Sunday July 29, 2018 pelagic scouting

Three of us did a small boat run west out of Mission Bay Sunday morning. Our target area the Thirty Mile Bank west of La Jolla.

Notable finds were two Black-footed Albatross both on the Thirty Mile Bank.

A rather bedraggled Northern Fulmar 5 miles off Mission Bay on the return.

Three Townsend's Storm-Petrels. I've not seen that number locally in whole seasons much less one day.

One Townsend's was about 15 miles west of La Jolla, One over the San Diego Trough approaching the Thirty Mile Bank, and the

last on the Bank at the southern end of our run. All photo I D.

Two separate Red Phalaropes were found today. Mostly in basic plumage with a few remaining  red feathers sides, face

and rump. Seems somewhat early for this species

Ten Craveri's Murrelets were seen all in pairs. None closer than the middle of the San Diego Trough.

One brief flyby Guadalupe Murrelet was also photographed, over the San Diego Trough.

We did find several smaller storm-petrel rafts on and near the Thirty Mile Bank in the same general area as those seen on July 1st.

One raft did have about 400 Black Storm-Petrels and was a mile in to L.A. Co.

Calm seas, good visibility, sea surface temperatures 72-76F.

see Gary Nunn's eBird post for photos and other details.

Complete list at sea;

Black-footed Albatross   2

Northern Fulmar   1

Pink-footed Shearwater   26

Sooty  Shearwater   9

Black-vented Shearwater   85

Leach's Storm-Petrel  chapmani  4

Townsend's Storm-Petrel   3

Ashy Storm-Petrel    75

Black Storm-Petrel   750

Brandt's Cormorant    1     Thirty Mile Bank.

Brown Pelican   12

Whimbrel    7    a single south bound flight

Red -necked Phalarope   45

Red Phalarope   2

Pomarine Jaeger   1

Guadalupe Murrelet  1

Craveri's Murrelet    10

small alcid sp.   1

Heermann's Gull   1

Western Gull    1   ( not a joke , Just one )

Elegant Tern   35

Black Turnstone  1   North Mission Bay Jetty

Mammals;

Minke Whale   1

Bottle-nosed Dolphin  (offshore type )  50+

Common Dolphin   125-150

The Aug. 19th. BVAS/Grande pelagic is full and has a waiting list. The Sept. 23rd trip has plenty of spaces right now but I expect

it to fill. I would suggest you not wait long, if you wish to go.

Call 619 222- 1144  or book on line at www. hmlanding.com.

Dave Povey

Dulzura