Subject: Westport Pelagic results, Saturday May 18, MANX SHEARWATERS
Date: May 19 04:11:22 2002
From: Ryan Shaw - rtshaw80 at hotmail.com


Greetings all,

Well the highlight of the May 18th Pelagic Trip out of Westport, WA were at
least TWO, possibly Three MANX SHEARWATERS in a feeding flock of loons,
shearwaters, and alcids about 2 miles out from the mouth of Grays Harbor.
The first bird was spotted on the port(left) side of the boat as we headed
out west. It took off and rode along the swells southward until out of
sight. Then shortly after another Manx Shearwater picked up on the
starboard(right) side of the boat and flew northwards. Then shortly after,
everyone got there best look at what was probably a third bird that took off
from the starboard side again, at very close range. Though not knowing if
this bird was the first that circled back without us seeing it, leaves us
with at the very least, 2 individuals.
After this bit of excitment, the trip became more of a typical NW Pelagic,
with a good number of Black-footed Albatross, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels,
Rhinoceros Auklets, Common Murres and Tufted Puffins being seen quite
easily. The Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels were quite cooperative coming right
up to the chum at the rear of the boat. (I'll be happy if 1 or 2 of the
photographs I attempted, out of 2 rolls of these birds turns out well).

Common Terns and Bonaparte's Gulls were quite abundant off the mouth of
Grays Harbor and in the harbor itself. Though the difference in Bonaparte's
this weekend as opposed to our trip 2 weeks ago is at least half the birds 2
weeks ago were breeding plumaged adults, and this weekend they were all
young birds.
Still many Kittiwakes hanging around the harbor, and some cooperative
Parasitic Jaegers doing their kleptoparsitism towards the Common Terns, and
farther out, to a flock of 20+ Sabine's Gulls.
To top off the day, at 125 degrees Long. an adult Long-tailed Jaeger was
soaring over, en route to its tundra nesting grounds.

Next Westport Pelagic scheduled, JUNE 1ST. There is still space available.
Maybe a Manx or two will still be hanging around the harbor. So sign up
now!
For more info, and information on how to get on the next, and future trips
this summer/fall, please visit:

www.westportseabirds.com

Numbers from all 2002 trips completely updated on the website.

May 18th, 2002
Pacific Loon - 60
Common Loon - 8
Black-footed Albatross - 128
Northern Fulmar - 3
Pink-footed Shearwater - 3
Sooty Shearwater - 3502
MANX SHEARWATER - (2-3)
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel - 90
Leach's Storm-Petrel - 2
Brown Pelican - 10
Surf Scoter - 3
White-winged Scoter - 3
Red-necked Phalarope - 120
Red Phalarope - 1
Pomarine Jaeger - 1
Parasitic Jaeger - 8
Long-tailed Jaeger - 1
California Gull - 5
Herring Gull - 18
Glaucous-winged/Western Gulls - 566
Black-legged Kittiwake - 167
Bonaparte's Gull - 182
Sabine's Gull - 24
Common Murre - 457
Pigeon Guillemot - 31
Marbled Murrelet - 11
Cassin's Auklet - 12
Rhinoceros Auklet - 482
Tufted Puffin - 7
Double-crested Cormorant - 7
Brandt's Cormorant - 134
Pelagic Cormorant - 67
Brant - 15
Wandering Tattler - 2
California Sea-Lion - 2
Harbor Seal - 2
Harbor Porpoise - 4

Observers: Bill Tweit, Michael Donahue, Scott Mills, Ryan Shaw

Cheers and Good Birding

Ryan Shaw
Lacey, WA
rtshaw80 at hotmail.com

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