Bodega Bay Pelagic

Following breakfast in our room, we drove to the marina where we checked in with Debi Shearwater and boarded the New Sea Angler for our trip out to Bodega Canyon and the Cordell Banks.  On the way out of the harbor we could see hundreds of Marbled Godwits, some Willets, and many Western Gulls.  In the near inshore we saw Pigeon Gillemots, Common Murres with young, and Sooty Shearwaters.  A little further out we ran into our first Ashy Storm-Petrels along with some Red-necked and Red Phalaropes.  Later came some Cassin's and Rhinoceros Auklets, Pink-footed and Buller's Shearwaters, and a Tufted Puffin.  We saw many migrating Sabine's Gulls and Long-tailed Jaegers.  At around 2pm our first of three Laysan Albatrosses flew in to the chum manned by Wes Fritz.  The albatross was number 686 for the year.  But the forty-plus Black-footed Albatrosses Wes chummed in greatly outnumbered the Laysans.  During the slow moments I chatted with fellow passenger Chris Hitt who is doing a lower-forty eight big year and doing very well I should say.  I met Chris first in Texas, then saw him in Florida and a week ago on the Condor Express out of Santa Barbara.  He has just returned from Nevada where he made his second attempt for the snowcock.  He heard at least two birds but never saw them.  That news helped increase our motivation to go for the snowcock after our current series of pelagics.  A further pelagic note: I saw my first Blue Whales today.  There were two of these giants of the sea - a real spectacle.  Tomorrow we're going to look for Sooty Grouse on our way to Fort Bragg for the next pelagic trip.

Back to California

My flight from Norfolk to California stopped in Minneapolis where I got a snack and a cup of coffee.  Back on the plane, I was delayed for an hour by a thunderstorm that closed the airport.  Got rolling again and made it to Sacramento in good shape.  John had already picked up the rental car and was waiting for me by the Starbucks.  But the service there was so slow that I decided not to wait.  We hopped into our Ford Fusion (web photo) and headed to Bodega Bay on the Pacific coast.  It was only a two hour drive, and we enjoyed the scenery and the Swainson's Hawks we saw along the way.  Once in Bodega Bay we checked into our hotel, the Bodega Coast Inn, and went to explore the town.  It was at this point that we cooperatively locked the keys in the car.  However, after a AAA service call, we were back on the road again.  We found the harbor, our boat for tomorrow, and where to park our car.  As some of you may recall, Bodega Bay is the site of the filming of Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds," a horror film made in 1963.  Most every year Tippy Hedren, who starred in the movie, comes to town and holds a charity benefit.  This year is no exception, but we won't be here for her party.  From the dock we went to a deli where we had sandwiches made for tomorrow and also bought a breakfast burrito to eat in the room.  We ate at the Sandpiper Restaurant and retired to our room where I followed the Cards game and John read.  The Cards won and I went to bed with a smile on my face.

Hatteras Pelagic II

Another gorgeous, hot day on the seas out of Hatteras NC with Brian Patteson on the Stormy Petrel II. The results were pretty much the same as yesterday with good looks at the warm water species. But no new birds again and it was getting late. I had eaten my lunch and was pacing the deck, trying to stay on the shady side of the boat. Then the call went out over the PA system, a bit garbled at first, and then very clear. A Herald/Trindade Petrel was in view. I caught a glimpse of the bird and thought that might be it, since these gadfly petrels don't usually spend much time near boats. But it turned and flew down the length of the boat allowing a flurry of photos to be taken. Even I got a couple of reasonable images. And then it was gone. A little later a Band-rumped Storm-Petrel put in an appearance at the back of the boat, making one good pass across the chum line. When we got back in to the dock, John and I headed back to Norfolk where John picked up his car and drove on to Staunton. On Tuesday we'll be in California for a series of three pelagic trips. Total is now 685.

Hatteras Pelagic I

Up at 5:00am and out the door to the marina where we got a breakfast sandwich and coffee and boarded the Stormy Petrel II.  Once outside the inlet, we took a SSE course.  After a couple of hours we saw our first pelagic bird, a Sooty Tern. web photo)  By the end of the trip we would see many more Sooty Terns plus Bridled Terns, Black-capped Petrels, Wilson's Storm-Petrel, Audubon's Shearwater, Cory's Shearwaters, a few Great Shearwaters and phalaropes.  The non-pelagic birds seen were a Barn Swallow, a small flock of Sanderlings, and a calling Short-billed Dowitcher.  Marine mammals included Atlantic Spotted Dolphin, Bottlenosed Dolphin, and two Gervais Beaked-Whales.  The water was very warm at 85F, but the sea was not rough.  No new birds.  Maybe tomorrow.

Together again

This afternoon John drove to Norfolk and made the Prius to Prius switch of his backpack, and I drove off toward Hatteras for our boat trips tomorrow and Sunday.  Of course there was traffic, but we made it without much aggravation.  We located our motel, the dock area for tomorrow's pelagic trip, and returned to the motel to check in.  We were the last guests to do so.  Once in our room, I checked out the baseball scores while John read a novel.  It was good to be back together again

From LAX to ORF

The motel where I stayed near LAX (web photo) offered a continental breakfast.  I took them up on it.  Since I had printed out my boarding pass ahead of time, I felt I didn't need to get to the airport too early.  However, I gave myself two hours and used the motel shuttle which took me right to the Delta terminal at LAX.  Although I didn't have to check in, I still had to go through security.  That line was OUT THE DOOR.  Inside, the line snaked all over the place, then up the stairs, through a side room, and finally to a TSA person.  It took me over one hour to get through security.  But I still made the plane.  My stop was in Minneapolis since Delta acquired Northwest and Minneapolis was a hub for Northwest.  My layover was a bit long, but I got home.  Cards lost badly!  Next weekend John and I will do a pair of Patteson pelagics out of Hatteras.

A Leisurely Day

I had a leisurely breakfast at an IHOP.  It was nice to see families still getting together for a breakfast out.  The family sitting at the table near mine had a girl, two boys, and the mom and dad.  The young lady had everyone organized into some sort of guessing game.  Everyone participated although the mom's cellphone was in use a couple of times.  One of the boys suggested they come back another time since during mid-week, kids eat free.  Then it was dad's turn to explain what "free" probably meant.
On to LA.  The drive was easy compared to that of a couple of days ago.  Got to the motel and checked in.  Monitored the Cards win over Pittsburgh.  Took the rental car back early and saved a couple of bucks.  Walked back to the motel and called Jeff Byrd who as it happens was in California doing some birding and heading toward LA.  We made arrangements to have dinner together.  That turned out to be an enjoyable time.  He did a trip to Arizona earlier this year and we compared notes.  Now he's trying for some CA birds he's missing, and doing it at a whirlwind pace.  I hope it goes well.
Sunday Night Baseball finished off the day.  Tomorrow it's airports, airplanes, and lines again.