May 20 San Diego pelagic trip: Manx Shearwater, B-f Albatross

The May 20th San Diego 12-hour pelagic trip sponsored by Buena Vista Audubon Society aboard "Grande" out to the 9-Mile and 30-Mile Banks was highlighted by a MANX SHEARWATER, Black-footed Albatross, and good numbers of several offshore species. Unfortunately the Manx was a quick fly-by at moderate distance at the 30-Mile Bank and was identified only through study of the photos taken. The B-f Albatross put on a good show behind the boat, also at the 30-Mile. A Common Murre a few miles offshore was in alternate plumage and getting late. The large numbers of Scripps's Murrelets were made up almost entirely of pairs, but with zero chicks seen. Three Brown Boobies, scattered. Pacific Loons were still migrating northward. A few migrant passerines landed on the boat. Offshore totals for most (select) species seen included:

Black-footed Albatross:  1

Northern Fulmar:  1

Pink-footed Shearwater:  22

Sooty Shearwater:  700

MANX SHEARWATER:  1

Black-vented Shearwater:  24

Ashy Storm-Petrel:  7

Black Storm-Petrel:  250

Brown Booby:  3

Pacific Loon:  25

Red-necked Phalarope:  70

Common Murre:  1

Scripps's Murrelet:  120

Cassin's Auklet:  25

Sabine's Gull:  10

Heermann's Gull:  1

Least Tern:  25

Elegant Tern:  450

Pacific-slope Flycatcher:  1

Warbling Vireo:  3

Townsend's Warbler:  4

Wilson's Warbler:  4

Fin Whale:  2 or 3

There will be another late-spring trip–also 12 hours–on June 10th, still with available space. See sandiegopelagics.com for details.

–Paul Lehman and 6 other trip leaders,  San Diego
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports