We had a very memorable trip yesterday out of Westport. We left the dock
at 6am with increasing daylight in a light drizzle. The bar crossing was
uneventful and sea conditions were pleasant with gentle swells at a
comfortable interval. We had a varied group of birders consisting of
pelagic veterans from near and far, and those on their first seaward
wildlife adventure. The participant mix, along with the variety of birds
and ocean inhabitants we find, makes every trip unique. This trip included
two notable visiting birders, Amar Ayyash, a gull expert from Chicago and
Kirk Zufelt, a birder/photographer from Canada on a quest to see all the
seabirds on the planet! To learn more about these birders, and more about
gulls and seabirds, visit Amar's website, www.anythinglarus.com and Kirk's
website, www.pelagicodyssey.ca. Incidentally, Kirk has just published a
book with seabird authority Steve N.G. Howell called "Oceanic Birds of the
World, A Photo Guide". We give it two alula's up!

Motoring into the Common Murre (69 - all numbers in parentheses are day
totals) and Sooty Shearwater (173) zone beyond the harbor, we encountered
increasing rain and most of the group sought temporary shelter under the
canopy and in the cabin. Nothing was missed as the bird numbers here, as
they would be throughout the day, were atypically low. As we moved further
west, toward a clearing sky, we approached a line of shrimp boats. As if on
cue, the rain ended once we arrived at the boats where we found many of our
targets including Black-footed Albatross (31), Northern Fulmar (5),
Pink-footed Shearwater (892), Buller's Shearwater (29!), Short-tailed
Shearwater (3) and completing our coveted five shearwater day, our first of
the year Flesh-footed Shearwater (1). Those who have sought the rarer
Flesh-footed Shearwater in our waters understand the frustration of having
to locate this one bird in a sea or sky of similarly plumaged seabirds.
This cooperative bird flew by our stern on multiple passes as Captain Phil
tossed fishy offerings to the flock. Perhaps the lower bird numbers had
actually provided an advantage to this viewing as most of our veterans
agreed this was their best Flesh-footed experience to date.

Sabine's Gull (50) put in a good appearance at the shrimpers and the deeper
waters we would continue onto. Along the way we had good looks a South
Polar Skua (2), a Parasitic Jaeger (1), and nice examples of both dark and
light morph Pomarine Jaegers (3). Alcids ranged from Pigeon Guillemot (7)
including a couple further offshore, Rhinoceros Auklet (67), Cassin's
Auklet (26) and an obliging, breeding plumaged, Tufted Puffin sitting on
the water. Deeper waters increased our Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel (103)
viewing experience with a large group found sitting on the water. A calm
chumming wind brought us 60 or so birds for our efforts before turning back
toward Westport.

On our return trip we were treated to a visit from a large pod of
charismatic Pacific White-sided Dolphin (100). As we slowed the boat, the
dolphins seemed to conform to our speed providing excellent, just
underwater views while riding the boat's wake. We watched them wave
surfing, porpoising, chasing Pacific saury fish who jumped out of the water
during the pursuit, and experienced a couple distant dolphin jumps. It
seems this species enjoys accompanying a boat underway as much as we enjoy
our encounter with them. Other marine mammals sightings were scarce, but a
couple of us got to see distant Humpback Whale (4) breaches which are
always jaw dropping.

Terns were well represented for the trip with good views of Arctic (6),
Common (30ish), and the harbormaster Caspian (5). We also got good, but
short, looks at Red (2) and Red-necked (2) Phalarope on the water. Despite
low overall bird numbers, incredibly as well as seeing five species of
shearwater, we ended the day completing another pelagic birding goal, the
"Skua Slam", adding a Long-tailed Jaeger (1) gracefully winging by just
over our bow.

Many thanks to a great group of birders, my fellow spotters Bruce Labar,
Gene Revelas, and Scott Mills, Captain Phil Anderson and First Mate Chris
Anderson, for another great adventure on the water.

For information on our trips please see www.westportseabirds.com. Looks
like we still have some availability on the last 3 trips of the year.

Hope to sea you out there!

Cara Borre

Gig Harbor
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