Another Fun, Short Trip and an OPT Update

Time for an OPT update. We had to deal with fog, but our 2 1/2 hour Three Arch Rocks NWR tour on August 6 (run in conjunction with Garibaldi Charters) was again successful. In addition to good views of puffins, we saw numerous Rhinoceros Auklets, several Sooty Shearwaters, as well as the expected species (Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, all three cormorants, Brown Pelican, Western Gull). Along the jetties, we found two Wandering Tattlers, Black Turnstones and Surfbirds. These trips are turning out to be very enjoyable for passengers, boat crew, and the guide. There is one more of these trips this fall on Sunday, September 3. Come join the fun. 

What else is going on with Oregon Pelagic Tours? We could not muster enough sign-up to run our August 20 Garibaldi 8-hour trip and had to cancel it, but our September 17 Garibaldi trip is full. If interested in a Garibaldi trip this year, we still have spaces available on our October 15 Garibaldi trip (weather back-up date of October 22). 

Our August 27 Newport 10 hour trip will go out, but definitely could use more participants. Our September 9 Newport 8-hour trip is almost full and has been confirmed with the charter. There are a lot of spaces available on our October 8 8-hour and December 2 8-hour trips, both out of Newport. 

It will be a fun fall on the ocean. Please check the Schedule and Reservations pages of the Oregon Pelagic Tours website if you are considering joining us. 

Fun, Short Trip with Garibaldi Charters

Yesterday,Sunday, 7/23/23, Garibaldi Charters and Oregon Pelagic Tours accompplished something new: a  monthly, short (2 1/2 hours) nearshore pelagic trip down to Three Arch Rocks NWR.  14 passengers enjoyed a calm ocean and beautiful weather . As one would expect, Common Murres were the most numerous species, but Pigeon Guillemots, Western and Heermann's Gulls, all three cormorants, Black Oystercatchers. Brown Pelicans entertained the participants. The highlight of the day for most of us were 7 Tufted Puffins, a couple of them providing some incredibly close views of birds on the water. These monthly 2 1/2 hour trips are ideal for those wanting to get out on the water, but don't really want to go far offshore or spend 8 or more hours on the water. The next trips will take place on August 6 and September 3rd. While nearshore trips will not provide the deepwater species a longer pelagic trip, as we move toward fall, we should have an increased chance of seeing some shearwaters, phalaropes, terns and auklets. For more information about these trips and contact information for Garibaldi Charters, as well as the dates and costs of our longer trips, please visit the Schedule and Prices page of this website There is still plenty of room on all our trips. Hope to see you on the ocean!

Join OPT on a Fall Repositioning Cruise!

While perhaps not as popular in the fall as in the spring, repositioning cruises are a great opportunity to watch seabirds any time of year. Have you wanted to go on a repo cruise, but are not sure you will be able to identify what you see? Then come join Oregon Pelagic Tours's owner and a  guide on the Crown Princess, leaving Vancouver, B.C. on October 19 and arriving in San Francisco on October 22. That gives us two full sea days to watch seabirds! Cost for birders wishing to join us will be $200 per person. Note: This is for the seabirding only -- each participant is responsible for their own cruise ship cabin, all travel costs including airfare to and from your home to the ship and back. Please contact Tim with questions and if interested in joining us -- we have the potential for group incentives if we register through Tim's Cruise Vacation Planner (if we reach a minimum of participants).