Pelagic trip report:
Sunday, May 16, 2010
5 hours "Manx Shearwater Search Trip"
From Newport, Oregon, north to Cape Foulweather, then offshore up to 8 miles

Seas: Fair; mild winds.

Boat: Misty
Captain Robert Waddell
Newport Tradewinds Charter

The Bird Guide, Inc.
http://thebirdguide.com/

Guides: Tim Shelmerdine, Tom Snetsinger, Russ Namitz


Trip report by Tom Snetsinger:

We had a nice balance of sea conditions for our maiden "Manx Shearwater Trip." The seas had enough swell and wind to afford good views of the two most expected shearwaters, and conditions were calm enough to allow good views of the expected alcids.

Probably the most unexpected bird of the trip was a late Ancient Murrelet in stunning breeding plumage, which put on a very cooperative show and was conveniently close to a crab buoy to make describing where the bird was, a cinch.

While we were a bit disappointed that the namesake species did not put in an appearance, there were some nice spectacles of loons streaming by the mouth of Yaquina Bay, and superb views of Cassin's Auklets, Ancient Murrelet, and Red-necked Phalaropes helped make up for this gap. We hope you will consider joining us for a future trip.

Thanks again for joining us.

Species list:

Brant 250
Canada Goose 12
Greater White-fronted Goose 1
Surf Scoter 80
White-winged Scoter 11
Red-breasted Merganser 5

Pacific Loon 1500
Red-throated Loon 10
Common Loon 5

Western Grebe 4

Pink-footed Shearwater 15
Sooty Shearwater 150

Great Blue Heron 1

Peregrine Falcon 1
Osprey 2

Black Oystercatcher 2
Red-necked Phalarope 500
Red Phalarope 8

California Gull 10
Western Gull 150
Glaucous-winged Gull 40
Bonaparte's Gull 17
Common Tern 17
Common/Arctic Tern 5

Ancient Murrelet 1
Marbled Murrelet 20
Rhinoceros Auklet 15
Cassin's Auklet 20
Common Murre 5000
Pigeon Guillemot 300 (including 1 melanistic bird; seen by few)
Tufted Puffin 1 (flying away seen only by Russ)

Northern Fur Seal 1
Harbor Porpoise 2
Harbor Seal 8
California Sea Lion 4
Steller's Sea Lion 1