SAN FRANCISCO WATERS PELAGIC – AUGUST 11, 2012
FROM PORT OF HALF MOON BAY.
This checklist is divided into 4 sections, 1) within the harbor 2) inshore waters in Half Moon Bay 3)offshore waters in San Mateo County and 4) offshore waters in San Francisco County. It is based on outputs generated by e-bird.
1) Pillar Pt. Harbor, San Mateo, US-CA
Aug 11, 2012 7:15 AM - 7:45 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: Start and end of Alvaro's Adventure's SF pelagic
20 species
Surf Scoter 1
Brandt's Cormorant 80
Double-crested Cormorant 120
Pelagic Cormorant 1
Brown Pelican 20
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1
Black Oystercatcher 8
Black Turnstone 20
Surfbird 1
Heermann's Gull 24
Western Gull 260
California Gull 20
Elegant Tern 24
Pigeon Guillemot 6
Rock Pigeon 20
Eurasian Collared-Dove 2
Brewer's Blackbird 2
2) Half Moon Bay--inshore bay, San Mateo, US-CA Aug 11, 2012 7:30 AM - 8:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
5.0 mile(s)
Comments: Alvaro's Adventures SF pelagic.
13 species
Common Loon 2
Yellow-billed Loon 1 Dull plumage, so first cycle bird. First with a Common Loon. - larger, pale bill, upturned gonys, held head up at angle, bump on forehead, pale area on neck sides to side of nape, pale above eye. Offshore enough that very unlikely that it can be seen from shore unless steady calm weather. Many photos were taken, mine quite bad.
Western Grebe 8
Brandt's Cormorant 12
Brown Pelican 6
Red-necked Phalarope 2
Heermann's Gull 20
Western Gull 30
California Gull 12
Elegant Tern 6
Common Murre 6
Pigeon Guillemot 1
Marbled Murrelet 2
3) Offshore pelagic (northern SM Co.), San Mateo, US-CA Aug 11, 2012 8:00 AM - 12:45 PM
Protocol: Traveling
40.0 mile(s)
Comments: Alvaro's Adventures San Francisco pelagic.
21 species
Laysan Albatross 1 juvenile. photos; perhaps the same bird as was seen in San Francisco waters earlier, but that bird not attracted to the boat. This one was. Radically different behavior.
Black-footed Albatross 40
Pink-footed Shearwater 60
Buller's Shearwater 1
Sooty Shearwater 350
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel 1
Ashy Storm-Petrel 6
Red-necked Phalarope 35
Red Phalarope 1
Sabine's Gull 1
Western Gull 200
California Gull 2
Arctic Tern 1
Elegant Tern 3
South Polar Skua 1
Pomarine Jaeger 2
Common Murre 300
Cassin's Auklet 1
Rhinoceros Auklet 45
Tufted Puffin 1
Mourning Dove 1 20 miles offshore!
4) Pioneer Sea Canyon (SF Co.), San Francisco, US-CA Aug 11, 2012 10:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
40.0 mile(s)
Comments: Alvaro's Adventures San Francisco pelagic
21 species
Laysan Albatross 1 Perhaps same individual as seen later in San Mateo waters, but this one a fly by, not at all interested in boat or chum. Second bird a "friendly" came right in.
Black-footed Albatross 45
Northern Fulmar 8
Pink-footed Shearwater 80
Buller's Shearwater 1
Sooty Shearwater 800
Leach's Storm-Petrel 1 Great views of bird with pale rump. Molting inner primaries, came in close to the boat.
Ashy Storm-Petrel 40
Red-necked Phalarope 6
Red Phalarope 35
Sabine's Gull 12
Western Gull 80
California Gull 1
Common Tern 1
Arctic Tern 6
South Polar Skua 1 – different molt (based on photos) than San Mateo county bird!
Pomarine Jaeger 8
Long-tailed Jaeger 1
Common Murre 2
Cassin's Auklet 4
Rhinoceros Auklet 10
MAMMALS SEEN:
Humpback Whale
Pacific White-sided Dolphin
Northern Right Whale Dolphin
Harbor Porpoise
California Sea Lion
Steller’s Sea Lion
Also – Mola mola, Ocean Sunfish.
245 Granelli Ave. Half Moon Bay, CA. 94019. alvarosadventures.com 650-504-7779