Our first trip of the year couldn't have got off to a better start. With sunny skies and great seas, 15 birders, plus leaders Bill Tweit, Gene Revelas and myself, recorded some outstanding sightings. After going through a very bumpy bar at the harbor entrance we encountered a calmer ocean and more than 7,000 migrating Pacific Loons in breeding plumage. Mixed in were Common Loons, Red-throated Loons and our first Sooty Shearwaters of the day. Around this time, we also recorded the only jaeger (Pomarine) and Norther Fulmar for the trip. The lack of fulmars was a surprise as they must be feeding elsewhere.

At the 350-450 ft. depth, we started seeing lots of Cassin's Auklets and then the highlight for many, Parakeet Auklets! We counted 19 within a few mile transect and probably had a few get away. They have been seen along the Oregon and the Washington coasts during the late winter and early spring by research ships,sometimes numbering in the hundreds. This was, I believe, only our fourth time we have seen them on Westport trips.

Some of the other highlights of the day include: 200 Black-footed Albatross, 9 Pink-footed Shearwater, over a thousand Sooties, 12 Short-tailed Shearwaters,5 Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels, 552 Red Phalaropes ( in all sorts of plumages, including breeding), 16 Sabine's Gull and 154 Cassin's Auklets. My personal highlight was a White-crown Sparrow seen several miles offshore to add to my pelagic list.
Several whale spouts where seen but no confirmed species identification.

Our next pelagic trip is scheduled for May19th, leaving at 0600. For further information on reservations please contact www.westportseabirds.com.
Also for complete numbers from this past trip, visit us on Facebook our at our website.

Hope to see you on our next trip!
Bruce LaBar
Tacoma, Wa.
blabar at harbornet.com