Greetings All,

Last Saturday, July 11, Westport Seabirds conducted our second offshore trip of the year. It was a small but fun group of seafarers and there was plenty of space on board with a limited number of participants associated with our current COVID protocols. The weather cooperated nicely and we were able to avoid the offshore rain showers on the trip out. The return trip was well timed and stayed ahead of the main band of afternoon rain.

We headed out of the harbor under good conditions; overcast skies, calm seas, and light to moderate offshore breeze. Bar, what bar? It was an easy ride to the offshore waters and Grays Canyon. The trip out had a slow, but steady stream of birds made up of the typical shelf species. Sooty Shearwaters, Red-necked Phalarope, Rhinoceros Auklet, and Common Murre accounted for most of the numbers. Shorebird migration was in evidence, and seven species for the day was a good number for an offshore trip. Somewhat surprisingly, we encountered our first Black-footed Albatross and Fork-tailed Storm Petrels early in the day and well inside their typical deep-water haunts.

Because of the good conditions offshore and a lack of commercial boats fishing along our path, we made good time and arrived at the deeper waters around Grays Canyon early in the day. This allowed us to spend more time in the deeper waters off the Canyon and along the Canyon edge as well as offering multiple productive chum stops. The absence of boats fishing on the outer shelf did not seem to negatively impact Albatross numbers. We ended the day with just over 200, a good number for a lack of fishing activity.

The deeper waters of the canyon produced our first Sabines Gulls and a handful of Northern Fulmars and Cassin's Auklets. Highlights were really the deeper water chum stops which brought in good numbers of birds close to the boat and provided many photographic opportunities. The first stop was out off the canyon edge close to where our first few Leaches Storm-Petrels of the day were encountered. After laying out a chum slick, it did not take long for the Storm Petrels to find us. By the end of our stop we had recorded a whopping 85 Leaches Storm-Petrel and 15 Fork-Tailed Petrels along with 35 Black-footed Albatross and a handful of Northern Fulmar, Sooty and Pink-Footed Shearwaters, and Sabines Gulls. By the end of the deep-water segments we had tallied 97 Leaches Storm Petrels, an impressive number for this often elusive, deep-water species.

The return trip turned south then west through the deeper water in the center of Grays Canyon, then north again along the northern canyon edge. This was a good strategy and produced many more Albatross, Shearwaters, and Storm Petrels. It also provided great looks at two very cooperative Humpback Whales that moved close past the boat. A second, deep chum stop produced many more birds, and in particular good looks at many more shearwaters. It was here that Spotter Bruce Lebar picked out the first of three Short-tailed Shearwaters. Generally rare here in summer this continues a trend over the past couple of years where a few have been found among large flocks of Sooties.

The return voyage produced a similar species mix. As we approached the near shore, we could see lots of bird activity and large feeding flocks of birds foraging along current breaks and baitfish concentrations on the inner shelf. Mostly Sooty Shearwaters (thousands) and a smaller number of Pink-footed Shearwaters, it was an impressive show and fun to see. The mammal show for the day was good, we ended the day with 10 Humpback Whales and numbers of Dall's and Harbor Porpoise. The few Pacific White-sided Dolphin encountered remained a bit stand-offish and did not approach the boat. Harbor and Fur Seals, and Northern Sea Lions rounded out the mammal list. Blue Shark and Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) were also sighted offshore.

A big thank you to all of the participants that joined us. It was a fun group. The Westport Seabirds Crew for the day were Skipper Phil Anderson, Mate Chris Anderson, and spotters Scott Mills, Bruce Lebar, and me. There is one more trip scheduled for July, and more trips planned for August and September. Unlike most years there is still space available. Please see the website and contact us if interested in an offshore adventure. There's still time to grab a spot or two.

Bill Shelmerdine

Westport Seabirds

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