SoCalBirding.com

PTERODROMA CHASE
SAN JUAN SEAMOUNT
CONDOR EXPRESS - Santa Barbara
Sponsored By:  Condor Cruises
Saturday, April 28, 2012  * * 7:00 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The spring Condor Express pelagic trip has a record for finding rarities.  For example: a thousand Sabine's Gulls, a pod of Orca Killer Whales and seven Parakeet Auklets  were enjoyed by dozens of birders on 21 Apr 2007 on this spring pelagic trip aboard the Condor Express.     The spring 2009 trip enjoyed killer views of a Horned Puffin.

The spring 2010 trip was a fantastic day of seabirding headlined with 63 Cook's Petrels.  However, the show-stealer was a Murphy's Petrel  that came screaming down the starboard side of the Condor Express. Earlier in the day, several other distant dark petrels were frustratingly left unidentified.   Link to Monte Taylor's Murphy's Petrel Photos

2010 also gave us two Laysan Alabtrosses, a number of Black-footed Albatrosses and a great phalarope show with thousands of Red-necked and many Reds swirling across the seas.

2009 Spring Condor Express Trip Report

2010 Spring Condo Express Trip Report

This trip departs from the Santa Barbara Harbor on the fast catamaran Condor Express.  Board at 6:30 a.m.  Boat departs at 7:00 a.m. sharp and will return approximately by 8:00 p.m.  Weather permitting we will cruise along the deep water shelf by the San Juan Seamount. 

RESERVATIONS:  Reservations are $195.  Call  Condor Cruises (805) 882-0088.  

IMPORTANT DETAILS:   Click for important logistic information about the boat, the landing, driving directions, maps, lodging, weather, refund and cancellation policies, on-board facilities, meals and snacks.

HOW TO PREPARE:  Click for tips on how to prepare, what to wear, what to bring and when to arrive.

LEADERS:  Experienced SoCal pelagic bird spotters, guides and leaders will be on board to identify and point out marine mammals and seabirds.

A note from Todd McGrath

On our first Condor Express trip of the season we will search the 2000+ fathom water around the San Juan Seamount in hopes of finding such rarities as Murphy's, Cook's and Hawaiian Petrel.  We hope to see both Black-footed and Laysan Albatrosses as both are regular offshore in spring, with Black-footed being more common.  Parakeet Auklets were seen on this trip in 2007.

Spring is one of my favorite times to head offshore, beacause in addition to the rarity potential, spring migration will be in full swing. We can expect to see Northern Fulmar; Sooty and Pink-footed Shearwaters; Black, Ashy and Leach's Storm-Petrels; Pomarine, Parasitic and Long-tailed Jaegers; Cassin's and Rhino Auklets plus Xantus's Murrelets around the Channel islands. 

The trip cost is $195, which is quite reasonable to cover the 250 mile round trip to the San Juan Seamount.  I hope to see you on board!

CANCELLATION POLICY:  Trips on this website are sponsored by different organizations using different boats departing from different landings and harbors.  As such, policies vary from trip to trip.  This trip is subject to the policies of Condor Cruises (805) 882-0088.   When registering, please familiarize yourself regarding their reservation, cancellation, refund and substitution policies as well as reviewing driving directions, check-in times, procedures and equipment allowed on the boats.