We did our first pelagic birding trip in August 2016, from Half Moon Bay to the Farallon Islands, and then 5 miles beyond to find albatrosses. Saw many Black-footed, but unfortunately not the Laysan. The islands were fantastic except for the flies which swarmed the boat as soon as we came within a few hundred feet. On the island were puffins, guillemots, cormorants, sea lions, seals, and a couple of scientists up on a hill.
To top it all, we saw about 70 Humpback Whales, 4 Fin Whales, and a Blue Whale spouting in the distance!
Addenda:
7/25/17: Today I saw a Parakeet Auklet off Lands End in SF. This is a bird usually found more than 2000 miles away in Western Alaska. It was very exciting and a good look through a scope, but too far away for a good picture.
10/12/19: Did my second pelagic birding trip, from HMB to the continental shelf. Saw a few new ones like the South Polar Skua, Short-tailed and Buller's Shearwaters. Much fewer whales this time, but we had a great dolphin show with a bunch of Pacific White-sided Dolphins swimming alongside the boat for a whiled, and a bunch of Risso's Dolphins later on. Also saw several of the distinctly weird Mola-molas (Ocean sunfish).
10/15/22: Third pelagic, with Jet and Casey. Same route as above. 4 lifers! But no sun the whole day, so images limited and all rather dull and gray.
To top it all, we saw about 70 Humpback Whales, 4 Fin Whales, and a Blue Whale spouting in the distance!
Addenda:
7/25/17: Today I saw a Parakeet Auklet off Lands End in SF. This is a bird usually found more than 2000 miles away in Western Alaska. It was very exciting and a good look through a scope, but too far away for a good picture.
10/12/19: Did my second pelagic birding trip, from HMB to the continental shelf. Saw a few new ones like the South Polar Skua, Short-tailed and Buller's Shearwaters. Much fewer whales this time, but we had a great dolphin show with a bunch of Pacific White-sided Dolphins swimming alongside the boat for a whiled, and a bunch of Risso's Dolphins later on. Also saw several of the distinctly weird Mola-molas (Ocean sunfish).
10/15/22: Third pelagic, with Jet and Casey. Same route as above. 4 lifers! But no sun the whole day, so images limited and all rather dull and gray.
