[Tweeters] Westport Pelagic Trip, August 9, 2023

[Bruce LaBar]

Last Wednesday, 18 birders from Kelowna, Canada, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Illinois, Ohio, Oregon and Washington, joined us on a very memorable trip. However, the start of our voyage was met with one of the few rain days of the summer. Fortunately, after 1-2 hours the rain stopped and we had good weather the rest of the day. During this period, we studied many Sooty Shearwaters and Common Murres to compare with other shearwaters and alcids that we would see. A lone Belted Kingfisher zipped by heading in the wrong direction and was added to several birders offshore lists. A flyby Tufted Puffin was perhaps the highlight in this area. 

Luckily, we found shrimp boats about 2 and a half hours in. Hundreds of seabirds greeted us including our first Black-footed Albatross, Northern Fulmar, Short-tailed and Pink-footed Shearwaters, Fork-tailed Storm Petrels, Sabine’s Gull and 2 Flesh-footed Shearwaters (which was the highlight for many). 

Continuing on to deeper water out to Grays Canyon, we encountered Pomarine and Parasitic Jaegers, Red and Red-necked Phalaropes and a few Cassin’s Auklets. At the chum site, we had great views of Long-tailed Jaegers, our first of the year Arctic Terns, more Sabine’s Gulls and lots of Black-footed Albatross close to the boat. 

Heading back in the afternoon, we had several bow riding Dall’s Porpoise, sightings of Pacific White-sided Dolphins and the highlight for many, three Orca. One close male and female were photographed by many. Scott Mills sent his photos to Transient Killer Whale Research and got results within a day or two. These matched the same transient Killer Whales that we had recorded on Sept. 13, 2020 near the same area!! 

Coming back into the harbor, we check for shorebirds along the Westport jetty, which yielded 2 Ruddy Turnstones and 1 Wandering Tattler. In the marina area, we had a few Marbled Godwits and some Harbor Seals.

Some of the recorded species and numbers: Black-footed Albatross-87, Northern Fulmar-13, Pink-footed Shearwater-2097, Flesh-footed Shearwater-2, Sooty Shearwater-1935, Short-tailed Shearwater-82, Fork-tailed Storm Petrel-463, Red-necked Phalarope-45, Red Phalarope-70, South Polar Skua-6, Pomarine Jaeger-2, Parasitic Jaeger-1, Long-tailed Jaeger-5 (all males), Common Murre-574, Cassin’s Auklet-18, Tufted Puffin-2, Sabine’s Gull-11, Arctic Tern-11. 

For a complete list and for any other information about our pelagic trips, please visit this website, www.westportseabirds.com
Thank you to all the birders from near and far, for a very successful outing!

Spotters were: Scott Mills, Bill Shelmerdine and myself. Boat personnel were Phil and Chris Anderson. 

Bruce LaBar
Tacoma, WA






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