The Madness behind a shrimp trawler!
South Polar Skua
Black-footed Albatross
Sunday August 9, 2009
Westport Seabirds Trip Report
It was a great day to be out on the water. The sea conditions were
perfect for spotting alcids with the highest count in recent memory for
Cassin's Auklets.
We encountered a mixed pod of Pacific White-sided and Northern Right-Whale Dolphins, which are always a treat, and several sightings of Humpback Whales with a few individuals repeatedly breaching out of the water!
The tube nose numbers were excellent with the greatest number of Sooty
Shearwaters being seen near shore, coming out of Grays Harbor as we left
port. Pink-footed Shearwater numbers offshore were great with the
years high count seen thus far. The first Buller's Shearwaters made an
appearance near the shrimp trawlers, which were very productive. A
brief look at a Flesh-footed Shearwater as it flew towards the east and a
very cooperative early Short-tailed Shearwater which flew around the boat a
few times. A Laysan Albatross also provided great looks as it flew in
and sat behind one of the shrimp trawlers, and was quite photogenic!
The Skua's seemed to be quite numerous with a year high of 14 being seen,
along with great looks at Long-tailed, Pomarine, and Parasitic Jaegers,
including a Parasitic Jaeger harassing a Skua!
Sabine's Gulls are starting to move south again, we even saw a few
juvenile's moving in with the adults.
The jetty was productive with 4 species of "rock pipers" seen with 8
Wandering Tattlers, 4 Ruddy Turnstones, 6 Black Turnstones and 20ish
Surfbirds.
Back at the marina, the over-summering Glaucous Gull was seen once again.
Following is a list of birds/mammals seen, hope to see you on the next
trip!
RS
Laysan Albatross
Cassin's Auklet
Short-tailed Shearwater
Laysan Albatross
Black-footed Albatross - 176
Northern Fulmar - 482
Pink-footed Shearwater - 761
Flesh-footed Shearwater - 1
Buller's Shearwater - 3
Sooty Shearwater - 36717
Short-tailed Shearwater - 1
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel - 6
Red-necked Phalarope - 36
Red Phalarope - 3
South Polar Skua - 14
Pomarine Jaeger - 3
Parasitic Jaeger - 2
Long-tailed Jaeger - 5
Sabine's Gull - 23
Common Murre - 291
Pigeon Guillemot - 40
Cassin's Auklet - 516
Rhinoceros Auklet - 29
Tufted Puffin - 3
Pink-footed Shearwaters (With a blurry Buller's Shearwater, top left).
Cassin's Auklet
Buller's Shearwater
California Gull - 267
Glaucous-winged/Western Gull - 369
Glaucous Gull - 1
Caspian Tern - 3
Surf Scoter - 1
Common Loon - 1
Brown Pelican - 400
Brandt's Cormorant - 40
Pelagic Cormorant - 24
Double-crested Cormorant - 6
Wandering Tattler - 8
Black Turnstone - 6
Ruddy Turnstone - 4
Surfbird - 20
Mammals
Northern Fur Seal - 1
Dall's Porpoise - 2
Pacific White-sided Dolphin - 40
Northern Right-Whale Dolphin - 25
Humpback Whale - 7
Long-tailed Jaeger
All photos by Ryan Shaw, taken August 9, 2009.
Back in port, the Summering Glaucous Gull