Whale Watch/Pelagic from Mission Bay (8/3/2018)

On Friday, August 3, I took the a.m. whale watching boat out of Mission Bay aboard the Privateer and we ventured out approximately 11 miles west of Mission Bay. There were plenty of birds to look through the entire 3-hour trip, with most pelagic diversity being between 6 and 11 miles out. 

Minimum counts of notable species below:

Northern Fulmar (1) perhaps the same bedraggled individual seen by Povey et al. 

Pink-footed Shearwater (25+) individuals and several groups of 5-8 observed

Black-vented Shearwater (15)    

Black Storm-Petrel (120)

*Very White-Rumped* Storm-Petrel (seen flying directly away 11 miles offshore, gleaming white rump. Attempted photos but participants moved in front of me and I lost it. That one hurt). 

Red-necked Phalarope (125)

Sabine's Gull (8)

Minke Whale (2)

Common Dolphin (Lots)