[CINC] CX 15-hour Audubon Pelagic Bird Trip - Sat July 31

[Mr Zalophus]

Hi,
The LA Audubon and The Condor Express ran one of their several trips per
year out to deep water looking for pelagic birds yesterday.  We ran up the
Channel to a distance well west of San Miguel, then headed southwest to the
Rodriguez Dome.  From the Rodriquez, we sailed south to the San Juan
Seamount, during which point we were approximately 100 miles offshore from
Santa Barbara Harbor.  The following is my own list of the birds and mammals
observed, which may be slightly different from the list the Audubon leaders
have, if you read the bird lists.  Of the many species, I have posted up
some reasonable images of the Black-footed Albatross, and the Baird's Beaked
Whales that were encountered.  It was a dark, overcast day with light rain
in the morning...moderate winds and light chop, but worth it by far!

http://condorexpressphotos.smugmug.com/Other/2010-07-31-SC-Bight

*Marine Mammals*
California Sea Lions (Many)
Northern Fur Seals (2 or 3, offshore)
Northern Elephant Seal (1, far offshore)
Long beaked Common Dolphins (in the Channel)
Short beaked Common Dolphins (far offshore)
Risso's Dolphins (2 groups; 15 total)
Blue Whale (1, north of San Miguel)
Humpback Whales (6, same area as Blue)
Dall's Porpoise (many)
2 Baird's Beaked Whales (lat 34 10'N, lon 120 40'W)
Fin Whales (2, deep water)
Pacific White-sided Dolphins (3 groups; 40 total)

*Marine Birds*  (in order of appearance)
Brown Pelican
Western Gull
Brandt's Cormorant
Hooded Merganser
Pelagic Cormorant
Red necked Phalaropes
Sooty Shearwater
Pink footed Shearwater
Ashy Storm Petrel
Black Storm Petrel
Pomarine Jeager
Cassin's Auklet
Sabines Gulls
Fulmar
Black-footed Albatross (11 seen; 5 at one spot)
Long tailed Jaeger
South Polar Skua
Common Tern
Arctic Tern
Leach's Storm Petrel
Cook's Petrel (2 or 3)
Buller's Shearwater (1)
Parasitic Jaeger
Rhinoceros Auklet
Pigeon Guillemot

The next pelagic bird trip on the Condor Express is Sat Sept 18, and is an
8-hour trip.  Contact the Sea Landing to book a spot on this Condor
Express/LA Audubon joint venture.

Best fishes and have a Whale (or pelagic bird) of a day!
Bob Perry
Condor Express
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