Yesterdays WESTPORT SEABIRD'S first pelagic trip of the season was a huge success! The weather was mostly sunny with just a few raindrops in the morning. The ocean was a little choppy going out but very nice and smooth coming back. This was an outer slope trip that goes about 43 miles out into Gray's Canyon at a depth of over 5,000 ft. Our starting time was at 0530 and finishing at1600, which makes for long day with lots of time for pelagic viewing. We were very fortunate to encounter 8 fishing boats that usually have hundreds of birds hanging out looking for by-catch. With few birds seen within a few miles coming up to the boats, we knew that this is where the birds were. Hundreds of birds were checking out each of the boats and even coming over to us when we starting chumming. The following species and numbers are what we recorded throughout the day, including the harbor and jetty birds.
a.. Greater White-fronted Goose-90
b.. Brant-36
c.. Surf Scoter-55
d.. White-winged Scoter-11
e.. Pacific Loon-177, in breeding plumage
f.. Common Loon-19
g.. LAYSAN ALBATROSS-7, seven sightings, 4 individuals for sure, couple feeding close to our boat.
h.. Black-footed Alabatross-292!
i.. Northern Fulmar-13
j.. Pink-footed Shearwater-17
k.. FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER-1, unexpected spring sighting, great close views.
l.. Sooty Shearwater-1247
m.. SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER-23, close comparsions with sooty's.
n.. Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel-50
o.. LEACH'S STORM-PETREL-5
p.. Brandt's Cormorant-209
q.. Double-crested Cormorant-8
r.. Pelagic Cormorant-12
s.. Brown Pelican-35
t.. Wandering Tattler-7
u.. Black Turnstone-1
v.. Surfbird-4
w.. Rock Sandpiper-2
x.. Red-necked Phalarope-68
y.. RED PHALAROPE-21, many in breeding plumage!
z.. Black-legged Kittiwake-2
aa.. Sabine's Gull-185!
ab.. Bonaparte's Gull-48
ac.. Mew Gull-41
ad.. Western-Glaucous-winged Gulls (hybrid)-535, we don't separate, nickname Big Guy's.
ae.. California Gull-7
af.. Herring Gull-25
ag.. Thayer's Gull-1
ah.. Caspian Tern-7
ai.. Pomarine Jaeger-2
aj.. Common Murre-1406
ak.. Pigeon Guillemot-15
al.. Marbled Murrelet-4
am.. Ancient Murrelet-7
an.. Cassin's Auklet-16
ao.. Rhinoceros Auklet-36
ap.. Tufted Puffin-2
Mammals that were sighted were: Gray Whale-3, Orca-3, Northern Fur Seal-1, Dall's Porpoise, Harbor Porpoise, Calif. Sea Lion and Steller's Sea Lion.

Spotters for this trip were Bill Shelmerdine, Scott Mills, Ryan Shaw and myself. Boat pilots were Phil Anderson and his son Patrick. Thanks to all the birders that made this a very wonderful trip! Our next pelagic is May 21 with some spaces still available. For more information and reservations, please check our web-site at www.westportseabirds.com

Bruce LaBar
Tacoma, WA
blabar at harbornet.com