BAJA CALIFORNIA
Cedros Outdoor Adventures
Lead natural history expeditions to the islands of Cedros and San Benito on the west coast of the peninsula of Baja California. The islands of San Benitos are the most important breeding grounds for seabirds between Galapagos and Alaska with more than 2.5 million birds of more than 10 species of seabirds. A great destination for enthusiastic birdwatchers interested in storm petrels, murrelets, shearwaters, and auklets.
Mailing address: 482 West San Ysidro Blvd. Suite, 988. San Ysidro, CA. USA 92173. Ph: US 1 (619) 793 5419 / MX +52 (646)154 3085 Email: info@cedrosoutdooradventures.com & desertandsea5@hotmail.com
CALIFORNIA
Searcher Natural History Tours, San Diego
Phone: (619) 226-2403 email: searcher@bajawhale.com http://www.bajawhale.com
Departure Point: Fisherman's Landing, San Diego
Destinations: Arguello Canyon, Rodriguez Seamount, Patton Escarpment, Cortez Bank, and points farther out.
Distance Offshore: Up to 150 miles
Trip Length: 3-5 days.
Possible birds vary with the seasons: During the spring trips we have observed Laysan Albatross, Black-footed Albatross, Northern Fulmar, Murphy's Petrel, Cookileria Petrel, Pink-footed Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Short-tailed Shearwater, Black-vented Shearwater, Leach's Storm-Petrel, Ashy Storm-Petrel, Black Storm-Petrel, Red-billed Tropicbird, Red-necked Phalarope, Red Phalarope, Pomarine Jaeger, Parasitic Jaeger, Long-tailed Jaeger, Sabine's Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, Arctic Tern, Common Murre, Xantus' Murrelet, Cassin's Auklet, and Rhinoceros Auklet. During the September trip we will be on the lookout for Cook's Petrel, Black Storm-petrel, Least Storm-petrel, Red-billed Tropicbird, all Craveri's Murrelet, and Xantus' Murrelet.
Comments: Using the 95-foot "Searcher," we're able to bird the outermost waters at the southwestern corner of the USA. In spring the cold waters of the California Current attract an interesting array of seabirds on its outside edge, where it abuts warmer waters. In the fall, we search the warmer waters that have moved north during the summer in the hopes of locating such species as Cook's Petrel, and Least Storm-petrel. We limit our trips to 30 passengers and 2 leaders. The boat provides 2-4 person cabins, showers and three excellent meals a day. While this is only the second year of us conducting these trips, the 2003 spring trips were unqualified successes, with over 25 Murphy's Petrels seen on each trip, as well as excellent views of several Red-billed Tropicbirds.
Phil Sayre at LAAS, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd, W. Hollywood, CA 90046-6694 (323) 876 0202
8-12 hr trips depart San Pedro, Los Angeles and costs $35-45.
Trips in Feb, Sept, Oct, Nov
Possible birds are: N. Fulmar, Pink footed Sh/w, Sooty Sh/w, Short tailed Sh/w, Red Phalarope, Black Oystercatcher, W. Tattler, Surfbird, Buller's Sh/w, S. P Skua
Contact: Phil Sayre at LAAS, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd, W. Hollywood, CA 90046-6694 (323) 876 0202
www.LAAudubon.org for more details about availability of trip and birds to be seen.
18 hr trip departs San Pedro, LA in Aug and costs $130.
Poss birds are same as above plus chance of Rb tropicbird, Leach's Petrel, L. T Jaeger, S.P. Skua
Phil Sayre at LAAS, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd, W. Hollywood, CA 90046-6694 (323) 876 0202
12 hr trip departs Marina Del Rey, Los Angeles in May and costs $45.
Poss birds are: N. Fulmar, B.V. Sh/w, Sooty and P.F.Sh/w, Xantus's Murrelet, Cassin's and Rhino Auklet.
Phil Sayre at LAAS, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd, W. Hollywood, CA 90046-6694 (323) 876 0202
10 hr trip departs Ventura Marina, LA in June and costs $60. Poss birds are same as above
Phil Sayre at LAAS, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd, W. Hollywood, CA 90046-6694 (323) 876 0202
12 hr trip departs Ventura Marina, LA in Sept and costs $70. Poss birds are: P.F Sh/w, B.V Sh/e, N. Fulmar, Black, Least and Ashy Storm Petrels, Bullers Sh/w, Xantus's Murrelet
Ron Hart (4harts@101freeway.com), Sea Landing, Breakwater, c/o CONDORCRUISES, Santa Barbara, CA 93109; 805/896-7489.
Trip Leaders: Mitch Heindel (birds) at birdfish@earthlink.net and Bernardo Alps (cetaceans) at whalephoto@earthlink.net
Also Don DesJardin will be the offical "tail-gunner" co-leader on all 3 upcoming trips.
http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/pelagics/SCHEDULE.html
Departure Point: SEA Landing, Santa Barbara, CA
Destination: Arguello Canyon and Rodriguez Seamount, W of Point Conception.
Distance Offshore: 40-60 miles
Trip Length: 24 hours (11 p.m. - 11 p.m.)
Dates of 2001 trips: Jan. 20; Apr. 28; Sep. 29; Nov. 3.
Date of first 2002 trip: Jan. 19.
Cost: Jan. trip: $135 per person.
Expectations: Likely: Black-footed and Laysan Albatross; Pink-footed, Sooty, Short-tailed (winter), and Buller’s (summer) Shearwater; Northern Fulmar; Black, Sooty, Least and Leach’s Storm-Petrel; Sabine’s Gull (in migration); Black-legged Kittywake (winter); Common and Arctic Tern (in migration); Red and Red-necked Phalarope; Pomarine and Parasitic Jaeger; Rhinoceros and Cassin’s Auklets; Xantus Murrelet; Western, California, Herring, Heermann’s, Glaucous-winged and Thayer’s Gulls (winter). Possible (all seen on previous trips): Cook’s and Stejneger’s Petrel; Red-billed and Red-tailed Tropicbird; Flesh-footed and Wedge-tailed Shearwater; Long-tailed Jaeger; South Polar Skua. Mammals: Orca; Baird’s and Cuvier’s Beaked Whales; Sperm, Minke, Fin, Blue and Humpback Whales; Common, Pacific White-Sided, Risso’s and Northern Right Whale Dolphins; Dall’s Porpoise.
Comments: The Arguello Canyon portion of the continental shelf offers tremendous possibilities. Not only is it an area of great upwelling, it is also the region where the cold California Current from the north and the warmer Davidson Current from the southeast meet. It has been sparsely birded so far and has yielded good surprises. The 88-foot Condor has established a reputation as one of the premier natural history boats on the west coast. It is a stable vessel with ample deck space a spacious upper observation deck and a full galley. Trips are limited to 35 participants, and every person gets a bunk.
Read Mitch's Article on Searching for Southern California's Seabird Specialties click here
Debra Love Shearwater, Shearwater Journeys, PO Box 190, Hollister, CA 95024 (831) 637-8527
http://www.shearwaterjourneys.com
7-8 hr trips depart Sam's Fishing Shop, Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey.
Many trips all year ranging in duration and price.
Poss birds range from regulars as mentioned in Los Angeles trips plus chance of Black footed Albatross, Fork tailed Storm Petrel, R b Tropicbird to extreme rarities such as Great winged Petrel, Bulwer's Petrel, Streaked Sh/w and Red billed Tropicbird and many others.
Contact trip organiser for full details as to possible birds depending on the time of year
WINGS, 1643 N. Alvernon, Suite 105, Tucson, AZ 85712 (520) 320-9868
7-8 hr trip departs Chris's Fishing Trips, Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey.
Trip in Sept. price $80
Poss birds: P.F Sh/w, Ashy, Black Storm Petrels etc
Debra Love Shearwater, Shearwater Journeys, PO Box 190, Hollister, CA 95024 (831) 637-8527
http://www.shearwaterjourneys.com
7-8 hr trips all year depart Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor and costs $76.
18 hr trips cost $185
Poss birds are: B. F Albatross, P.F. Sh/w, Buller's Sh/w, Black, Ashy, Least Storm Petrels
Debra Love Shearwater, Shearwater Journeys, PO Box 190, Hollister, CA 95024 (831) 637-8527
http://www.shearwaterjourneys.com
8 hr trips in Aug depart Caruso's Harbor, Sausalito and costs $68.
Poss birds are: P.F. Sh/w, Buller's Sh/w, Black Storm Petrel, SP Skua
Debra Love Shearwater, Shearwater Journeys, PO Box 190, Hollister, CA 95024 (831) 637-8527
http://www.shearwaterjourneys.com
8-13 hr trips all year depart Port O'Bodega, Bodega Bay and costs $87-100.
18 hr trips depart Port O'Bodega and costs $185 and are exploratory for rare seabirds.
36-40 hr trips in Aug depart Port O'Bodega and costs $TBA.
Poss birds are: B. F Albatross, Laysan Albatross, P.F. Sh/w, Buller's Sh/w, Sh t Sh/w, Black, Ashy, Least Storm Petrels plus extreme vagrants possible on exploratory trips.
Dan Nelson, Mollyhawk Offshore Adventures, PO Box 821, Bodega Bay, CA 94923 (707) 762-5167
10 hr trips all year depart Port O'Bodega and costs $85.
18-20 hr trip in May depart Port O'Bodega and costs $200 is exploratory trips for rare seabirds.
Poss birds are: B. F Albatross, P.F. Sh/w, Buller's Sh/w, Ashy & Fork tailed Storm Petrels plus extreme vagrants possible on exploratory trips.
VENT PO Box 33008, Austin, TX 78764
(800) 328 VENT
February trip off San Diego. Cost $25
Monterey Bay Whale Watch
Monterey Bay Whalewatch, 866 GOWHALES, 831 375-4658 P.O. BOX 5001, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 http://www.montereyseabirds.com
Monterey Bay Whalewatch is now offering seabirding trips year round in 2003 on the second Sunday of each month(except in Jan. and on Dec.7). Trips offered are Monterey Submarine Canyon (8 hours) $70 per person, offshore Albacore Grounds (12 hours) and Davidson Seamount (24 hour deepwater pelagic).
Skipper Richard Ternullo has more than 28 years experience leading seabird and whalewatching trips. All trips have marine biologist on board. Thanks to the submarine canyon just offshore we are able to see pelagic birds less than one hour out of the harbor. Species list and trip reports and online registration are at http://www.montereyseabirds.com
The trips are expected to fill quickly, so sign up now and join us for some spectacular birding.
See you on the water, Roger Wolfe for Monterey Bay Whale Watch
OREGON
The Bird Guide Inc, Greg Gillson, 123 NW Bailey Avenue, Hillsboro, OR 97124,
The Bird Guide home page: Birds and bird watching in the Pacific Northwest
http://thebirdguide.com
Bird Guide Pelagics: Oregon ocean birding boat trips:
http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/
5-10 hr trips all year, depart Newport and Charleston, Oregon and Ilwaco, Washington, costs $55-$145.
Poss birds are: Black-footed Albatross, Laysan Albatross, PF Shearwater, Fork-tailed Storm Petrel, Buller's and Flesh footed Shearwater, South Polar Skua, Long-tailed Jaeger, Rhino and Cassin's Auklet
Matt Hunter, Wildlife Ecologist, 232 NE Azalea Dr., Corvallis, OR 97330
www.proaxis.com/~hunter/pelagics
4-12 hr trips depart Newport and costs $40-$100. Dates are;TBA
Poss birds are: B. F Albatross, Laysan Albatross, PF Sh/w, F.t Storm Petrel, Buller's and Flesh footed Sh/w
WASHINGTON
Westport Seabirds, POB 665, Westport, WA 98595 360-268-9141
http://www.westportseabirds.com
10 hr trips January - October depart Westport and cost $150 (deepwater).
Possible birds are: Black-footed Albatross, Laysan Albatross, Pink-footed Shearwater, Mottled Petrel, Fork-tailed Storm Petrel, Buller's and Short-tailed Shearwater.
Washington State Ferry System, 801 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 464 6400
Ferry service from Anarcotes WA to Sidney BC. Price $9.10
Birds; Pacific, Yellow billed Loons (rare), 3 cormorants, Thayer's Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled and Ancient Murrelets, Rhinoceros Auklet. Best time is winter and worst time is summer.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
British Columbia Ferry Corp, 1112 Fort St, Victoria, BC V8V 4V2
(250) 386 3931
Ferry service from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen, BC.Price $7.50
Birds; Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled and Ancient Murrelets, jaegers
Black Ball Transport, Inc, 101 E. Railroad Ave, Port Angeles, WA 98362
(360) 457 4491
Ferry service from Victoria BC to Port Angeles, WA. Price $6.75
Birds; N. Fulmar, Short tailed Sh/w, Fork tailed Storm Petrel, phalaropes, Marbled and Ancient Murrelets, jaegers.
ALASKA
Alaska Marine Highway System, PO Box 25535, Juneau, AK 99802
(800) 642 0066
www.dot.state.ak.us/external/amhs/
Ferry service from Seward or Homer to Dutch Harbor. Price $250
Birds; Laysan Albatross, Sooty and S.T.Sh/ws, Fork tailed Storm Petrel Arctic and Aleutian Terns, Ancient Murrelet, Cassin's and Whiskered Auklets, Tufted and Horned Puffins plus rarities like Short tailed Albatross recorded.
Kenai Fjords Tours, PO Box 1889, Seward, AK 99664
(800) 478 8068
Daily trips. Price $45-$139
Birds; Puffins, cormorants, auklets, storm petrels, gulls, terns, jaegers, murrelets.