May 20 Trip -- Albatross to Storm Petrels

Oregon Pelagic Tours successfully ran our first trip of the 2017 season, our six hour Spring Seabirds trip.  Not having run a late spring trip for several years, we had a full boat, with nearly 40 passengers and guides.  We braved a bumpy ride and spray on the way out, but saw most of the expected species during the trip, especially enjoying breeding plumage Red and Red-necked Phalaropes, a real highlight for those of us who usually see these birds in their basic plumages in the fall or winter.  We motored out to Nelson's Island, about 24 miles west of Newport, where Black-footed Albatross and Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels put on a nice show at the slick, and a single Sabine's Gull paid us a short visit.  Oddly absent were any jaegers and Cassin's Auklets, and mammals were distant and in low numbers.  Still, we ended the day with happy passengers and crew, and will offer another short spring pelagic next year.