Westport Seabirds enjoyed a great pelagic trip on Sunday, September 10th
with excellent weather and viewing conditions. This trip left the harbor
in the dark at 6:00am, and after a bumpy bar crossing, the rest of the day
was smooth sailing.


The highlight of the trip for many were great looks at what seemed to be
two Laysan Albatross at different locations during the day. This rarity
has been seen on a couple trips this year, and we can only hope they
continue to come our way in the future.


We also had great on the water looks at Cassin?s Auklet, which was a treat
compared to the more common view of this species in flight or running away
from the approaching boat. It was an excellent day for Fork-tailed
Storm-Petrels with a count of 272 for the day. Buller?s Shearwater put in
an appearance, as did Sabine?s Gull, but many were left wanting better
views.


At the site of a shrimping fleet, we had an interesting quandary over the
identity of what a picture confirmed was a dark-phase Pomarine Jaeger.
Initially this distant bird looked like a South Polar Skua harassing
gulls. As always, we were happy to have on board several skilled
photographers, one of which resolved the debate on this bird?s identity
with a photograph showing a bi-colored bill and a tail much more consistent
with a Jaeger than a Skua.



On the return trip, we were fortunate to have good, close views of an
immature Tufted Puffin. Several Northern Fur Seals were seen throughout the
trip.


This day reinforced what I?ve come to appreciate, that each trip out is a
new adventure with new possibilities. We have openings on our remaining
trips this season scheduled for September 24th and 30th, and October 7th.


Below is a complete list of species for the day:


Northern Pintail - 725

Surf Scoter - 9

Pacific Loon - 2

Western Grebe - 11


LAYSAN ALBATROSS - 2

Black-footed Albatross - 270


Northern Fulmar - 848

Pink-footed Shearwater - 112

BULLER'S SHEARWATER - 6

Sooty Shearwater - 586

Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel - 272


Brandt's Cormorant - 50

Double-crested Cormorant - 1

Pelagic Cormorant - 15

Brown Pelican - 227


Whimbrel - 1

Marbled Godwit - 50

Black Turnstone - 20

Surfbird - 2

Red-necked Phalarope - 25


Pomarine Jaeger - 1


Common Murre - 74

Cassin's Auklet -25

Rhinoceros Auklet - 20

TUFTED PUFFIN - 1


Sabine's Gull - 6

Heerman's Gull - 74

California Gull - 694

Herring Gull - 12

Glaucous-winged Gull (and hybrids) - 191


Humpback Whale - 1

Harbor Porpoise - 3

Dall's Porpoise - 15


Harbor Seal - 1

Northern Fur Seal - 4

California Sea-Lion - 3

Steller's Sea-Lion - 1


Ocean Sunfish - 1


Hope to sea you out there!


Cara Borre

Gig Harbor WA