Sunday - 22 May 2005 - About twenty folks braved the choppy seas and swells
5-10 feet to look for our fine feathered friends out of Noyo Harbor. The
skies were clear and sunny and the visibility was excellent. Our
direction headed NW out of Noyo Harbor as Jason, the Trek II boat captain,
headed into the swells at a leisurely pace. We crossed the Noyo Canyon at
about 8 to 10 miles out. There were no extraordinary species seen, but we
did have great looks and photo opportunities for Black-footed Albatross
feeding on chum behind the boat. At least two of these birds were banded
(sorry...couldn't read the numbers). On the way back in at about 2:00 PM
the swells had grown to a point where Jason halted the boat outside the
harbor mouth, timed the waves perfectly, and went full-steam into the
harbor riding (surfing) on the back-side of a mega-wave. It is comforting
to have experience at the helm!

Here is a list of species seen:

Pacific Loon (1), Common Loon (1), Western Grebe (2), Black-footed
Albatross (80), Pink-footed Shearwater (10), Sooty Shearwater
(100+), Brown Pelican (2), Brandt's Cormorant (20), Double-crested
Cormorant (1), Pelagic Cormorant (5), Surf Scoter (25), Red-necked
Phalarope (12), California Gull (3), Western Gull (100), Glaucous-winged
Gull (1), Common Murre (350), Pigeon Guillemot (30), Cassin's Auklet (1),
Rhinoceros Auklet (5). Mammals .... Steller's Sea Lion (2), Northern
Fur Seal (1), California Sea Lion (7), Dall's Porpoise (2)

Many thanks to the Mendocino Coast Audubon Chapter, especially Charlene
McAllister, Ron LeValley (leader), Ginny and Warren Wade, and Toby Tobkin
for putting this trip together. This was the only spring 2005 trip
scheduled. The next scheduled pelagic trips out of Noyo Harbor are those
of Shearwater Journeys ( http://www.shearwaterjourneys.com/copyright.html )
in August (three different days).

Good Birding. Bob Keiffer

Robert J. Keiffer
Principal Supt. of Agriculture
UC Hopland Research & Extension Center
4070 University Road
Hopland, CA 95449
(707) 744-1424 FAX (707) 744-1040
HREC website: http://danrrec.ucdavis.edu/hopland/home_page.html

"It is not the critic who counts... not the one who points out how the
strong person stumbles... or where the doer of deeds could have done
better. The credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena."
Theodore Roosevelt