The next Neah Bay pelagic trip is scheduled for August 18, with another scheduled on September 15. For reservations and more info contact Denny Van Horn [dennyvanhorn AT gmail.com] and an informational flyer will quickly be sent to you.

The trips travel through the west entrance of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, move WNW to Swiftsure Bank, and then SSW along the edge of the Juan de Fuca Canyon. Our return route, depending upon how the day goes, travels by Umatilla Reef and seabird colonies at Flattery Rocks and Tatoosh Island, before returning to Neah Bay. This route explores areas of the renowned Juan de Fuca Eddy. Target birds include a variety of tubenoses and alcids, along with early migrant jaegers, Arctic Terns, Sabine's Gulls, phalaropes, and others from northern nesting areas.

We start boarding at 7:30 am and depart when all are aboard, with an estimated return to harbor around 4 pm. Departure from Neah Bay is always weather-dependent, at the discretion of Windsong's skipper - fingers crossed, cancellations won't happen. Fees are variable and will be collected when boarding: x1 trip $160; x2 outings $140 ea. Neah Bay and Hobuck Beach have a variety of motels, cabins, and a campground, if you want to stay out there before or after the trip.

On our last trip (July 14), at Swiftsure Bank we found big milling flocks of several thousand Sooty and Pink-footed Shearwaters, along with a few hundred Northern Fulmars and Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels. Humpback whales were constantly in view, spouting and diving over a wide area of Swiftsure Bank. The alcid show was best on the way back, particularly nesting Common Murres and Tufted Puffins at Tatoosh Island.

See you out there August 18th and/or September 15th, eh!
Good birding,
Denny Van Horn & Bob Boekelheide
Dungeness