Melissa Hafting organized a pelagic with 13 people today out of Tofino with Ocean Outfitters. The goal was to see a Parakeet Auklet since it was the right window. Beautiful weather with sunshine and no rain.

They got out to Clayquot Canyon and 45 miles off shore and over 2000 feet deep searching along the canyon for Parakeet Auklets.  None  but they spotted a fishing boat and Mike Toochin spotted a SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS rather quickly and then a second one was spotted and a third!! Everyone was in disbelief!  Excellent views and good photos which will be posted to the RBA Blog main page. The Albatrosses stayed with them the whole 5 hours they were out at the canyon and stayed behind the boat circling as well giving great views.

Some of the highlights were:
3 Short-tailed Albatrosses
400 Black-footed Albatrosses
200 Northern Fulmars
10 Sooty Shearwaters
1 Pomarine Jaeger
20 Black-legged Kittiwakes
3 Cassin's Auklets
1 Ancient Murrelet
2 Marbled Murrelets

Marine Mammals
Northern Fur Seals
Sea Otters
Dall's Porpoises
Stellar Sea Lions
Fin Whales
Humpback Whales
Gray Whales (only the captain saw the Gray Whales)

If anyone wants to see the STALs Melissa thinks they have a very good chance if they charter a boat and get out there pretty soon and find a fishing boat.  Exact GPS coordinates of where they saw them and photos are going to be posted on the BC RBA.






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