It was a great day with overall great weather on Westport Seabird's second pelagic of the year yesterday. The day started off a bit drizzly at times, but the slight rain eventually yielded to overcast conditions which gave way to partly sunny skies as we returned to port. The swell was quite low for most of the trip making conditions quite comfortable with hardly any sea spray.

Our good fortune with Manx Shearwaters continued as one cruised out 100 yards from the bow giving long looks, and it was actually our first shearwater species of the day. It wasn't long until we encountered another Manx Shearwater farther offshore again cruising northbound showing off its bright white undersides.

We would have two more sightings of Manx Shearwater on the return trip. Other highlights of the day included ~9 Ancient Murrelets, 1 pair with a chick, 3 Parasitic Jaegers, 1 Long-tailed Jaeger (a rare spring migrant, usually migrating farther offshore), and over 100 Sabine's Gulls.

We had great looks at most species seen, including Cassin's Auklets, Tufted Puffins, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels, and Red-necked Phalaropes.

One of the biggest surprises was a male Wilson's Warbler 35 miles offshore. Pacific Loons were migrating north in large numbers. There were several Gray Whales outside the harbor, and many Steller's Sea-Lions were hanging out on the buoys.

Our next trip is June 24th.

Numbers from the trip should be up on the website shortly. For more, visit www.westportseabirds.com

Ryan Shaw
Lakewood WA
rtshaw80 at hotmail.com
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