Greetings Tweeters,



We had a great offshore trip last Sunday, here are some un-official results from the August 2 Westport Seabirds trip. For the most part only the pelagic species are included. Official numbers will be posted on the website, numbers here are approximates only. There was a marked contrast with last week?s results (some of which are included in parentheses below). Weather was somewhat foggy especially in the morning, but did not affect visibility too much and as it turns out provided good conditions for picking out alcids on the water.

It was a great day, including a couple of Westport Seabirds firsts, although no serious avian rarities. In briefest summary highlights included: a close encounter with an obliging Blue Whale, a very out of place Common Nighthawk, a spectacular visit by a very accommodating Long-tailed Jaeger, a Jaeger/ Skua slam, and probably the largest Mola Mola I have ever seen. Blue shark numbers seemed high to me also. Almost as remarkable was the contrast with last week?s trip. The shearwaters decided to spend the day somewhere else; Sooty Shearwater numbers were dismal by comparison to last week?s trip. However, recent reports indicate they are out there somewhere.

Approximate numbers included for some of the offshore species are as follows (the July 25 trip is in parentheses). Black-footed Albatross: 20-30 (117); Northern Fulmar: 150 (66); Pink-footed Shearwater 185 (469); Flesh-footed Shearwater 0 (1); Sooty Shearwater 650 (10,725); Fork-tailed Storm Petrel 105 (56); Leaches Storm Petrel 140 (235); Pomerine Jaeger: 2-3 (0); Parasitic Jaeger 1 (1) ; Long-tailed Jaeger 5 (0); South Polar Skua: 5 (5); Sabines Gull: 20 (1); Arctic Tern: 6 (0); Marbled Murrelet: 0 (2); Cassin?s Auklet: 240 (77); Rhinoceros Auklet: 30 (77); Tufted Puffin 2 (1). A single Xantus?s Murrelet was a fly-by seen only briefly; sadly I was the only observer who obtained identifiable looks. A Common Nighthawk among the Leaches Storm Petrels out beyond the edge of Grays Canyon caused some confusion, a pelagic first for all of us.

It was a good day for mammals, including a Westport Seabirds first. A spectacular Blue Whale (great looks) was encountered near the edge of Grays Canyon. The first of 5 Humpback Whales encountered put on a show, frolicking on the surface and tail and fin flapping. This sighting included at least 1 adult and a much smaller animal, an apparent calf or youngster. Other Mammals included Pacific White-sided Dolphins, Dall?s and Harbor Porpoise, a Northern Fur Seal, and Northern/Steller?s and California Sea Lions.

The only 2 Tufted Puffins were seen in near shore areas, including 1 inside the Westport Jetty. Jetty shorebirds included Wandering Tattler, Surfbird, and Black and Ruddy Turnstones. And finally the 2nd summer Glaucous Gull was still present in the Westport Boat Basin.

Bill Shelmerdine, Olympia
mailto: georn1 at hotmail.com



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