So Cal Pelagic Birding
a service of the Buena Vista Audubon Society
Pelagic Trips And Deep Water Expeditions
August 25-27 Edge Of The Continental Shelf
Deep Water Tubenose Expedition
Board Grande at 3 p.m. Monday and depart 4 p.m for the 9-Mile Bank. Bird til sunset. Dinner. Beer. Tall Tales. Sleep. Wake Tuesday morning at the edge of the continental shelf. Bird 15 hours for albatrosses, pterodomas, tropicbirds. Dinner. Beer. Sleep. Wake at dawn Wednesday at the dock.
Red-tailed Tropicbird (c) Bill Scholtz
The August Tubenose Expedition is cancelled.
June 21, 2008
It was with deep regret that the decision was made today to cancel the August SoCalBirding pelagic on Grande. The August trip was added as a result of the July trip filled so quickly. We misgauged demand.
Because August is in the midst of prime Albacore fishing season, we are competing with fishermen for boats. The August trip was scheduled for mid-week, which undoubtedly had an effect on signups. Boats are expensive in SoCal in mid summer, and this week someone had to guarantee more than $8,000 for the August trip. The number of signups to date for the August trip just didn't indicate that was a wise gamble.
We have another double overnight trip planned in October, with yet another being planned for ovember, both on weekends, both which will almost surely run because the costs are much lower post fishing season meaning we don't have to sell them out like we do in mid-summer just to cover costs.
Please bear with us as we learn to gauge demand for birding the Southern California Bight. It's our goal to work out the kinks this year, and then have all SoCal pelagic birding trips from Oceanside, San Diego, Orange County, Oxnard and Santa Barbara coordinated and complementing each other in 2009 for a full slate of trips.
With the July Deep-Water trip sold out by the end of March, we added another trip. Late August is one of the best times of year to find both Cook's and Hawaiian Petrel (11 of 14 accepted records of Hawaiian Petrel in the state are June - September, and one was seen from Searcher in these waters 6 Sep 2006). This is also the time of year that Ringed and Wedge-rumped Storm-petrels have been seen in these waters. The only North American record for Ringed Storm-petrel was photographed on 2 Aug 2005, 40 km ssw of Santa Rosa Island. Least Storm-petrels show up in August. Late summer is the "sweet spot" for Craveri's Murrelet as well as the hypoleucas sub-species of Xantus's. 6 of the 9 records for Cal of Greater Shearwater are from Aug-Sep. Mega-rarties? A Streaked Shearwater was seen in SoCal waters near Santa Cruz Island on September 7, 2002. Most Cal Wedge-tailed Shearwater sightings are from August - December. A Tristram's Storm-petrel was seen in SoCal deep water last summer on July 21, 2007. Ten records of Red-footed Boobies have been accepted in SoCal, most from July - Oct.
THE QUEST FOR RARITIES CONTINUES
Like July, we'll focus on finding good birds. Red-billed and Red-tailed Tropicbirds have been seen out here in August. Long-tailed Jaegers show up in August chasing Arctic Terns.
Read more about rarities, their status and distribution.
The secret to finding rarities (like Laysan and Short-tailed Albatross, Red-billed Tropicbird, Cook’s and Murphy's Petrel, Flesh-footed Shearwater) and mega-rarities (Shy and Light-mantled Albatross; Hawaiian, Bulwer’s and Murphy’s Petrel, Red-tailed Tropicbird) is to be out there, in a deep water life-zone, chumming, watching, waiting....
This SoCal 2-day deep-water rarity expedition from San Diego will depart Tuesday at at 4 p.m. We'll have several hours of daylight to bird the life-zones of the Nine-mile Bank before dinner, beers and bed. We'll wake early Wednesday morning more than one hundred miles offshore at the edge of the Continental Shelf - about as far south and west as you can go in the ABA area.
This trip has but one purpose: to explore life zones in deep waters where southern hemisphere birds are usually found only by research ships – because no day trips venture this far. We’re hunting mega-rarities, birds with fewer than 10 accepted records in all of California - the birds that people whisper about.
We’ll spend all 15 hours of daylight Wednesday - from dawn to dusk - in the albatross/pterodroma/tropicbird zone, have dinner, celebrate our sightings, go to sleep and wake up at sunrise Thursday morning back in San Diego.
Click here to make a reservation.
Cook's Petrel (c) Todd McGrathThe Boat: We'll sail on Grande, a comfortable 85-foot live-aboard with a roomy lounge area, licensed to carry 120 fisherman by day. The trip is limited to 38 passengers plus leaders to allow plenty of room.
$225 if reserved by June 1.
$245 if reserved by July 1.
$265 after July 1.
The price is a tad higher than the May and October trips because it's peak fishing season. The possibilities for rarities and mega-rarities is higher on this trip than on any other because it's mid-winter in the southern hemisphere and this is when they're most likely to be seen up here. This is the time of year when our waters are warm and days at their longest.MAKE YOUR RESERVATION TODAY
Reserve by check, telephone or website.
Click here to make a reservation.Finding Rarities and Mega-rarities:
Expert spotters/leaders and a crew that understands how and why birding is different than fishing greatly increase the odds of finding great birds and ensuring all participants see the birds.PARKING - There is plenty of parking at Point Loma Sportsfishing for $5 a day.
Departure point:
Point Loma Sportfishing
1403 Scott Street
San Diego, CA 92106
Phone: 619-223-1627FULL SERVICE GALLEY - Breakfast, lunch and dinners are available on board for purchase.
MAKE A RESERVATION
Click here to make a reservation.THE TRIP
PARKING - There is plenty of parking at Point Loma Sportsfishing for $5 a day.
Departure point:
Point Loma Sportfishing
1403 Scott Street
San Diego, CA 92106
Phone: 619-223-1627SLEEPING: Bunk-house style in one co-ed bunkhouse. Your private bunk is 6' 3" long, 2 feet wide, and comes with a mattress, pillow with fresh pillowcase and one heavy wool blanket. Grande has 2 bathrooms, each with a shower. Some folks bring a sleeping bag, but most just kick off their shoes, lay down in their beds fully clothed, and wake up ready for coffee at 5:00 a.m.
PERSONAL HYGIENE: You may wish to bring a towel. There are 2 heads, one male, one female. Each has wash basins with soap dispensers and paper towel. On the May 10 trip I didn't see one person take a shower (it is a VERY small shower) so take comfort in the fact that we all look and smell the same. It's great fun.
DAY OF DEPARTURE - Arrive at Point Loma Sportsfishing at 9:00 p.m. Park, pick up your boarding pass at the ticket office and be ready to board the boat at 9:30 p.m. for a 10:00 p.m. departure. Coast Guard security procedures requires an official I.D to board the boat. It takes 30 minutes from the time everyone is on the boat to get clearance from the Coast Guard to depart. Please don't be the person to hold up the departure.
FUEL - Prices for this trip were calculated on fuel charges at $3.00 per gallon. In the event that fuel exceeds $3.00 a gallon, there may be a surcharge when boarding the boat, not to exceed $10 per person.
CANCELLATIONS Only the landing can process cancellations. Their refund and substitution policy is described in the reservations link FULL SERVICE GALLEY Breakfast, pastries, coffee, burgers, sandwiches and beverages are available in the Grande galley for purchase.
Leaders
Dave Povey has been birding on the Pacific Ocean since he was a young boy. Both an avid fisherman and birder, Dave can be found “out there” on his boat several times a month, 12 months a year. He has been the “pelagic” eyes for both the San Diego and Oceanside Christmas Bird Counts for more than 30 years, since the mid 1970’s – more than 60 pelagic Christmas Bird Counts in all. He is the only human being to ever have seen a Cory’s Shearwater in San Diego waters (4 Sep 2007). He’s seen Wilson's Storm Petrel 6 miles off Point Loma and Red-billed Tropicbird just 12 miles out. Other San Diego birds on Dave’s list include Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled Murrelet, Craveri's Murrelet and 72 Common Murres on a Christmas Bird Count. Just south of the border he has seen Laysan Albatross near the Tanner Bank and Buller's Shearwater on the 60 Mile bank and again on the lower Nine Mile bank. Dave will tell you that these birds are out there, and that the only way to see them is to be there!
- Welcome Aboard The Grande Deep-Water
Mega-Rarity ExpeditionOur goal is to help you have FUN, see lots of seabirds and understand the birds you see. To that end, experienced pelagic leaders will be stationed around the boat. You will recognize them by their name tags. They are on board for one reason: to HELP YOU SEE BIRD AND HAVE FUN. Ask them lots of questions. This is your opportunity to tap their knowledge and increase your knowledge of seabirds.
PERSONAL HYGIENE: You may wish to bring a towel. There are 2 heads, one male, one female. Each has wash basins with soap dispensers and paper towel. On the May 10 trip I didn't see one person take a shower (it is a VERY small shower) so take comfort in the fact that we all look and smell the same. It's great fun.
STORAGE: Please don’t store gear, coolers or clothing on the floor, tables or benches in the salon – leave that space for people. Please store your bags & packs in the bunkhouse on the unused bunks or outside the salon in the tackle racks.
BACKPACKS: Please don’t wear a backpack on the boat because it makes it very difficult for others to maneuver around you.
SEASICKNESS: Coffee, water, snacks, pastries, sandwiches and soft drinks are available for sale in the galley. Eat and drink fluids. A full stomach is less likely to betray you.
MOTION MEDICATION: If you have a motion-pill or a patch, take it BEFORE departure. If you wait until you feel queasy, it’s too late. If you find that you must offer up your breakfast to the chum-gods, please do so on the stern, at the very back of the boat, over the back rail.
COASTGUARD requirements state that all passengers remain on the main deck or below. Two leaders are allowed up top to spot birds.
CIGARETTES are allowed only at the back rail at the stern, and only if nobody complains.
IF YOU SEE A BIRD OR MAMMAL you don’t recognize, call it out! Call loudly. A leader will immediately help with an I.D. Not only will you learn, others around you will benefit. If you spot what turns out to be a rare bird or mammal, the leader will radio the sighting to the bridge so it can be announced over the P.A. system and everybody on the boat benefits.
BIRD LOCATIONS We use the “clock” method of describing the location of birds. The bow (front) of the boat is 12 o’clock. The starboard (right) side of the boat is 3 o’clock. The stern (back) of the boat is 6 o’clock, and so on. We’ll also call out if the bird is low to the water, how distant it is, and the direction it’s flying. The more you can incorporate this description into your sighting, the faster a leader will help you identify the bird. For example: “There’s a small dark bird on the water at 8 o’clock at about 100 yards!” will help everyone know where to look. Or, “White bird at 4 o’clock flying right about 200 yards from the boat at the horizon!”
Rare and Mega-Rarity Target Birds
Laysan Albatross
Red-Billed Tropicbird
Red-tailed Tropicbird
Short-tailed Albatross
Shy Albatross
Cook's Petrel
Stejneger's Petrel
Murphy's Petrel
Hawaiian Petrel
Flesh-footed Shearwater
Ringed Storm-petrel
Tristram's Storm-petrel
Craveri's MurreletExpected Birds
Cook's Petrel
Black-footed Albatross
Pink-footed Shearwater
Sooty Shearwater
Black Storm-petrel
Leach's Storm-petrel
Xantus' Murrelet
Cassin's Auklet
Rhinoceros AukletPossible Birds
Northern Fulmar
Black-vented Shearwater
Ashy Storm-petrel
Leach's Storm Petrel
Least Storm-petrel
South Polar Skua
Pomarine Jaeger
Parasitic Jaeger
Long-tailed Jaeger
Sabine's Gull
Arctic Tern
Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Red Phalarope
Red-necked PhalaropeMarine Life
We always inevitably encounter a wide variety of marine life (all which have been seen in these waters over the past few years):
Orca (Killer Whale)
Mako Shark
Blue Shark
Blue Whale
Fin Whale
Humpback Whale
Sei Whale
Sperm Whale
Baird's Beaked Whale White-sided Dolphin Northern Right-whale Dolphin, Risso's Dolphin Northern Fur Seal Guadalupe Fur Seal Bottlenose Dolphin
Common Dolphin
White-sided Dolphin
California Sea Lion Harbor Seal
Mola MolaCaveat
Like any pelagic trip, you may see everything or nothing... there is no way to tell until you are out there.
Old Native Saying
You will see more rare seabirds on this trip than you will from your living room.
