Subject: [Tweeters] =?windows-1252?q?Westport_Seabirds_June_25_trip_resul?=
Date: Jun 26 07:49:46 2011
From: bill shelmerdine - georn1 at hotmail.com




Greetings All,
Yesterday was another great day on the water with Westport Seabirds. For those that are keeping count, that?s 3 in a row. Undoubtedly the highlight of the day was a young (first cycle) SHORT TAILED ALBATROSS (STAL) that was seen by all and had the good grace to hang out with us for at least 30 minutes. It was with a good concentration of seabirds attending a group of fishing boats on our return trip. The location was about 31 miles NW of Point Brown on the shelf just a bit inside the inner edge of Grays Canyon. As an example of just how exiting this sighting was, a LAYSAN ALBATROSS (LAAL) flying by right next the bow (our second of the day) hardly caused a stir as we watched the STAL on the water. There were many Black-footed Albatross on the water at this location providing a 3 Albatross day with 3 species in view at the same time. We had 3 Laysan?s for the day making this the third trip in a row for that species. This year is shaping up to be a very good year for finding that species in Washington waters.

However, even without the STAL it would have been a fantastic trip for old salts and newcomers alike. Consider the following? Point blank views of LAAL, SOUTH POLAR SKUA, LONG TAILED JEAGER (a June first with 4 seen), and TUFTED PUFFIN (TUPU). Two of the LAAL sat on the water for great views and photo ops. It was a great day for photography as well (perhaps a bit on the sunny side for the purists?). Looking back, point blank views of LEACH'S and FORK-TAILED STORM PETREL on our chum slick seem almost (but not quite) anti climactic, but there were sure a lot of shutters clicking. Rounding out the tubenoses were many Northern Fulmar, Sooty and Pink-footed Shearwaters. Alcid species included Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled Murrelet, Cassins and Rhinocerous Auklets, and Tufted Puffin. Mammals included several Pacific White-sided Dolphin, Dalls and Harbor Porpoise, and Harbor Seal, while fish recorded included Blue and Thresher Sharks.

The next scheduled trip is July 9 and there are spaces available. This will be one of the outer slope trips (as was the June 25 trip) and spends more time in deeper water and targets specifically Leach's Storm Petrel. Who knows what might be out there and judging from this year it could be great. How many trips this year will record LAAL? So far its 3 in a row. Check out the Westport Seabirds website for reservation information.

Final numbers for the June trip will be posted to the Westport Seabirds website and to ebird soon. Thanks to skipper Phil Anderson and wife Chris for a great trip. Spotters for the day included Scott Mills, Mike Donahue, Bruce LaBar, Ryan Shaw, and Bill Shelmerdine. Join us this year for a trip or two visiting Washington?s offshore waters. There are always a few surprises out there.

Bill Shelmerdine
mailto: georn1 at hotmail.com