As part of the San Diego Bird Festival we had reserved space aboard the Grande for a full day excursion out and into Mexican waters. We had barely gotten going when a pair of Elegant Terns flew by (web photo). Thyese were the first of the season for the San Diego area. It was a year bird for us as well. During most of the day we traveled through the same waters we had on Thursday. The difference was that about noon we headed away from the Nine-Mile Bank to the Los Coronados islands in Mexico where we saw a colony of Brown Boobies that has grown to about 35 birds in about ten years. In addition we saw several bird species in Mexican waters which increased my Mexican list. Since I don't have that list with me, I don't know exactly how many additions there were. We also saw Humpback Whales, Risso's Dolphins, and Common Dolphins. The albatross from Thursday did not put in a repeat appearance. On the way out we did see a Long-tailed Duck, an uncommon bird this far south. Tomorrow we head northeast toward Mt San Jacinto leaving behind the generous hospitality of Paul Lehman and his wife, Barbara. Thanks are given for all their help. The species total for the year is now 402.
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