Subject: [Tweeters] Westport Seabirds 6_23_07 unofficial trip results
Date: Jun 24 07:56:14 2007
From: bill shelmerdine - georn1 at hotmail.com


Yesterday a group of us enjoyed a nice day on the ocean waters west of
Westport. The weather and seas were accommodating and there were good
numbers of birds offshore including a few surprises. This was an outer
slope trip, meaning it continues several miles further west than our regular
Grays Canyon trips and therefore spends additional time in deeper water west
of the canyon. Spotters included Gene Revelas, Bruce Labar and me. The
official trip numbers will be posted on the Westport Seabirds Website.

One of the target species of the June/July outer slope trips is Leach's
Storm-petrel, In this regard the trip was a great success with 20+ birds
seen and close views of several birds at the chum spot. There was a nice
mix of Leach's and Fork-tailed Storm-petrels here and a very accommodating
and curious pod of Pacific white-sided dolphin that kept us company through
the chumming stop. Other birds at the chum spot included Black-footed
Albatross and Northern Fulmar.

On the trip out we encountered a fishing fleet (hake I believe) working an
area on the shelf about 15 (+/-) miles out. This is where the largest
concentrations of seabirds were located and the activity in this area
effectively lowered the bird numbers in the traditionally bird rich waters
around the canyon edge. We passed through this area fairly quickly on the
way out, but spent time with the birds here on the return. The large
concentrations of birds here included thousands of Sooty Shearwaters and
hundreds of Black-footed Albatross and Pink-footed Shearwaters.
Flesh-footed Shearwater (a seasonal rarity), South Polar Skua, and Pomerine
Jeager were found among the concentration of birds here.

With regards to overall numbers, 8500+ Sooty Shearwaters, 500 + Black-footed
Albatross (250-300 at the fishing fleet on the return leg), 20+ Leach's
Storm-petrels, and 7 South-polar Skua were all notable. Notable because of
their low numbers were the alcid clan, with very low numbers offshore and
birds concentrated close to shore and some good numbers in the channel
between the jetties. Only one Cassin's Auklet was seen on the trip and this
bird was seen in the near shore concentrations and missed by many on board.
A crowd-pleaser was a stunning adult Tufted Puffin (one of 4) on the water
and close to the boat in the area between the jetties. Also in this area
were several hundred Rhinoceros Auklets in fine breeding plumage, hundreds
of Common Murres, a couple of Marbled Murrelets and numbers of Black-legged
Kittiwakes, Heermans Gulls, and Brown Pelicans.

Mammals on the trip included several nice groups of Pacific White-sided
Dolphin, and Dall's Porpoise; and Harbor Porpoise, Northern Fur and Harbor
Seal, and California Sea Lion. If interested check out the Westport
Seabirds website for official trip numbers in the coming weeks. A couple of
additional outer slope trips are scheduled for July.
Cheers and good birding,
Bill Shelmerdine
Olympia
Mailto: georn1 at hotmail.com

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