After a hectic re-scheduling weekend due to high winds and sea, Phi and Chris Anderson were able to provide trips on Friday and Monday. Ten enthusiastic birders were able to change to our very successful Monday trip.

Heading over the bar, in the early morning light, Phil saw on the radar that shrimp boats were off Shoalwater Bay to the south.
The conditions were pretty bumpy getting there but rewarding as we saw lots of seabirds by the boats.

>From there we headed west to deeper water and the sea conditions got much better by our chum site.

On the way back we revisited the shrimpers and had a easy time coming towards shore.

Bird highlights: 33 Black-footed Albatross, 1263 Pink-footed Shearwaters, 1 FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER (spotted by Scott Mills and seen by several others), 12 Buller's Shearwaters, 2579 Sooty Shearwaters, 11 Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels, 500 plus Marbled Godwits in the marina, 1 Black Turnstone and 3 Surfbirds on the jetty, several Red-necked and Red Phalaropes, 2 South Polar Skua's, 2 Pomarine and 1 Parasitic Jaeger and a probable Long-tailed at a distance, a very cooperative molting Tufted Puffin that stayed close to the boat and a few Sabine's Gulls.

Mammal highlights: 5 Humpback Whales seen by the chum site, 2 Gray Whales that spouted in the harbor, 9 Dall's Porpoise and the main highlight for many was 9 Orca. We had three males with their huge dorsal fins stay next to the boat for 15 minutes or more. One of the males had the tip of the dorsal fin missing. Many photos were taking as these amazing animals cruised with us. We were unsure if these were the transient or resident population. The other 6 orcas were seen further away.

For further information and to make reservations, please visit or website at www.westportseabirds.com. Covid protocols are required.

Spotters for this trip were Scott Mills and myself. Boat personnel, spotters and hosts were Phil and Chris Anderson.

Bruce LaBar
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