year, but if there are any small groups keen to go in early March, we are available to go. Having our own boat for these trips means we can operate a trip with fewer people than if we had to charter another boat. Our boat is excellent for these trips. The deck space, visibility, and stability are all about as good as they get, and we offer some of the best photo ops you will find when we are on the birds. Except for May 28, all of our spring trips have at least a couple of spaces available and it is possible to go out on several consecutive days this year May 20 to June 7. Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC brian AT patteson.com http://www.seabirding.com/ Subject: Re: Trip results: Oregon Perpetua Bank pelagic: 21 February 2009 From: "W. Terry Hunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:17:26 +0000 Greg Great outing. I hope to be on the McArthuur II with Scott Mills in march. Whoooo hoooo, another seasin begins! Will be on 5 SoCal pelagics over the next two weekends. Best Terry Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless -----Original Message----- From: "thebirdguide" Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:05:29 To: Subject: [pelagics] Trip results: Oregon Perpetua Bank pelagic: 21 February 2009 Pleasant weather and seas and good birds made The Bird Guide's first pelagic trip of the year a great success! Eight guides joined the 15 participants, so there was ample help for all to spot and learn identification. It was a fun trip. The target for this trip was LAYSAN ALBATROSS. And, success! A bird came in and circled the boat early in the trip providing great looks for all. This makes 7 of 8 annual February and March Perpetua Bank trips recording this striking winter species. The 114 migrant RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, most in full breeding plumage, were expected. However, we were surprised by the 2000 CASSIN'S AUKLETS, most about 6-15 miles offshore in a band of exceptionally smooth water. This is our 3rd highest total (10,000 in October 2002) and was a complete surprise for this time of year. As David Mandell said, "miles and miles of gray rubber duckies happily floating along." This trip belonged to the gulls, though. We had 8 species and at least two additional hybrids. And we're still puzzling out one gull from the photos (either an odd large, pale Thayer's or a hybrid Herring x Glaucous-winged). Two GLAUCOUS GULLS graced this trip, the final one in the marina at Newport when nearly dark. We also had a NELSON'S (HERRING x GLAUCOUS) GULL at one of the three chum stops. The amazing 50(!) THAYER'S GULLS were exceeded only by the 80 HERRING GULLS and the typical 159 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES. One of the THAYER'S GULLS was banded with a numbered yellow flag. If anyone knows about this, please let me know. A few SOOTY and PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS were rather early, with no short-tailed shearwaters perhaps more surprising. Unfortunately, only a few people saw and identified a rare HORNED PUFFIN flying away and several small uncooperative flocks of distant ANCIENT MURRELETS. We counted exactly 20 pairs of MARBLED MURRELETS late in the day on two miles of ocean near shore just south of the moth of Yaquina Bay. Everyone had great views of these cute birds. We then entered the bay at dusk picking out a ROCK SANDPIPER on the Yaquina Bay south jetty. Trip photos: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/pelagic_trip_photos Brant 140 (bay) Greater Scaup 4 (bay) Surf Scoter 350 White-winged Scoter 45 Common Goldeneye 6 (bay) Bufflehead 4 (bay) Western Grebe 5 Red-necked Grebe 7 (bay and near shore) Horned Grebe 4 (bay) Common Loon 60 (most in bay) Red-throated Loon 4 (bay fly overs) Pacific Loon 2 Great Blue Heron 3 (bay) Black-footed Albatross 10 LAYSAN ALBATROSS 1 Northern Fulmar 104 Pink-footed Shearwater 6 Sooty Shearwater 13 Surfbird 10 (jetty) Black Turnstone 4 (jetty) ROCK SANDPIPER 1 (jetty) peep 75 Mew Gull 50 (near shore) California Gull 5 Herring Gull 80 Thayer's Gull 50 Western Gull 40 (most in bay and near shore) Glaucous-winged Gull 25 (most in bay) GLAUCOUS GULL 2 (one in bay, one 5 miles off shore) Black-legged Kittiwake 159 Glaucous-winged x Western Gull 30 Herring x Glaucous Gull 1 Common Murre 200 Pigeon Guillemot 25 Marbled Murrelet 40 Cassin's Auklet 2000 Rhinoceros Auklet 114 ANCIENT MURRELET 26 (Jim Danzenbaker, Tom Snetsinger) HORNED PUFFIN 1 (David Mandell, Jim Danzenbaker) Harbor Seal 8 (bay) California Sea Lion 10 (most in bay) Steller's Sea Lion 10 Northern Fur Seal 2 (Russ Namitz) Harbor Porpoise 6 Dall's Porpoise 3 Pacific White-sided Dolphin 2 Our next trip is April 18. We expect higher numbers of most of the species seen on Saturday's trip, plus more tubenoses (shearwaters and fork-tailed storm-petrels), phalaropes, terns and perhaps jaegers. There is still a chance for Laysan Albatrosses, too. This is the peak of the waterfowl and shorebird migration, and the beginning of the songbird migration, so a great time to spend the weekend birding the central Oregon coast. I actually can't think of a better place in Oregon to be watching birds in late April than along the coast. See our web site for details: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/ Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. Oregon USA greg AT thebirdguide.com ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links Subject: Trip results: Oregon Perpetua Bank pelagic: 21 February 2009 From: "thebirdguide" <greg AT thebirdguide.com> Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:05:29 -0000 Pleasant weather and seas and good birds made The Bird Guide's first pelagic trip of the year a great success! Eight guides joined the 15 participants, so there was ample help for all to spot and learn identification. It was a fun trip. The target for this trip was LAYSAN ALBATROSS. And, success! A bird came in and circled the boat early in the trip providing great looks for all. This makes 7 of 8 annual February and March Perpetua Bank trips recording this striking winter species. The 114 migrant RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, most in full breeding plumage, were expected. However, we were surprised by the 2000 CASSIN'S AUKLETS, most about 6-15 miles offshore in a band of exceptionally smooth water. This is our 3rd highest total (10,000 in October 2002) and was a complete surprise for this time of year. As David Mandell said, "miles and miles of gray rubber duckies happily floating along." This trip belonged to the gulls, though. We had 8 species and at least two additional hybrids. And we're still puzzling out one gull from the photos (either an odd large, pale Thayer's or a hybrid Herring x Glaucous-winged). Two GLAUCOUS GULLS graced this trip, the final one in the marina at Newport when nearly dark. We also had a NELSON'S (HERRING x GLAUCOUS) GULL at one of the three chum stops. The amazing 50(!) THAYER'S GULLS were exceeded only by the 80 HERRING GULLS and the typical 159 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES. One of the THAYER'S GULLS was banded with a numbered yellow flag. If anyone knows about this, please let me know. A few SOOTY and PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS were rather early, with no short-tailed shearwaters perhaps more surprising. Unfortunately, only a few people saw and identified a rare HORNED PUFFIN flying away and several small uncooperative flocks of distant ANCIENT MURRELETS. We counted exactly 20 pairs of MARBLED MURRELETS late in the day on two miles of ocean near shore just south of the moth of Yaquina Bay. Everyone had great views of these cute birds. We then entered the bay at dusk picking out a ROCK SANDPIPER on the Yaquina Bay south jetty. Trip photos: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/pelagic_trip_photos Brant 140 (bay) Greater Scaup 4 (bay) Surf Scoter 350 White-winged Scoter 45 Common Goldeneye 6 (bay) Bufflehead 4 (bay) Western Grebe 5 Red-necked Grebe 7 (bay and near shore) Horned Grebe 4 (bay) Common Loon 60 (most in bay) Red-throated Loon 4 (bay fly overs) Pacific Loon 2 Great Blue Heron 3 (bay) Black-footed Albatross 10 LAYSAN ALBATROSS 1 Northern Fulmar 104 Pink-footed Shearwater 6 Sooty Shearwater 13 Surfbird 10 (jetty) Black Turnstone 4 (jetty) ROCK SANDPIPER 1 (jetty) peep 75 Mew Gull 50 (near shore) California Gull 5 Herring Gull 80 Thayer's Gull 50 Western Gull 40 (most in bay and near shore) Glaucous-winged Gull 25 (most in bay) GLAUCOUS GULL 2 (one in bay, one 5 miles off shore) Black-legged Kittiwake 159 Glaucous-winged x Western Gull 30 Herring x Glaucous Gull 1 Common Murre 200 Pigeon Guillemot 25 Marbled Murrelet 40 Cassin's Auklet 2000 Rhinoceros Auklet 114 ANCIENT MURRELET 26 (Jim Danzenbaker, Tom Snetsinger) HORNED PUFFIN 1 (David Mandell, Jim Danzenbaker) Harbor Seal 8 (bay) California Sea Lion 10 (most in bay) Steller's Sea Lion 10 Northern Fur Seal 2 (Russ Namitz) Harbor Porpoise 6 Dall's Porpoise 3 Pacific White-sided Dolphin 2 Our next trip is April 18. We expect higher numbers of most of the species seen on Saturday's trip, plus more tubenoses (shearwaters and fork-tailed storm-petrels), phalaropes, terns and perhaps jaegers. There is still a chance for Laysan Albatrosses, too. This is the peak of the waterfowl and shorebird migration, and the beginning of the songbird migration, so a great time to spend the weekend birding the central Oregon coast. I actually can't think of a better place in Oregon to be watching birds in late April than along the coast. See our web site for details: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/ Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. Oregon USA greg AT thebirdguide.com Subject: Space on Feb. 21 (22) Hatteras Pelagic Trip From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:39:17 -0500 Seabirders, We still have some spaces left on this weekend's pelagic birdng trip from Hatteras. We were out on Feb. 14 and Feb. 16 and saw Great Skua each day, as well as good numbers of Razorbills and fulmars. Only two Dovekies were seen, but colder water has pushed southward since we were out, so we won't rule out the possibility of seeing some more. Past trips in February have also seen Manx Shearwaters, Red Phalaropes, and Atlantic Puffins on numerous occasions, as well as a variety of gulls. Close looks at gannets are a given, and on Monday we had fulmars feeding behind the boat at arm's length. I will be away from e-mail for a while, but I can be reached at (252) 216-9163 in the meantime. Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Seabird News" group. To post to this group, send email to Seabird-News AT googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to Seabird-News+unsubscribe AT googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Seabird-News?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- Subject: Space on Feb. 21 (22) Hatteras Pelagic Trip From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:39:17 -0500 Seabirders, We still have some spaces left on this weekend's pelagic birdng trip from Hatteras. We were out on Feb. 14 and Feb. 16 and saw Great Skua each day, as well as good numbers of Razorbills and fulmars. Only two Dovekies were seen, but colder water has pushed southward since we were out, so we won't rule out the possibility of seeing some more. Past trips in February have also seen Manx Shearwaters, Red Phalaropes, and Atlantic Puffins on numerous occasions, as well as a variety of gulls. Close looks at gannets are a given, and on Monday we had fulmars feeding behind the boat at arm's length. I will be away from e-mail for a while, but I can be reached at (252) 216-9163 in the meantime. Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC Subject: Tumbes pelagic confirmed for March 18. From: Kolibri Expeditions <kolibriexp AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 16:16:32 -0500 Dear all Just want to announce that we shall organize a second pelagic from Tumbes (Northern Peru) on March 18. It is confirmed. Species recorded in July 2008 included Waved Albatros, Galapagos Petrel, White-faced Storm-Petrel, Swallow-tailed Gull and Cock's Petrel. What will show up in March will partly be surprise....but I suspect that a large number of Galapagos species will be present, hopefully also Galapagos Shearwater. The pelagic is part of a 2 week trip is set up for a birder/non birder couple....that also include Condor watching in Lima, Chaparri, Royal tombs of Sipan, Machu Picchu, Abra Malaga and finishing with birding a week in Los Amigos (between Manu and Tambopata) and Puerto Maldonado in SE Peru. Anyone, interested....contact me ..off list. Saludos Gunnar Engblom Kolibri Expeditions Peru -- Gunnar Engblom-Lima, Peru. Kolibri Expeditions http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com http://www.birding-peru.com Peru Birdwatching Portal . Checklists, pics & site info, etc. http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/birdingperu/blog/ - Gunnar's Blog - updated frequently. Tel: +51 1 2737246 . Cell: +51 1 988 555 938, RPM #752-755. 99900 7886 (Elita) Follow me on www.twitter.com/kolibrix --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Seabird News" group. To post to this group, send email to Seabird-News AT googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to Seabird-News+unsubscribe AT googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Seabird-News?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- Subject: Tumbes pelagic confirmed for March 18. From: Kolibri Expeditions <kolibriexp AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 16:16:32 -0500 Dear all Just want to announce that we shall organize a second pelagic from Tumbes (Northern Peru) on March 18. It is confirmed. Species recorded in July 2008 included Waved Albatros, Galapagos Petrel, White-faced Storm-Petrel, Swallow-tailed Gull and Cock's Petrel. What will show up in March will partly be surprise....but I suspect that a large number of Galapagos species will be present, hopefully also Galapagos Shearwater. The pelagic is part of a 2 week trip is set up for a birder/non birder couple....that also include Condor watching in Lima, Chaparri, Royal tombs of Sipan, Machu Picchu, Abra Malaga and finishing with birding a week in Los Amigos (between Manu and Tambopata) and Puerto Maldonado in SE Peru. Anyone, interested....contact me ..off list. Saludos Gunnar Engblom Kolibri Expeditions Peru -- Gunnar Engblom-Lima, Peru. Kolibri Expeditions http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com http://www.birding-peru.com Peru Birdwatching Portal . Checklists, pics & site info, etc. http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/birdingperu/blog/ - Gunnar's Blog - updated frequently. Tel: +51 1 2737246 . Cell: +51 1 988 555 938, RPM #752-755. 99900 7886 (Elita) Follow me on www.twitter.com/kolibrix Subject: Sat Oceanside Winter Pelagic: Rhino invasion, Minke, Risso's nursery, sunshine From: "Terry Hunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 06:23:17 -0000 Greetings Trip report, trip GPS track, photos and species list of the 31 JAN 2009 Annual Buena Vista Audubon Society "Seabirds, Dolphins and Whales" Pelagic Trip from Oceanside California are posted at: http://www.socalbirding.com/tripreports/oceansidejan312009.html -- W. Terry Hunefeld, San Diego Life is short. Seabird often. Seabirding Trips From San Diego Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands Nine-mile, Thirty-mile, Sixty-mile Banks Cortes & Tanner Banks Channel Islands Subject: California chase trip for Parakeet Auklets From: Don Roberson <creagrus AT montereybay.com> Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:57:35 -0800 A page with photos of Saturday's chase trip for Parakeet Auklets from Port San Luis, San Luis Obispo Co., California, and some results, is now up at http://www.montereybay.com/creagrus/CAbirdsPAAU.html Don Roberson Pacific Grove CA Subject: Jan. 17, 2009 Pelagic Trip from Hatteras, NC From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:29:15 -0500 This was not a trip I expected to get many late registrations for. It was the first trip of the year, following a rather dull trip in late December. Plus the weather forecast called for a subfreezing start to the day and a high in the low 30's here at Cape Hatteras. This is cold weather for these parts, at least in recent years. On Friday morning I got word of two Dovekies which had gotten off course. One was already at Lou Browning's rehab complex just up the road in Frisco. The other had been found in a yard in Nags Head that morning. I volunteered to fetch that auk and bring it to Lou, so we could assess its fitness and he could give the care it required. After feeding, watering, and the administration of some vitamins, both birds seemed to be in very good condition, so Lou suggested releasing them at sea the next day. When I met our passengers the next morning, I told them to expect a cold day with some freezing spray in the morning, but I offered them a promise that I would show them a Dovekie, though I couldn't guarantee that they could count it. We headed east of the inlet a few miles and did not toss out any chum along the way. I was hoping for some sunlight, but finally had to give up on that, so we stopped just west of Diamond Shoals. I handed the box to Kate, and to everyone's delight she produced not one, but two little starling sized auks. After some pictures, both seemed to get off OK, and we did not see any harassment by gulls which we had not fed prior to the release. See just how small a Dovekie is here- http://www.seabirding.com/2009%20winter_photos_and_highlights.htm It was a cloudy, choppy morning, and when we got to the shoals there were some nice aggregations of gannets feeding. We soon encouraged some gulls and a few gannets to follow us, and it wasn't long before we were visited by a first winter Glaucous Gull. A little farther out to sea, we began to see some Northern Fulmars and we saw one or two Manx Shearwaters as well. The water was cold enough for alcids all the way out to the edge of the continental shelf- about 50 degrees. Out on the horizon the water was smoking. In the zone of 50 to 55 degree water there was a good bit of life and we found some "wild" Dovekies, Razorbills, and another young Glaucous Gull. Out in the sea smoke where the water ultimately topped 67 degrees, there were several small flocks of feeding Bonaparte's Gulls. Unfortunately, there was no hard edge to be found, and we did not see any phalaropes, which you would expect to be around if there was a sharp break. We did see several Loggerhead Turtles though; some of these were in the fifty-some degree water too. One memorable highlight was an Ocean Sunfish breaching right beside the boat (twice!) This is a most improbable looking event, one I had never seen so closely before. The afternoon was nice with lots of sunshine and less wind. The second Glaucous Gull followed us inshore for miles. Birds were quiet during the afternoon, with lots of gannets loafing. We found some Razorbills feeding under Bonaparte's Gulls (an old trick) and got some great looks. We did not find any skuas or puffins this time, but these might be present when we head out again next month. Not counting our stowaways, we saw at least 13 Dovekies. Last year we saw three or four on Jan. 5, none on Jan. 19, and at least 80 on Jan. 26. Our highest count in 2008- over 100- was made on Feb. 2, when we had very calm conditions. It is worth mentioning that Dovekies do not move this far south every winter, so if you are keen to see one, this seems to be a Dovekie winter. Totals for the day were as follows; Northern Fulmar- 8; Manx Shearwater- 1 or 2; Northern Gannet- 2000+; Black-legged Kittiwake- 1(im); Glaucous Gull- 2; Lesser Black-backed Gull- 15+; Bonaparte's Gull- 300+; Dovekie- 13; Razorbill- 9. We also observed but did not tally Common and Red-throated Loons, Double-crested Cormorant, Brown Pelican, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull and Ring-billed Gull. Our next trip is February 7(8). On President's Day Weekend, we are planning to run two trips in three days, weather permitting (Saturday to Monday.) Saturday trips with Sunday weather dates resume on Feb. 21 (22) and Feb. 28 (March 1). In past years about 60% of the February trips have found Great Skuas. We have run 20 trips here in February since 1994, and the trip lists are on our website- http://www.seabirding.com/. Winter trips are actually a good introduction to birding at sea. There are many more birds inshore at this season than during spring or summer, so the action can be nonstop. Many of the interesting pelagic birds can be found fairly close to shore at times during winter, and with the chum, there are great photo ops. Just seeing the gannets up close is worth it for many people. Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC brian AT patteson.com http://www.seabirding.com/ Subject: Southern California Pelagic Trip Apr 30-May4, 2009 From: "Terry Hunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:20:56 -0000 Greetings, Albatrosses, Cookilaria Petrels, Leach's & Ashy Storm-Petrels (and who knows what else?) is on the docket for this spring's mother of all pelagic trips out of SoCal. The first two exploratory trips on the 95-foot live-aboard SEARCHER in April of 2003 were the brainchild of pelagic pioneers Don Desjardin and Walter Wehtje. Those two back-to-back historic trips "to see what was out there" tallied an astounding 91 MURPHY'S PETRELS, 2 COOKS PETRELS, 13 LAYSAN ALBATROSSES, 60 JAEGERS (3 flavors), 9 TROPICBIRDS, 190 LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS, 20 ASHY STORM- PETRELS, more than 1500 SHEARWATERS (4 flavors), TUFTED PUFFIN..... well, the list goes on and on... and the rest is history. Trip and species logs of all SEARCHER trips 2003 - 2008: http://www.bajawhale.com/birdingtrips.asp Ever since those first two exploratory trips in 2003, owners Art Taylor and Celia Condit have blocked 2 weeks of SEARCHER'S natural history calendar each year for pelagic birders - one in spring, one in fall. These trips are geared exclusively for pelagic birders who want to see SoCal's regional pelagic specialties and hunt its rarities and mega-rarities. SEARCHER is now taking reservations for its annual spring trip, departing Thursday, April 30 and returning to port at 6:00 a.m. Monday morning, May 4. Expert pelagic trips leaders include Todd "Skua" McGrath, Paul "Parasitic Jaeger" Lehman and Doctor Jon Feenstra. Learn more about SEARCHER http://www.socalbirding.com/searcherexpeditions.html SEARCHER spring trip details, itinerary & expected species: http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/searcher4305409.html or http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips.html Join us on the adventure. Out on the Pacific Ocean, under the sun, riding the swells with the clean fresh breeze on your face, days blur into a soft dream. Time slows, even stands still, as you become more and more disconnected from the hustle and bustle of the "real" world. No cell phones. No computers. No traffic. Nothing but sunshine, whales, birds, people who love birds and birding. THIS, is the real world…. the ultimate adventure. That "other" world, the one you left behind is…. so… far…. away…. -- W. Terry Hunefeld Life is short. Seabird often. Seabirding Trips From San Diego Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands Nine-mile, Thirty-mile, Sixty-mile Banks Cortes & Tanner Banks Channel Islands Subject: Australian Seabird Expedition Leg 2 TRIP REPORT From: richard baxter <randrbaxter AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:01:58 -0800 (PST) > Australian Seabird Expedition 2008 Leg 2 TRIP REPORT > >  We  departed Norfolk Island late on the 5 October and started birding  the following morning at 6am about 31NM north of the island.  This  short leg took us north to a seamount about 170NM north of NI, where  we spend the following day and a half prior to cruising back to the  island.  Conditions were good thoughout the leg, with slight seas and warm  temps. > > Total birds for leg 2: > > Red-tailed Tropicbird - 4 > White-tailed Tropicbird - 5 > Wilson's Storm Petrel - 8 > Black-bellied Storm Petrel - 3 > Wandering Albatross- 1 > Cape Petrel - 2 > Black Petrel - 2 > Wedge-tailed S/W - 2 > BULLER'S S/W - 2 > Sooty S/W - 28 > Short-tailed S/W - 133 > LITTLE S/W - 80 > Kermadec Petrel - 1 > Tahiti Petrel - 32 > Great-winged Petrel - 3 > Solander's Petrel - 3 > MOTTLED PETREL - 13 > COOK'S PETREL - 5 > COLLARED PETREL - 1 > Masked Booby - 17 > Brown Booby - 1 > Arctic Jaeger - 1 > Common Noddy - 43 > Black Noddy- 11 > White Tern - 31 > Grey Ternlet - 10 > Sooty Tern - 45 > > OTHERS SEEN: > Humpback Whale  - 1 > Short-finned Pilot Whale - 5 > Pantropical Spotted Dolphin - 4 > Ruddy Turnstone - 1 > > Our search for Polynesian Storm Petrel was unsuccessful, with only a  brief glimpse of a large storm petrel which flew across the stern on  > the 8th.  The water temperature on our EEZ was 20-21deg, with the  tropical covergence still north of our location. The next expedition  will be held in late April 2010 or 2011, when the water temperature  will be significantly warmer and more suited to the above species. > > Cheers > Richard Baxter Birding Tours Australia www.birdingtours.com.au Stay connected to the people that matter most with a smarter inbox. Take a look. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Seabird News" group. To post to this group, send email to Seabird-News AT googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to Seabird-News+unsubscribe AT googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Seabird-News?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- Subject: Australian Seabird Expedition FINAL TRIP REPORT From: richard baxter <randrbaxter AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:16:47 -0800 (PST) Hello all,              Below are the final/combined figures for our 3 week trip.  From a birding perspective this was an amazing trip with many high lights.  Some of these included:   1.       Six Australian cookilaria sp seen. 2.      Large migrating flocks of Arctic Jaegers. 3.      The constant passing of Mottled Petrels of their southern journey. 4.      Thousands of migrating Short-tailed S/Ws. 5.      An afternoon with 32 Tahiti Petrels with many circling the boat. 6.      Australia’s second Collared Petrel. 7.      Australia’s second Pycroft’s Petrel. 8.      A day spent on Phillip Island photographing nesting Kermadec Petrels. 9.      Large numbers of Black & White-bellied Storm Petrels following the boat for days, with many still with us near Newcastle. 10.  Close views of a large Westland Petrel. 11.  246 Little Shearwater. 12.  50 species seen at sea.       Total species numbers seen:   Red-tailed Tropicbird  -  16 White-tailed Tropicbird - 5 Wilson’s Storm Petrel -  65 White-faced Storm Petrel – 2 Black-bellied Storm-Petrel  - 17 White-bellied Storm-Petrel - 137 Wandering Albatross - 94 Black-browed Albatross - 3 Shy Albatross - 7 Yellow-nosed Albatross - 3 Northern Giant-Petrel - 3 Cape Petrel - 65 White-chinned Petrel - 3 Westland Petrel - 1 Black Petrel - 8 Wedge-tailed Shearwater – 203 Buller’s Shearwater - 2 Flesh-footed Shearwater – 532+ Sooty Shearwater - 41 Short-tailed Shearwater – 3740+ Fluttering Shearwater - 2 Hutton's Shearwater - 3 Little Shearwater – 246 Kermadec Petrel – 5 Tahiti Petrel - 32 White-headed Petrel - 2 Great-winged Petrel – 743+ Solander’s Petrel – 166 Gould’s Petrel - 2 Cook's Petrel - 9 Pycroft’s Petrel – 4 Mottled Petrel - 55 Collared Petrel - 1 Unidentified Cookilaria (Cook’s/Pycroft’s types) – 20+ Black-winged Petrel- 4 Australasian Gannet- 50 Masked Booby - 27 Brown Skua – 5 Pomerine Jaeger - 2 Arctic Jaeger - 360 Long-tailed Jaeger - 7 Common Noddy - 61 Black Noddy - 211 White Tern - 105 Grey Ternlet - 37 Sooty Tern - 564 Roseate Tern - 3 White-fronted Tern - 1 Crested Tern - 20 Silver Gull - 6   Others: Aust Fur Seal – 1 Common Dolphin – 56 Humpback Whale – 1 Flying Fish – 30+ Blue Whale – 2 Short-fined Pilot Whale – 6 Pantropical Spotted Dolphin - 4 Ruddy Turnstone - 2     Regards Richard Baxter Birding Tours Australia www.birdingtours.com.au Search 1000's of available singles in your area at the new Yahoo!7 Dating. Get Started. Stay connected to the people that matter most with a smarter inbox.. Take a look. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Seabird News" group. To post to this group, send email to Seabird-News AT googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to Seabird-News+unsubscribe AT googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Seabird-News?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- Subject: Australian Seabird Expedition 2008 leg 1 TRIP REPORT From: richard baxter <randrbaxter AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:56:27 -0800 (PST) Hello all,             Below is the first of four trip reports from the Australian Seabird Expedition held in late 2008. The Australian Seabird Expedition 2008 Leg 1 TRIP REPORT   Leader/Organiser - Richard Baxter Skipper - Tony Mowbray On the morning of the 26 September we left Newcastle Harbour on one of the longest and most ambitious seabirding trips ever undertaken from the east coast of Australia.  Over 23 days, fourteen keen seabirders took part on three different legs as we covered 4000km of open ocean, within Australia’s EEZ, surveying seabirds and cetaceans. Leg1, travelled from Newcastle, across the continental shelf and towards Lord Howe Island about 750km N/E.  We passed within a few kilometres of  LHI and continued north east for a further 900km, eventually arriving at Australia’s eastern most territory, Norfolk Island. On Leg 2 we sailled directly north from Norfolk towards a distant seamount 300km away and on the edge of our territorial borders with Noumea.  Its in the vicinity of this seamount in early 2008 that both Collared Petrel and Polynesian Storm Petrel were photographed in Australian waters and these were our main two target birds for Leg 2. After returning to Norfolk Island, we picked up our expeditioners for Leg 3 and commence the return sail back to NSW, passing LHI and crossing the shelf north off Newcastle, finishing on the 17th October. The timing and route of this seabirding expedition was planned to coincide with the annual southern migration of Cook’s, Mottled and Pycroft’s Petrel as well as Buller’s Shearwater back to their breeding grounds in NZ.  During the southern part of our trip there were still be good numbers of winter seabirds present and as we travelled north several species of tropical seabirds became more common, particularly in the waters to the north of NI once we neared the Tropical Convergence.  Summary: Leg 1 began with smooth seas and light winds as we crossed the shelf on a ENE track north off Nelson Bay.  We cruised passed Lord Howe Island under the cover of darkness around midnight on day 3 and continued N/E on the long haul to Norfolk Island. On day 5 we crossed into international waters between the two islands at 5pm and by dawn the next day we were within Norfolk’s 200nm EEZ and birding again, eventually arriving at NI 2pm on day 7, Thursday 2 October 2008.   Species Leg 1: (Total seen) Red-tailed Tropicbird  -  10 Wilson’s Storm Petrel -  17 White-faced Storm Petrel – 2 Black-bellied Storm-Petrel  - 7 White-bellied Storm-Petrel - 85 Wandering Albatross - 50 Black-browed Albatross - 2 Shy Albatross - 1 Yellow-nosed Albatross - 3 Northern Giant-Petrel - 3 Cape Petrel - 48 White-chinned Petrel - 2 WESTLAND PETREL - 1 Black Petrel - 1 Wedge-tailed Shearwater - 110 Flesh-footed Shearwater – 300+ Short-tailed Shearwater – 1600+ Fluttering Shearwater - 2 Hutton's Shearwater - 3 LITTLE SHEARWATER – 80 Kermadec Petrel - 2 Great-winged Petrel – 250+ Solander’s Petrel - 150 COOK'S PETREL  -3 PYCROFT'S PETREL – 2 Unidentified distant Cookilaria (Pycroft’s/Cooks) - 10 Black-winged Petrel- 3 Australasian Gannet- 50 Masked Booby - 5 Brown Skua - 1 Arctic Jaeger - 330 Long-tailed Jaeger - 5 Common Noddy - 5 Black Noddy - 10 White Tern - 50 Grey Ternlet - 10 Sooty Tern - 100 Roseate Tern - 3  ? White-fronted Tern - 1 Crested Tern - 20 Silver Gull - 6 Others: Aust Fur Seal – 1 Common Dolphin – 56 Humpback Whale – 1 Flying Fish – 10+ Blue Whale – 2 Ruddy Turnstone - 1 Further Updates to follow.   Regards Richard Baxter Birding Tours Australia www.birdingtours.com.au Stay connected to the people that matter most with a smarter inbox. Take a look. Stay connected to the people that matter most with a smarter inbox. Take a look. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Seabird News" group. To post to this group, send email to Seabird-News AT googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to Seabird-News+unsubscribe AT googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Seabird-News?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- Subject: Australian Seabird Expedition 2008 Leg 3 TRIP REPORT From: richard baxter <randrbaxter AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:13:32 -0800 (PST)           The Australian Seabird Expedition 2008 Leg 3 TRIP REPORT   On the night of the 10 October we departed Cascade Jetty Norfolk Island on route back to NSW, via Lord Howe Island.  After two days sailing we left Norfolk Island’s EEZ, spending three full days in LHI waters, prior to the two day trip into Newcastle.     Summary: Leg 3, our journey home, began with smooth seas and light winds as we crossed the shelf west of NI.  Several tern species from NI remained common throughout the first day but all on board were focused on finding the elusive cookilaria’s which cruise these waters each October.   Amazingly one of the first cookilaria to be seen that day was one of the thousands of Pycroft’s Petrels making there way back to NZ.  This was followed throughout the day by 3 Cook’s Petrel, 12 Cook’s/Pycroft’s types, 25 Mottled Petrels and 1 Black-winged Petrel.  Cape, Kermadec, Great-winged and Black Petrels were seen well as well as nearly 35 Little Shearwater.    We cruised passed Lord Howe Island about midday where Flesh-footed Shearwater was abundant and White-bellied Storm Petrel numbers increased to around 50. Between LHI and Newcastle, amongst the more common species we observed Solander’s Petrel, Cook’s Petrel, Black-bellied Storm Petrel as well as Gould’s Petrel.   Species Leg 3: (Total seen)   Red-tailed Tropicbird  -  2 Wilson’s Storm Petrel -  43 Black-bellied Storm-Petrel  - 7 White-bellied Storm-Petrel - 54 Wandering Albatross - 44 Black-browed Albatross - 1 Shy Albatross - 6 Cape Petrel - 15 White-chinned Petrel - 1 Black Petrel - 5 Wedge-tailed Shearwater - 90 Flesh-footed Shearwater – 209 Sooty Shearwater - 13 Short-tailed Shearwater – 1970+ Little Shearwater – 47 Kermadec Petrel - 2 White-headed Petrel - 2 Great-winged Petrel – 469+ Solander’s Petrel – 12 Gould’s Petrel - 2 Cook's Petrel - 4 Pycroft’s Petrel – 1 Unidentified Cookilaria (Cook’s/Pycroft’s types) - 12 Black-winged Petrel- 1 Masked Booby - 6 Brown Skua – 4 Pomerine Jaeger - 2 Arctic Jaeger - 29 Long-tailed Jaeger - 2 Common Noddy - 2 White Tern - 11 Grey Ternlet - 7 Sooty Tern - 421   Others: NIL !   Final Update to follow.    I’m planning to run another Australian Seabird Expedition in early April 2010 or 2011, after I find a larger more comfortable boat and am already taking names if your interested in coming.   Regards Richard Baxter Birding Tours Australia www.birdingtours.com.au  --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Seabird News" group. To post to this group, send email to Seabird-News AT googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to Seabird-News+unsubscribe AT googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Seabird-News?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- Subject: Australian Seabird Expedition FINAL TRIP REPORT From: richard baxter <randrbaxter AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:16:47 -0800 (PST) Hello all,              Below are the final/combined figures for our 3 week trip.  From a birding perspective this was an amazing trip with many high lights.  Some of these included:   1.       Six Australian cookilaria sp seen. 2.      Large migrating flocks of Arctic Jaegers. 3.      The constant passing of Mottled Petrels of their southern journey. 4.      Thousands of migrating Short-tailed S/Ws. 5.      An afternoon with 32 Tahiti Petrels with many circling the boat. 6.      Australia’s second Collared Petrel. 7.      Australia’s second Pycroft’s Petrel. 8.      A day spent on Phillip Island photographing nesting Kermadec Petrels. 9.      Large numbers of Black & White-bellied Storm Petrels following the boat for days, with many still with us near Newcastle. 10.  Close views of a large Westland Petrel. 11.  246 Little Shearwater. 12.  50 species seen at sea.       Total species numbers seen:   Red-tailed Tropicbird  -  16 White-tailed Tropicbird - 5 Wilson’s Storm Petrel -  65 White-faced Storm Petrel – 2 Black-bellied Storm-Petrel  - 17 White-bellied Storm-Petrel - 137 Wandering Albatross - 94 Black-browed Albatross - 3 Shy Albatross - 7 Yellow-nosed Albatross - 3 Northern Giant-Petrel - 3 Cape Petrel - 65 White-chinned Petrel - 3 Westland Petrel - 1 Black Petrel - 8 Wedge-tailed Shearwater – 203 Buller’s Shearwater - 2 Flesh-footed Shearwater – 532+ Sooty Shearwater - 41 Short-tailed Shearwater – 3740+ Fluttering Shearwater - 2 Hutton's Shearwater - 3 Little Shearwater – 246 Kermadec Petrel – 5 Tahiti Petrel - 32 White-headed Petrel - 2 Great-winged Petrel – 743+ Solander’s Petrel – 166 Gould’s Petrel - 2 Cook's Petrel - 9 Pycroft’s Petrel – 4 Mottled Petrel - 55 Collared Petrel - 1 Unidentified Cookilaria (Cook’s/Pycroft’s types) – 20+ Black-winged Petrel- 4 Australasian Gannet- 50 Masked Booby - 27 Brown Skua – 5 Pomerine Jaeger - 2 Arctic Jaeger - 360 Long-tailed Jaeger - 7 Common Noddy - 61 Black Noddy - 211 White Tern - 105 Grey Ternlet - 37 Sooty Tern - 564 Roseate Tern - 3 White-fronted Tern - 1 Crested Tern - 20 Silver Gull - 6   Others: Aust Fur Seal – 1 Common Dolphin – 56 Humpback Whale – 1 Flying Fish – 30+ Blue Whale – 2 Short-fined Pilot Whale – 6 Pantropical Spotted Dolphin - 4 Ruddy Turnstone - 2     Regards Richard Baxter Birding Tours Australia www.birdingtours.com.au Search 1000's of available singles in your area at the new Yahoo!7 Dating. Get Started. Stay connected to the people that matter most with a smarter inbox.. Take a look. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:pelagics-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:pelagics-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: pelagics-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Australian Seabird Expedition 2008 Leg 3 TRIP REPORT From: richard baxter <randrbaxter AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:13:32 -0800 (PST)           The Australian Seabird Expedition 2008 Leg 3 TRIP REPORT   On the night of the 10 October we departed Cascade Jetty Norfolk Island on route back to NSW, via Lord Howe Island.  After two days sailing we left Norfolk Island’s EEZ, spending three full days in LHI waters, prior to the two day trip into Newcastle.     Summary: Leg 3, our journey home, began with smooth seas and light winds as we crossed the shelf west of NI.  Several tern species from NI remained common throughout the first day but all on board were focused on finding the elusive cookilaria’s which cruise these waters each October.   Amazingly one of the first cookilaria to be seen that day was one of the thousands of Pycroft’s Petrels making there way back to NZ.  This was followed throughout the day by 3 Cook’s Petrel, 12 Cook’s/Pycroft’s types, 25 Mottled Petrels and 1 Black-winged Petrel.  Cape, Kermadec, Great-winged and Black Petrels were seen well as well as nearly 35 Little Shearwater.    We cruised passed Lord Howe Island about midday where Flesh-footed Shearwater was abundant and White-bellied Storm Petrel numbers increased to around 50. Between LHI and Newcastle, amongst the more common species we observed Solander’s Petrel, Cook’s Petrel, Black-bellied Storm Petrel as well as Gould’s Petrel.   Species Leg 3: (Total seen)   Red-tailed Tropicbird  -  2 Wilson’s Storm Petrel -  43 Black-bellied Storm-Petrel  - 7 White-bellied Storm-Petrel - 54 Wandering Albatross - 44 Black-browed Albatross - 1 Shy Albatross - 6 Cape Petrel - 15 White-chinned Petrel - 1 Black Petrel - 5 Wedge-tailed Shearwater - 90 Flesh-footed Shearwater – 209 Sooty Shearwater - 13 Short-tailed Shearwater – 1970+ Little Shearwater – 47 Kermadec Petrel - 2 White-headed Petrel - 2 Great-winged Petrel – 469+ Solander’s Petrel – 12 Gould’s Petrel - 2 Cook's Petrel - 4 Pycroft’s Petrel – 1 Unidentified Cookilaria (Cook’s/Pycroft’s types) - 12 Black-winged Petrel- 1 Masked Booby - 6 Brown Skua – 4 Pomerine Jaeger - 2 Arctic Jaeger - 29 Long-tailed Jaeger - 2 Common Noddy - 2 White Tern - 11 Grey Ternlet - 7 Sooty Tern - 421   Others: NIL !   Final Update to follow.    I’m planning to run another Australian Seabird Expedition in early April 2010 or 2011, after I find a larger more comfortable boat and am already taking names if your interested in coming.   Regards Richard Baxter Birding Tours Australia www.birdingtours.com.au  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:pelagics-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:pelagics-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: pelagics-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Australian Seabird Expedition Leg 2 TRIP REPORT From: richard baxter <randrbaxter AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:01:58 -0800 (PST) > Australian Seabird Expedition 2008 Leg 2 TRIP REPORT > >  We  departed Norfolk Island late on the 5 October and started birding  the following morning at 6am about 31NM north of the island.  This  short leg took us north to a seamount about 170NM north of NI, where  we spend the following day and a half prior to cruising back to the  island.  Conditions were good thoughout the leg, with slight seas and warm  temps. > > Total birds for leg 2: > > Red-tailed Tropicbird - 4 > White-tailed Tropicbird - 5 > Wilson's Storm Petrel - 8 > Black-bellied Storm Petrel - 3 > Wandering Albatross- 1 > Cape Petrel - 2 > Black Petrel - 2 > Wedge-tailed S/W - 2 > BULLER'S S/W - 2 > Sooty S/W - 28 > Short-tailed S/W - 133 > LITTLE S/W - 80 > Kermadec Petrel - 1 > Tahiti Petrel - 32 > Great-winged Petrel - 3 > Solander's Petrel - 3 > MOTTLED PETREL - 13 > COOK'S PETREL - 5 > COLLARED PETREL - 1 > Masked Booby - 17 > Brown Booby - 1 > Arctic Jaeger - 1 > Common Noddy - 43 > Black Noddy- 11 > White Tern - 31 > Grey Ternlet - 10 > Sooty Tern - 45 > > OTHERS SEEN: > Humpback Whale  - 1 > Short-finned Pilot Whale - 5 > Pantropical Spotted Dolphin - 4 > Ruddy Turnstone - 1 > > Our search for Polynesian Storm Petrel was unsuccessful, with only a  brief glimpse of a large storm petrel which flew across the stern on  > the 8th.  The water temperature on our EEZ was 20-21deg, with the  tropical covergence still north of our location. The next expedition  will be held in late April 2010 or 2011, when the water temperature  will be significantly warmer and more suited to the above species. > > Cheers > Richard Baxter Birding Tours Australia www.birdingtours.com.au Stay connected to the people that matter most with a smarter inbox. Take a look. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Australian Seabird Expedition 2008 leg 1 TRIP REPORT From: richard baxter <randrbaxter AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:56:27 -0800 (PST) Hello all,             Below is the first of four trip reports from the Australian Seabird Expedition held in late 2008. The Australian Seabird Expedition 2008 Leg 1 TRIP REPORT   Leader/Organiser - Richard Baxter Skipper - Tony Mowbray On the morning of the 26 September we left Newcastle Harbour on one of the longest and most ambitious seabirding trips ever undertaken from the east coast of Australia.  Over 23 days, fourteen keen seabirders took part on three different legs as we covered 4000km of open ocean, within Australia’s EEZ, surveying seabirds and cetaceans. Leg1, travelled from Newcastle, across the continental shelf and towards Lord Howe Island about 750km N/E.  We passed within a few kilometres of  LHI and continued north east for a further 900km, eventually arriving at Australia’s eastern most territory, Norfolk Island. On Leg 2 we sailled directly north from Norfolk towards a distant seamount 300km away and on the edge of our territorial borders with Noumea.  Its in the vicinity of this seamount in early 2008 that both Collared Petrel and Polynesian Storm Petrel were photographed in Australian waters and these were our main two target birds for Leg 2. After returning to Norfolk Island, we picked up our expeditioners for Leg 3 and commence the return sail back to NSW, passing LHI and crossing the shelf north off Newcastle, finishing on the 17th October. The timing and route of this seabirding expedition was planned to coincide with the annual southern migration of Cook’s, Mottled and Pycroft’s Petrel as well as Buller’s Shearwater back to their breeding grounds in NZ.  During the southern part of our trip there were still be good numbers of winter seabirds present and as we travelled north several species of tropical seabirds became more common, particularly in the waters to the north of NI once we neared the Tropical Convergence.  Summary: Leg 1 began with smooth seas and light winds as we crossed the shelf on a ENE track north off Nelson Bay.  We cruised passed Lord Howe Island under the cover of darkness around midnight on day 3 and continued N/E on the long haul to Norfolk Island. On day 5 we crossed into international waters between the two islands at 5pm and by dawn the next day we were within Norfolk’s 200nm EEZ and birding again, eventually arriving at NI 2pm on day 7, Thursday 2 October 2008.   Species Leg 1: (Total seen) Red-tailed Tropicbird  -  10 Wilson’s Storm Petrel -  17 White-faced Storm Petrel – 2 Black-bellied Storm-Petrel  - 7 White-bellied Storm-Petrel - 85 Wandering Albatross - 50 Black-browed Albatross - 2 Shy Albatross - 1 Yellow-nosed Albatross - 3 Northern Giant-Petrel - 3 Cape Petrel - 48 White-chinned Petrel - 2 WESTLAND PETREL - 1 Black Petrel - 1 Wedge-tailed Shearwater - 110 Flesh-footed Shearwater – 300+ Short-tailed Shearwater – 1600+ Fluttering Shearwater - 2 Hutton's Shearwater - 3 LITTLE SHEARWATER – 80 Kermadec Petrel - 2 Great-winged Petrel – 250+ Solander’s Petrel - 150 COOK'S PETREL  -3 PYCROFT'S PETREL – 2 Unidentified distant Cookilaria (Pycroft’s/Cooks) - 10 Black-winged Petrel- 3 Australasian Gannet- 50 Masked Booby - 5 Brown Skua - 1 Arctic Jaeger - 330 Long-tailed Jaeger - 5 Common Noddy - 5 Black Noddy - 10 White Tern - 50 Grey Ternlet - 10 Sooty Tern - 100 Roseate Tern - 3  ? White-fronted Tern - 1 Crested Tern - 20 Silver Gull - 6 Others: Aust Fur Seal – 1 Common Dolphin – 56 Humpback Whale – 1 Flying Fish – 10+ Blue Whale – 2 Ruddy Turnstone - 1 Further Updates to follow.   Regards Richard Baxter Birding Tours Australia www.birdingtours.com.au Stay connected to the people that matter most with a smarter inbox. Take a look. Stay connected to the people that matter most with a smarter inbox. Take a look. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:pelagics-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:pelagics-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: pelagics-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: 2009 PELAGIC BIRDING TRIPS out of Southern California From: "Terry Hunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:32:57 -0000 Greetings All 2009 PELAGIC BIRDING TRIPS out of Southern California are now listed on http://www.SoCalBirding.com Trips include: 1. Five-day SEARCHER Deep Water Expeditions in April and September (Murphy's Petrel, Bulwer's Petrel, Cook's Petrel, Red-billed Tropicbird, Red-tailed Tropicbird) 2. Buena Vista Audubon Weekend Trips on GRANDE to deep water 120 miles off San Diego to the Cortez Bank and continental shelf edge 3. Los Angeles Audubon's Day Trips on the fast catamaran CONDOR EXPRESS to the San Juan Seamount and continental shelf edge 4. San Diego Bird Festival Pelagic Trips to the bird-rich Nine-mile bank in San Diego waters and the Los Coronados Islands off the coast of Baja to see the Brown Booby colony. 5. Los Angeles Audubon day trips to Santa Cruz Island (Island Scrub Jay) and the Palos Verdes Escarpment 6. Sea & Sage Audubon pelagic trips from Dana Point in Orange County Working together, the four Audubon's have coordinated schedules to provide excellent pelagic trip coverage throughout Southern California for all of 2009. Pelagic Trips are scheduled for every month but August and December. Visit http://www.SoCalBirding.com for schedules, complete itineraries, trip reports, status and distribution information, trip photos, leaders and trip preparation tips. -- W. Terry Hunefeld Life is short. Seabird often. Seabirding Trips From San Diego Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands Nine-mile, Thirty-mile, Sixty-mile Banks Cortes & Tanner Banks Channel Islands Subject: Save the Dates - Country Girl, North Carolina and Texas Pelagics From: live4birds AT aol.com Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:15:21 -0500 Captain Allan Foreman will be running birding trips on the?Country Girl out of Manteo, North Carolina on May 30, 31, and June 1 and August 15, 16, 17.? Experienced friendly leaders will be on board to help you.? Cost is?$130.00 per trip.? Call? 252-473-5577 (business hours) for reservations, email questions to me at live4birds AT aol.com.? Texas trips will be out of South Padre Island on the Osprey II on July 25, August 29, and September 19.? Save the dates, price and registration information will be coming shortly.? Mary Gustafson Mission, Texas --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Seabird News" group. To post to this group, send email to Seabird-News AT googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to Seabird-News+unsubscribe AT googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Seabird-News?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- Subject: Save the Dates - Country Girl, North Carolina and Texas Pelagics From: live4birds AT aol.com Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:15:21 -0500 Captain Allan Foreman will be running birding trips on the?Country Girl out of Manteo, North Carolina on May 30, 31, and June 1 and August 15, 16, 17.? Experienced friendly leaders will be on board to help you.? Cost is?$130.00 per trip.? Call? 252-473-5577 (business hours) for reservations, email questions to me at live4birds AT aol.com.? Texas trips will be out of South Padre Island on the Osprey II on July 25, August 29, and September 19.? Save the dates, price and registration information will be coming shortly.? Mary Gustafson Mission, Texas [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: NC Pelagic Trips This Winter and Spring From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 11:09:39 -0500 Dear Seabirders, Happy New Year. Thanks to many of you, we ran record number of trips in 2008- 51. We ran 48 of these on our own boat, the Stormy Petrel II. A big thank you to Kate Sutherland, who helped to lead all 48 of those trips. We ran eight winter trips in six weekends- a record. We also ran 17 consecutive trips May 17 to June 2, another record. Although we had to run one trip in September a day later, we did not lose any trips to weather, which is a strong run for this area. Our first trip of the year is less than two weeks away, and we look forward to another busy winter season. There has already been a good sign of Dovekies as far south as New Jersey, and just before Christmas, one was seen on the beach a little bit north of Oregon Inlet, NC. I don't know if it will be as good as last year, when we saw Dovekies on nearly all of our winter trips, but I am excited about the prospect of finding them again this year. In recent years, this species has not been a annual visitor as far south as Cape Hatteras. Great Skua, on the other hand, has been seen on the majority of our winter trips since we began running them here in 1994. This year's winter trips are planned for the following dates: January 17(18) February 7(8) February 14(15) February 15 (16) February 21 (22) February 28 (March 1) The dates in parentheses are weather dates. For those who would like two chances to see some of these winter birds, we have two trips planned for February 14 to16- President's Day Weekend. At present, we are taking reservations for the two days together, and a limited number of single day reservations are also available for the second trip, which is scheduled for February 15 or 16, with that date depending on the outcome of the first trip. Other birds that we have seen on several of these winter trips include Northern Fulmar, Manx Shearwater, Red Phalarope, Black-legged Kittiwake (more in January), Razorbill, and Atlantic Puffin. Little Gull has been seen on many of these trips, and we have occasionally seen Iceland, Glaucous, Thayer's, and California Gull. On February 5, 2000, we saw a Yellow-nosed Albatross on a Hatteras trip. There are often great photo ops on these trips as our chum attracts many gulls and Northern Gannets close to the boat. Good results can be had with a lens of moderate focal length. See some photos from past trips here: http://www.seabirding.com/Winter%20Gallery.htm The price for pelagic trips is $155/person this year, but we are offering discounts for groups of four or more people on all of the winter trips ($10 off/person.) We will give an additional ($10/person) discount for any groups of eight or more. The winter trips are typically more expensive for us to operate than summer trips because we often spend more time moving around looking for flocks of birds, but we will run the trips with ten or more passengers. In the spring and summer, we can often drift and let the birds come to us, as that works well with tubenoses, which have a good sense of smell. Our spring season starts in May, and we have daily trips planned from May 20 to June 7. Kate Sutherland, Steve Howell, and I will be aboard for all of these trips, and we will have a rotating cast of additional experienced leaders as well. These trips are also $155/day/person, and the following discounts are available: two to four trips in 10 days- $10 off each day ($145); five or more trips in the period- $20 off each day ($135). Memorial Day is early this year: May 25. The trip on Friday, May 22 is already nearly full. Space is still available on May 23, 24, and 25, but might not last as long as last year because we only plan to run one boat this year on those days. If you want to do some trips and the holiday doesn't matter, consider booking for the weekdays following it or even the next weekend or week. If you have a few friends, come for a week and rent a beach house. This is a better option now that our trips are not limited to weekends. Late May and early June is the only time when the European Storm-Petrel has been seen here so far (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008). It has also been a good time for Pterodromas and a variety of seabirds. Please visit our website for more information about the trips and to see photos of the birds and other sea life found on these trips. Thanks, Capt. Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC brian AT patteson.com http://www.seabirding.com/ Subject: Awesome Pelagic off Dunedin, New Zealand From: "russellcannings" <russellcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:03:22 -0000 Hi all, I'm a keen birder from British Columbia who is just getting into the pleasure of seabirding. Whether it's scoping from land or rolling around on a boat I have fallen in love with tubenoses etc. and I have New Zealand to thank. For those interested I would like to share a pelagic trip report that I made after a stunning 1-day stint off Dunedin, NZ. Basically I hopped on a research vessel taking water samples about 35nm off the South Island coast. This was just enough to get us out to the edge of the Southland Current and since it was May, many birds were on their northern migration. I was the only birder on board so who knows what I might have missed? Here is the species list.. May 26 (8am-5pm) - NO CHUM Wandering Albatross- 3 (all young birds, prob. NZ taxa) Southern Royal Albatross- 18+ Northern Royal Albatross- 1 NZ White-capped Albatross- 25+ Black-browed Albatross- 3 Campbell Is. Albatross- 1 (subadult) Buller's Albatross- 60+ (3 possible "Pacific" candidates) *Grey-headed Albatross- 4 (2 ad., 2i) *Light-mantled Albatross- 6+ (as many as 11) Southern (Antarctic) Giant Petrel- 12~ Northern (Hall's) Giant Petrel- 24~ Cape Petrel (Snares)- 55+ Grey Petrel- 20~ *White-headed Petrel- 2 *Soft-plumaged Petrel- 22+ Fairy Prion- 500+ *Black-bellied Storm Petrel- 23+ Wilson's Storm Petrel- 3 *White-faced Storm Petrel- 1 (very late record) Black-billed Gull- 1 Black-fronted Tern- 3 All in one day with no chum, relatively close to the mainland! This shows just how rich NZ's coast can be and how nobody really knows what's out there at any one time. The only good data sets available in NZ come from the Hauraki Gulf and Kaikoura where pelagic trip regularly occur. I suspect that if there was a way to regularly check the waters 35-40nm off Dunedin, it'd be pretty sweet indeed! Later on in October a friend and I photographed NZ's second GREATER SHEARWATER... again off Dunedin, this time closer in. Happy seabirding folks! Russell Cannings Naramata, BC, Canada Subject: Seabird photos From: Ed McVicker <ed.avocet AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:48 -0800 (PST) Hi, I've just returned home to Oregon after completing a 30 day cruise from Seattle to Auckland. Seabirding on the cruise ship had it's advantages (stability, multiple observation points, good food) and disadvantages (constant 15-20 knot speed, inability to turn back for a second look, 60-70 ft. above water surface, no chumming.) Overall, I found it most enjoyable and spent many hours on the observation deck below the bridge watching and photographing the birds I saw. I found photographing the usually distant birds a helpful tool in studying and identifying many of these birds. Some groups, notably the Cooklaria petrels, were (and still are) difficult for me to sort out. I'm wondering if anyone on the list would take a look at some photo sets and offer help or opinion regarding identification. The link below takes you to my Flickr page where you will find two collections of seabird photos. The Unidentified Petrel collection contains photos of nine Cooklaria petrels and one set of multiple individuals of either Providence or Gray-faced Petrels. Please let me know if you feel I've misidentified any of the species in the other set, too. http://www.flickr.com/photos/10665268 AT N04/collections/72157609033618220/ Thanks in advance for your time and help. Ed McVicker Portland, Oregon [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: From Tony re: From Tony Pym - new Seabirding website From: Tony Pym <tony_pym AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:05:41 +0000 Hi Mike Thanks for the compliment! Could you advise your website address (couldn't find it when searching 'Mike Cobley' in Google) Thanks - would like to have a look at it.... Tony To: pelagics AT yahoogroups.comFrom: cobley AT utvinternet.comDate: Sun, 9 Nov 2008 13:49:51 +0000Subject: Re: [pelagics] From Tony Pym - new Seabirding website Hi Tony,Great website.Have a look at mine - a little nearer to home - nowhere as good as yours though.Regards,Mike Cobley----- Original Message ----- From: Tony Pym To: Pelagics Sent: Friday, November 07, 2008 7:19 PMSubject: [pelagics] From Tony Pym - new Seabirding websiteHi everybody,My website, 'Seabirds and Cetaceans', has been redesigned and now has a new address:www.seabirding.co.ukIt contains birding reports from the world's oceans, many notes and articles on seabirds plus whales and dolphins, many hundreds of photos, and more. New trip reports recently added include the Galapagos Islands, a further trip to Antarctica, and a note from Fijian waters.Soon, articles on Yellow-nosed Albatross will be added and, hopefully, a little about Monteiro's Storm-petrel.Please note that my older webpages are no longer available (as AOL has decided to shut down this server).Hope you enjoy the new site.Good seabirding!Tony__________________________________________________________BigSnapSearch.com - 24 prizes a day, every day - Search Now!http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/117442309/direct/01/[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] _________________________________________________________________ See the most popular videos on the web http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/115454061/direct/01/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: From Tony Pym - new Seabirding website From: "Mike and Sue Cobley" <cobley AT utvinternet.com> Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2008 13:49:51 -0000 Hi Tony, Great website. Have a look at mine - a little nearer to home - nowhere as good as yours though. Regards, Mike Cobley ----- Original Message ----- From: Tony Pym To: Pelagics Sent: Friday, November 07, 2008 7:19 PM Subject: [pelagics] From Tony Pym - new Seabirding website Hi everybody, My website, 'Seabirds and Cetaceans', has been redesigned and now has a new address: www.seabirding.co.uk It contains birding reports from the world's oceans, many notes and articles on seabirds plus whales and dolphins, many hundreds of photos, and more. New trip reports recently added include the Galapagos Islands, a further trip to Antarctica, and a note from Fijian waters. Soon, articles on Yellow-nosed Albatross will be added and, hopefully, a little about Monteiro's Storm-petrel. Please note that my older webpages are no longer available (as AOL has decided to shut down this server). Hope you enjoy the new site. Good seabirding! Tony __________________________________________________________ BigSnapSearch.com - 24 prizes a day, every day - Search Now! http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/117442309/direct/01/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: From Tony Pym - new Seabirding website From: Tony Pym <tony_pym AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2008 19:19:14 +0000 Hi everybody, My website, 'Seabirds and Cetaceans', has been redesigned and now has a new address: www.seabirding.co.uk It contains birding reports from the world's oceans, many notes and articles on seabirds plus whales and dolphins, many hundreds of photos, and more. New trip reports recently added include the Galapagos Islands, a further trip to Antarctica, and a note from Fijian waters. Soon, articles on Yellow-nosed Albatross will be added and, hopefully, a little about Monteiro's Storm-petrel. Please note that my older webpages are no longer available (as AOL has decided to shut down this server). Hope you enjoy the new site. Good seabirding! Tony _________________________________________________________________ BigSnapSearch.com - 24 prizes a day, every day - Search Now! http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/117442309/direct/01/ Subject: Trip Report: San Diego to the Continental Shelf Edge Nov 1-3, 2008 From: "Terry Hunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 05 Nov 2008 03:46:57 -0000 Greetings 42 birders aboard the Buena Vista Audubon's November 1-3, 2008 deep- water pelagic trip aboard Grande to the edge of the continental shelf saw, in San Diego waters, FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER, AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER, COMMON MURRE and 2 HYPOLEUCUS XANTUS'S MURRELETS. Further out, in Los Angeles and Ventura county waters, sightings included TROPICBIRDS, 2000 RED PHALAROPE, Leach's Storm-petrels, late- migrating Long-tailed Jaegers, Poms, Sabine's Gull, Mako Shark, Blue Shark, Minke Whale, Blue Whales, dozens of Fin Whales, several beaked whales. Photos, detailed species lists and complete trip log can be viewed at: http://socalbirding.com/nov_1-3_2008_sd_shelf-edge_trip_report or http://tinyurl.com/5t5q9p -- W. Terry Hunefeld, San Diego Life is short. Bird often. Seabirding Trips From San Diego Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands Nine-mile, Thirty-mile, Sixty-mile Banks Cortes & Tanner Banks Channel Islands http://www.InnAtMoonlightBeach.com Subject: October Seabirds off Hatteras, NC and a thought about late fall, winter and early spring From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:10:33 -0400 Seabirders, I ran a fishing charter to the Gulf Stream yesterday here off Hatteras, and although we didn't see any local rarities, I was impressed by the number of Cory's Shearwaters and Black-capped Petrels. A recent blow from the north had shoved the Gulf Stream edge all the way out to the shelf break (110 fathoms- 25 miles offshore), and there was a well-defined green to blue change there, with quite a bit of scattered Sargasso Weed. We spent all morning catching dolphin (mahi mahi, as they is now widely known) near this color change. There was a good breeze from the west and I watched a steady procession of Black-capped Petrels and Cory's Shearwaters moving along this change. There were also a few Greater and Audubon's Shearwaters, Wilson's Storm-Petrels, and some scattered Red Phalaropes, the first ones I've seen here this fall. A single Bridled Tern rounded out the real pelagic birds. With all the bird activity in the morning I wonder what else I might have seen if we had slowed down and made a nice fish oil slick. Interestingly, I did not see any jaegers, but a westerly wind is not favorable for them. Ten days before, on a rainy day with easterly winds, we saw several Pomarine Jaegers, despite poor visibility, and a few days before that on the 7th, I saw a young Red-billed Tropicbird less than 20 miles off the beach. In addition to the birds, I also saw a Leatherback Sea Turtle yesterday, a good sighting any day. The sharp color change and all of the activity reminded me how underbirded these waters are between September and mid May. Certainly some of our best spring and summer trips have followed northerly blows, but this condition is not particularly common in late spring and summer. It's a shame we can't opportunistically run trips when the conditions are just right, but I do think the Gulf Stream deserves a closer look during the "off season." The flight line of Black-capped Petrels and shearwaters along the color change yesterday would be the perfect set-up for a sighting of Bermuda Petrel or some other rare petrel cruisng these waters. And even without rarity, it makes for a very exciting trip, knowing that at the next instant, something new might come winging by the boat. We have scheduled a couple of late fall trips in early December to try some of this "off season" seabirding, and I hope there is enough interest to run them. We have also scheduled an early winter trip on December 27. See our website at http://www.seabirding.com/ for more information about upcoming trips. There was a time when birders jumped at the chance to go on any pelagic trip which was available. Nowadays, it seems that most are much more picky, but we are missing out on new discoveries when we don't seek out new times for trips. Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC brian AT patteson.com http://www.seabirding.com/