San
Diego Field Ornithologists Pelagic!
Jan 01,
2004
Bob Miller
A new Years Day
tradition continues!
48 species (list follows at end
of page)
Click on
thumbnail pictures for full-sized shots.
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Pacific Ocean
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The weather could not have been nicer as we headed
out to sea on the "New Seaforth" out of Quivira
Basin. Red-breasted Merganser was in the harbor and the
Osprey was bringing nesting material to it's nest on a sailboat
mast. |
| Lots of the regulars on the bait docks.
Wandering Tattler and Surfbird were along the jetty. As we headed
up the coast we began to see trickles of Black-vented Shearwaters
go by and a flight of Pacific Loons as well as a few Northern
Fulmars were being seen. |
California Gull
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|
Brown Pelican
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It soon became apparent that there was a lot of
activity further out so we swung around to the west and were soon in
the midst of thousands of Black-vented Shearwaters, Brown Pelicans,
gulls and cormorants. A few pink-footed Shearwaters were soon
picked out. |
| We had a great day for mammals with four dolphin
species! The action really picked up when we got into a pod of
hundreds of Common Dolphins who were launching into acrobatics and
racing toward us to ride the bow! |
Common Dolphins
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Common Dolphins
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There were a lot of birds following the dolphins as
well and a few Jaegers were soon spotted. |
| Our fearless bird pointer outers were soon in fine
form as Stan Walens demonstrates here! |
The pointer outer
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Don tossing popcorn
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Popcorn lovers
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| Don and Marjorie Hastings did a fine job of
attracting a following with their popcorn trail. As Matt
Sadowski and I were talking at the side rail he suddenly pointed
down and calls Northern Fulmar. It came back around and
cruised slowly past us again and I was lucky to get this nice pic! |
Northern Fulmar
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Checking them all
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A Shot-tailed Shearwater made a brief appearance at the rear of
the boat and was gone as quickly so I missed that one! I happened
to pass by Stan as he tried to call out a Rhinoceros Auklet that
was too far out and falling behind too fast to possibly get anyone
onto but those beside him. Lucky me cause I got that
one!
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| We were now heading back in and most folks had taken
a seat but the diehards were still at it! |
Had enough excitement
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Enjoying the view
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It was a fine day for birding but not the greatest
for sailing as this sailboat was headed in under power. |
| I caught site of a lone Black Turnstone along the
jetty going in which was a welcome addition to the year
list. Snowy Egrets were a bit disappointed that we were not
a fishing boat with juicy morsels but I appreciated the photo-op! |
The view
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Seaforth
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Folks scattered to add to their year list. Terry and
I headed for Imperial Beach where we met up with others to look
for the warblers. We finally had the Blackburnian but the
Pine Warblers just did not make it into view. The sunset in
my rearview mirror was fantastic as I climbed out over the Laguna
Mountains and dropped off to my " view from below sea
level" I Had a fantastic time and Happy New Year to
all. |
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