We heard that yelled a few times on our Sunday pelagic trip out of Half Moon Bay, California. With good reason: there were a billion birds to be looking at! Breaching humpbacks are a bit distracting but I managed to avert my eyes, mostly out of fear of Debi Shearwater.
What things looked like most of the time: grey and kind of lopsided
The 10-hour trip was freakin amazing and I racked up life birds left and right. I wasn't always able to get photos of them, but I saw all the birds called out. Here are some of the highlights:
Common Tern
Scripps's Murrelet and Common Murre
Scripps's Murrelet
Black-footed Albatross
Black-footed Albatross
Jaeger...I should have taken notes- is this Parasitic? Long-tailed!
Buller's Shearwater- I failed to get any decent photos of the awesome back pattern on this bird
Is the grey making your head hurt yet? Craving some color? I don't have much. I can throw in this one seagull shot to brighten things up:
Seagull taking photos of dolphins
Pacific white-sided dolphins- we crossed paths with a pod of at least 800 of these creatures
That's all the grey animals I have time for today... More to come soon! Good freakin times!!
What things looked like most of the time: grey and kind of lopsided
The 10-hour trip was freakin amazing and I racked up life birds left and right. I wasn't always able to get photos of them, but I saw all the birds called out. Here are some of the highlights:
Common Tern
Scripps's Murrelet and Common Murre
Scripps's Murrelet
Black-footed Albatross
Black-footed Albatross
Jaeger...
Buller's Shearwater- I failed to get any decent photos of the awesome back pattern on this bird
Is the grey making your head hurt yet? Craving some color? I don't have much. I can throw in this one seagull shot to brighten things up:
Seagull taking photos of dolphins
Pacific white-sided dolphins- we crossed paths with a pod of at least 800 of these creatures
That's all the grey animals I have time for today... More to come soon! Good freakin times!!
Wow, cool pelagic trip and awesome birds. Congrats on your lifers. I love the dolphins. I could never forget whales, I would have to look! Great post!
ReplyDelete2 white primary shafts on the upperwing and nothing more = Long-tailed. That's a fine looking Seagull, by the way.
ReplyDeleteDammit Steven. That is what i had remembered that bird being called as, but the breast band thingy confused me.
DeleteI didnt get a look at that bird but second year LTJA retain a breastband from juvenile plumage.
DeleteFuuuuuuuuuuuuck. I can't wait. Looking at Seagull, I may need to buy new pelagic clothes. Looks to be very different than the t-shirt, shorts, and sneakers required on a Texas pelagic.
ReplyDeleteYeah dude. Don't wear shorts. Sneakers are ok but they might get wet/stepped on by people blinded by birdlust. A few layers is a good idea.
DeleteYeah my sneakers got soaked but I am used to that. Layers are the way to go.
DeleteIT looks kinda dreary but better than getting sunburned! YEAH on the lifers...The Albatross is awesome to me!! Love Dolphins, they are gorgeous..and I enjoyed seeing the shearwater too...never seen one myself. Cant wait to see what else you saw!
ReplyDeleteHaha, I actually burned the crap out of my face!
Deletedayum girl! Great photos of the elusive gray birds!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a great trip. Looking forward to seeing more.
ReplyDelete