[Tweeters] Westport Seabirds Trip Report August 17

[Cara Borre via Tweeters]

We closed a busy week for Westport Seabirds on Saturday, August 17th with
an enthusiastic group of new friends mixed with familiar faces aboard the
Monte Carlo. We left the coast behind with bright sunshine at our backs
during the morning, gradually fading to gray, and eventually to rain as we
returned to port after a productive day at sea.

As Captain Phil had his sights on several fishing boats offshore, we moved
quickly west past the usual inshore species, and this is where we
encountered most of our Sooty Shearwater for the day.  We always “brake”
(no brakes on a boat) for anything of interest, and we took a beat to watch
two Gray Whale surfacing several times close to each other and us.  Not
long after this sighting, we got to compare the mottled, fin-less, but
“knuckled” lower back of the Gray Whale to the characteristic dark gray
“hump-finned” back of a Humpback Whale.  We would see an additional 4
Humpbacks during our trip.  We also had a visitation from several Dall’s
Porpoise who accompanied us briefly on our way further west, then again
later in the day.

About 2.5 hours after our departure we saw two shrimp boats on the
horizon.  Motoring ever closer, we could see at least one was surrounded by
birds.  It was fortunate that we arrived at about the time the boats were
hauling in their nets.  Nearly 1000 birds awaited some discarded scrap.  We
scanned the group and began shouting out the species we found. The majority
of this mixed flock were Pink-footed Shearwater (800 at boats - parentheses
numbers at boats), followed by California Gull (100 - most juvenile).
Thirty Black-footed Albatross were joined by smaller numbers of Sooty
Shearwater (4), Short-tailed Shearwater (5), and an exciting find of a
single Flesh-footed Shearwater among the sea of Pink-footeds.  A couple
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels, along with Northern Fulmar rounded out the
assemblage of tubenoses.  Sabine’s Gull (8) and Arctic Tern (3) patrolled
the sky at times dropping to the surface to feed.  All this activity does
not go unnoticed by the pirates of the pelagic bird world and we got epic
views of South Polar Skua (1).  Our alcid tally at the boats consisted of
Rhinoceros Auklet (12) and a very close and cooperative, breeding plumaged
Tufted Puffin.

In the process of moving to and from an unproductive chum stop, we added
both Red and Red-necked Phalaropes, Long-tailed and Parasitic Jaegers, and
Cassin’s Auklet as well as swelling our numbers of Sabine’s Gull (61 - day
total) and Arctic Tern (73 - day total).

Since time allowed, we deviated south to intersect a different group of
three shrimp boats.  The mixed flock here was quite similar in distribution
to what we had 3 hours earlier minus the Flesh-footed Shearwater and Tufted
Puffin, but we had larger numbers of Sabine’s Gull and Arctic Tern and the
opportunity to closely examine an Ocean Sunfish.  While we had no “rock
birds” on the jetty upon our return, we had a Wandering Tattler circle the
boat twice far offshore at these shrimpers.

After leaving the shrimpers and starting the journey back to port we had
several goals in mind.  We had scanned the massive shearwater flocks all
day for a Buller’s Shearwater to add that beauty to our list.  As a light
rain began, we managed to find a Buller’s in flight and got the majority of
our participants on this passing bird. Adding Buller's gave us the “5 in
Fall” Pacific Northwest shearwater collection, we would next seek the long
shot Manx Shearwater to complete the “6 in ALL” achievement.  Spoiler
Alert, we continue to dream of a shearwater “6 in ALL” one day.   However,
we did complete the Skua Slam, with a poor showing from a couple of
uncharacteristically shy Pomarine Jaeger.  As a disclaimer, Skua Slam is a
widely known pelagic birding phrase and if you use it, birders will think
you’re a veteran.  Conversely if you discuss “5 in Fall” or “6 in ALL”
birders will look confused and ask for further explanation as these aren’t
universal phrases, just a fun way of talking about the shearwater
possibilities off of Westport particularly in the fall.

Thanks to everyone who joined us, Captain Phil Anderson and Firstmate Chris
Anderson for making this outing possible, and fellow spotters Scott Mills
and Charlie Wright for getting everyone on the birds and sharing your
knowledge with us all.

Cara Borre
Gig Harbor
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