Shearwater Journeys has just completed six Monterey Bay pelagic trips — September 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 14. Monterey seabirds and marine mammals have put on quite a show — and it continued today with some very, very fine marine conditions. We reached 60 degree SST today with clear, dark, deep blue waters. We have some upcoming trips departing from both Half Moon Bay and Monterey Bay. See our program, below. 

On today’s Monterey trip we observed: BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS; SOOTY, BULLER’S PINK-FOOTED and BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS; RED and RED-NECKED PHALAROPES; SOUTH POLAR SKUA; POMARINE, PARASITIC, and LONG-TAILED JAEGERS; SABINE’S GULLS; ELEGANT, COMMON, ARCTIC, and FORSTER’S TERNS; COMMON MURRE; PIGEON GUILLEMOT; CASSIN’S and RHINOCEROS AUKLETS. 

Along the Coast Guard Breakwater, we found: BLACK TURNSTONE and SURFBIRD. WHIMBREL and MARBLED GODWITS were flybys. The PEREGRINE FALCON was on the radio tower. Eight TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS circled above the harbor. 

Marine mammals today included: MINKE, FIN, HUMPBACK, and KILLER WHALES; RISSO’S and PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS; SEA OTTER; and NORTHERN FUR SEALS. Two BLUE SHARKS were seen in the clear, 60 F SST water offshore, as were likely bluefin tuna. 

Other species included on earlier trips included: ASHY STORM-PETREL, including one being chased by a Parasitic Jaeger; and two very obliging SCRIPPS’S MURRELETS. Other marine mammals sighted have included: BLUE, SEI, and BAIRD’S BEAKED WHALES; and SHORT-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHINS. 

There is a lot of food around the greater Monterey Bay area. It seems to be a non-stop smorgasbord for the past four weeks. 

The marine weather looks great! Our full program of remaining trips is below. Spaces are available. I can only be reached by email: debi@...

Living the Salt Life,

Debi Shearwater