Subject: [Tweeters] Neah Bay pelagic trips Aug 5 & Sept 9
Date: Jul 4 12:21:31 2017
From: B Boekelheide - bboek at olympus.net


2017 Neah Bay Pelagic Trips / Saturdays, August 5th & Sept 9th
Once again we have organized two pelagic bird trips on the M/V Windsong out of Neah Bay. We plan to head through the west entrance of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, travel WNW to Swiftsure Bank, and then, depending on conditions, either further west or else SSW along the edge of the Juan de Fuca Canyon, with a return route by the coast and Tatoosh Island before returning to Neah Bay.
The MV Windsong is similar to the MV Monte Carlo of Westport Seabirds. It can accommodate twenty or more birders with ease. Boarding time is 8am, estimated return to harbor around 4pm. Cost of the trip ($160 cash) will be collected when you board. Departure from NB is of course weather-dependent and at the discretion of Windsong's skipper - fingers crossed, we?ve had good weather on Aug & Sept trips in the past.
For reference: accommodations in the NB area include, but are not limited to: Butler's Motel (360-640-0948), Bullman Beach Inn (360-645-2306), The Inn at Neah Bay (360-374-2225), Cape Resort/ cabins (360-645-2250), and there is always space at Hobuck Beach Campground [Got a tent?].
From the Sequim area, travel time to Neah Bay is about 2.5+ hours; from Port Angeles 2+ hours. From the Kingston and/or Winslow ferry-docks give yourself 4-5 hours, depending on stops and traffic.
What might we find? On past trips in August and September have found large feeding flocks at Swiftsure Bank with shearwaters, gulls (particularly Sabine?s), phalaropes, alcids, jaegers, skuas, and terns. The unexpected? You never know, but last year two Brown Boobies joined the feeding flocks. There were so many Humpback whales we couldn't count them, some feeding right beside the boat, along with other marine mammals as well.
If interested and want more info, contact Denny Van Horn with an email. Denny will take your reservation on one or both of these pelagic outings aboard the MV Windsong. Once you make your reservations Denny will send you more specific information.
See you out there August 5th and/or September 9th!
Good birding,
Denny Van Horn <dennyvanhorn at gmail.com <mailto:dennyvanhorn at gmail.com>> 360-406-1584 and Bob Boekelheide <bboek at olympus.net <mailto:bboek at olympus.net>> 360-808-0196
Dungeness, WA