[Tweeters] August 2, 2025 Westport Seabirds trip report

[Jim Danzenbaker via Tweeters]

Hi Tweeters,

An unusual situation greeted the participants, staff, and crew of the *Monte
Carlo* on last Saturday's Westport Seabirds trip to Grays Canyon - sunshine
with a mix of clouds and fairly calm seas throughout the day!  Therefore,
the silver wing linings of the Sooty Shearwaters (1,087) encountered over
the Continental Shelf showed more than on other trips and the underwing and
underparts of Pink-footed Shearwaters (2,768) were quite noticeable at a
great distance.  Much to the delight of everyone on board, the varying
shades of gray on the Northern Fulmar (36 - a high for the "fall" season)
and the pearl gray of the diminutive Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel (64) were
easy to discern.  Black-footed Albatrosses (42) cruised by at the shrimp
boats that worked the edge of the shelf and the lighting again made it easy
to distinguish adults from immature birds.  Short-tailed Shearwaters (2)
proved difficult on this trip with only a few confirmed off the bow and
those only seen by a few. In a way, not seeing loads of Short-tails like in
the last several years may mean that conditions are improving in the
northern pacific waters where most of the short-tails should be at this
time of the year.  Sabine's Gulls (33) and Arctic Terns (12) put on their
strongest showing of the season especially when we chummed over deep water
off the edge of the continental shelf.  Much to everyone's relief, our main
target over deep water showed up but not before some anxious moments
wondering where they were.  Leach's Storm-Petrel (1) is a deep water
specialist of the summer months off Washington.  Later in the season, they
head further out to sea beyond the range that a daylong pelagic trip can
achieve.

The highlight came in the afternoon as we headed through the several
thousand birds that were feeding around three shrimpers.  I heard someone
call out "Laysan" and, indeed, a Laysan Albatross (1) was bearing down on
us and made several close passes before Captain Phil snuck up on it after
it lit amid the throng of other seabirds.  After trying to find
Short-tailed Shearwaters, seeing this large black and white albatross was
easy without the aid of optics.  We noticed and documented the leg band and
one photographer was able to read the band number.  This will be run
through the system so we can determine where this albatross calls home.  If
the same as many previous observations, it may be from a colony on one of
the islands off Baja California

Other species seen on the trip included Red Phalarope (season high 19 -
several showing a bit of retained reddish plumage), Red-necked Phalarope
(12), Cassin's Auklet (15), and a few distant and brief views of jaegers
(no skua slam for us this day).  Growing numbers of Common Murres (1,161)
and a reduced showing of Rhinoceros Auklets (31) were seen on the way back
to Westport.

There was, unfortunately, no mammal show today with a single Gray Whale, a
Guadalupe Fur Seal (first of the season) and a few Dall's Porpoise (4)
being sole representatives beyond the tips of the jetties.  A few huge mola
molas (Ocean Sunfish) flip flopped close to the *Monte Carlo* - always fun
creatures to watch! Steller's Sea Lions (4) are seemingly permanently
attached to several of the channel markers (I don't remember the last time
I *didn't* see one on the markers) and Harbor Porpoise (6) tested our
patience as we tried to see them well between the jetties.

Though not a pelagic species, Brown Pelicans put on an incredible display
of just raw numbers (2,485) along the south jetty.  Great to see that they
had a very successful breeding season down south as did the Heermann's
Gulls (445 - 90+% were adults).

Westport Seabirds thanks all of the enthusiastic participants who make
these trips a success.  Also, thanks to Captain Phil and first mate Chris
for their consummate professionalism, natural history knowledge, bright
smiles, and ginger cookies! Also,a big thanks to our guides Bill
Shelmerdine, Cara Borre, and your trip reporter.

Even though the Westport Seabirds schedule (
http://westportseabirds.com/2025-schedule/) shows all trips as full, it's
always a good idea to think of future pelagic opportunities (last minute
openings happen)!

We hope to see you onboard!

Jim Danzenbaker for Westport Seabirds.
-- 
Jim Danzenbaker
Battle Ground, WA
360-702-9395
jdanzenbaker at gmail.com
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