December 5 Pelagic Trip Report and Highlights

As we prepared for our last pelagic trip of 2020, we were challenged by a constantly changing forecast, and ended up having to choose between high winds (25 kts) but lower swells (6 ft) on Saturday, and lower winds (10 kts) but much higher swells (12 ft) on Sunday. Our skipper felt certain that the worst winds would not come in until the afternoon, so we opted for less boat movement (lower waves) and went out on our scheduled date of Saturday the 5th. We did not have the calmest conditions of the year, but passengers coped very well, even during a rather rough trip back to the bay. While we did not see any true rarities, we had a good day. Although close views of most species proved elusive, a couple of participants managed to see five species of shearwaters including an out of season FLESH-FOOTED (photographed) and two late BULLER’s (very distant and seen by few). We tallied two albatross species, scattered BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS through much of the trip, and a single LAYSAN ALBATROSS at the one fishing boat we came across (nope, sadly no Short-tailed Albatross). Other noteworthy sightings included a late TUFTED PUFFIN, and great views of sitting ANCIENT MURRELETS. But the highlight of the trip for many of us were the two BLUE WHALES that uncharacteristically passed close to the boat. The sighting of the world’s largest animal was followed later by a sighting of the world’s second largest animal, two FIN WHALES. Two groups of curious Dall's porpoises did not come in to ride the bow as they sometimes do, but were welcome additions to the day's sightings. Overall, the conditions turned out to be better than forecast, with the higher winds and larger waves arriving later in the day, and any day in winter we can get out on the water is a good day. After a challenging 2020, Oregon Pelagic Tours is looking forward to a hopefully more relaxed and enjoyable 2021. We hope to see you on the ocean next year.

OPT Pelagic Results 10/4/20

Boat: Misty, Skipper Rob and Deckhand Shad
Guides: Jim Danzenbaker, Russ Namitz, Tim Shelmerdine

0714-0723  Yaquina Bay, dock to ends of jetties
Surf Scoter 55                                                                    Brandt's Cormorant 15
Red-necked Grebe 9                                                         Pelagic Cormorant 30
Western Gull 100                                                              Double-crested Cormorant 55
California Gull    10                                                           Brown Pelican 15
Common Loon 4              
0724-0748  Tips of jetties, north, out to 5 miles offshore
Surf Scoter 14                                                                    Pacific Loon 1
Common Murre 5                                                            Common Loon 2
Rhinoceros Auklet 44                                                      loon sp. 1
Sabine’s Gull 1                                                                   Sooty Shearwater 20
Western Gull 4                                                                  **Steller’s sea lion 5
California Gull 5       
0748-1026 From 5 miles offshore to chum stop 34 miles offshore
Red Phalarope 1                                                                Red-throated Loon 1
Red-necked Phalarope 1                                               Black-footed Albatross 55
Pomarine Jaeger 2                                                           Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel 40         
Parasitic Jaeger 2                                                              Northern Fulmar 87
Pomarine/Parasitic Jaeger 1                                         Pink-footed Shearwater 63
Long-tailed Jaeger 2                                                        Buller’s Shearwater 4
Common Murre 1                                                             Sooty Shearwater 20
Cassin's Auklet 33                                                             **humpback whale 1 (breaching)
Rhinoceros Auklet 5                                                        **whale sp. 1 (probable fin whale)
Sabine’s Gull 500                                                              **Dall’s Porpoise 12
Western Gull 14                                                               **Steller’s sea lion 2
California Gull 35                                                              **northern fur seal 2
Herring Gull 4                    
1027-1133  Chum stop #1 (34 miles offshore, 180-200 fathoms)
Pomarine Jaeger 2                                                           California Gull 300
Parasitic Jaeger 10                                                           Herring Gull 10
Long-tailed Jaeger 6                                                        Laysan Albatross 2
Parasitic/Long-tailed Jaeger 1                                         Black-footed Albatross 30
Common Murre 1                                                             Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel 40
Sabine’s Gull 600                                                              Northern Fulmar 75
Bonaparte’s Gull 2                                                            Pink-footed Shearwater 40
Franklin’s Gull 1 (seen by Russ)                                      Flesh-footed Shearwater 1
Western Gull 10                                                                Buller’s Shearwater 9
California Gull 500                                                           Sooty Shearwater 7
Herring Gull 4                                   
1134-1227 Transit toward fishing vessel and second chum stop
Pomarine Jaeger 1                                                           Herring Gull 5
Parasitic Jaeger 2                                                              Black-footed Albatross 40
Common Murre 1                                                             Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel 10
Cassin’s Auklet 2                                                               Northern Fulmar 250
Sabine’s Gull 40 0                                                              Pink-footed Shearwater 50
Western Gull 5                                                                  Sooty Shearwater 5
California Gull 250                                                            **northern fur seal 2
1227-1325  Chum stop #2 (approx.. 35 miles offshore; 236 fathoms, 57.7°F)
Pomarine Jaeger 1                                                          Laysan Albatross 1
Parasitic Jaeger 6                                                            Black-footed Albatross 30
Long-tailed Jaeger 4                                                       Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel 10
Common Murre 3                                                           Northern Fulmar 75
Rhinoceros Auklet 1                                                       Pink-footed Shearwater 30
Sabine’s Gull 700                                                           Flesh-footed Shearwater 1
Western Gull 5                                                               Buller’s Shearwater 2
California Gull 300                                                         Sooty Shearwater 5
Herring Gull 10                                                                **Steller’s sea lion 1        
1326-1616  Return from  35 miles offshore to 5 miles offshore (traveled 36 miles)
Cackling Goose 50                                                          Western Gull 5
Red-necked/Red Phalarope 2                                          California Gull 85
South Polar Skua 2 (poor views)                                    Herring Gull 3
Pomarine Jaeger 2                                                           Black-footed Albatross 4
Parasitic Jaeger 10                                                           Northern Fulmar 14       
Long-tailed Jaeger 3                                                        Pink-footed Shearwater 17
Parasitic/Long-tailed Jaeger 3                                          Buller’s Shearwater 27
Common Murre 1                                                             Sooty Shearwater 4
Cassin’s Auklet 11                                                            **humpback whale 2
Rhinoceros Auklet 1                                                        **northern fur seal 4
Sabine’s Gull 565
1616-1653  Return from 5 miles offshore to tips of jetties
Cackling Goose 9                                                            California Gull 40
White-winged Scoter 5                                                  Pacific Loon 4
Western Grebe 1                                                              Common Loon 4
Pomarine Jaeger 1                                                           Northern Fulmar 1
Common Murre 16                                                          Sooty Shearwater 7
Marbled Murrelet 5                                                          Pelagic Cormorant 4
Cassin’s Auklet 2    
1616-1653  Return from 5 miles offshore to tips of jetties
Cackling Goose 9                                                            California Gull 40
White-winged Scoter 5                                                  Pacific Loon 4
Western Grebe 1                                                              Common Loon 4
Pomarine Jaeger 1                                                           Northern Fulmar 1
Common Murre 16                                                          Sooty Shearwater 7
Marbled Murrelet 5                                                          Pelagic Cormorant 4
Cassin’s Auklet 2    
1616-1653  Return from 5 miles offshore to tips of jetties
Cackling Goose 9                                                            California Gull 40
White-winged Scoter 5                                                  Pacific Loon 4
Western Grebe 1                                                              Common Loon 4
Pomarine Jaeger 1                                                           Northern Fulmar 1
Common Murre 16                                                          Sooty Shearwater 7
Marbled Murrelet 5                                                          Pelagic Cormorant 4
Cassin’s Auklet 2                                                              Double-crested Cormorant 3
Rhinoceros Auklet 7                                                        **Steller’s sea lion 9
Western Gull 50                                                               **harbor porpoise 1 (seen by few)  
 1654-1720 Return from ends of Yaquina Bay jetties to dock
Surf Scoter 6                                                                     Glaucous-winged Gull 2
Horned Grebe 2                                                                Western x Glaucous-winged Gull 2
Red-necked Grebe 6                                                        Common Loon 4
Black Turnstone 1                                                             Brandt’s Cormorant 30
Common Murre 2                                                             Pelagic Cormorant 70
Rhinoceros Auklet 1                                                         Double-crested Cormorant 50
Heermann’s Gull 10                                                         Black Phoebe 1
Mew Gull 2                                                                         **California sea lion 6
Western Gull 100                                                              **harbor seal 2
California Gull 40  

     

September 26, 2020 Trip Results

 September 26, 2020 8 Hour Fall Seabirds Tour
Boat: Misty, Skipper Rob and Deckhand Shad
Guides: David Mandell, Russ Namitz, Tim Shelmerdine

0713-0730  Yaquina Bay, dock to ends of jetties
Harlequin Duck 2                                                              Common Loon 2
Surf Scoter 55                                                                    Brandt's Cormorant 25
Red-necked Grebe 5                                                       Pelagic Cormorant 60
Pigeon Guillemot 1                                                          Double-crested Cormorant 50
Heermann’s Gull 4                                                           Brown Pelican 25
Western Gull 75                                                                Great Blue Heron 1
California Gull    10                                                           European Starling 4                                   0731-0759  Tips of jetties, north, out to 5 miles offshore
Cackling/Canada Goose 30                                           Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 1
Surf Scoter 20                                                                    Red-throated Loon 6
White-winged Scoter 3                                                  Pacific Loon 4
Dunlin 4                                                                                Common Loon 3
Cassin’s Auklet  9                                                              Sooty Shearwater 16
Rhinoceros Auklet 1                                                        Brandt's Cormorant 5
Western Gull 4                                                                  Pelagic Cormorant 6
California Gull 7                                                                                                                                
0759-1059 From 5 miles offshore to fishing vessels 34 miles offshore
Red Phalarope 28                                                             Long-tailed Jaeger   1
peep sp. 2                                                                            Common Murre   8
shorebird sp. 7                                                                  Cassin's Auklet 71
South Polar Skua 2                                                           Rhinoceros Auklet 1
Pomarine Jaeger 3                                                           Sabine’s Gull 165
Parasitic Jaeger 1                                                              Western Gull 10
California Gull 70                                                              Flesh-footed Shearwater 1
Herring Gull 3                                                                     Buller’s Shearwater 20
tern sp. 1                                                                             Sooty Shearwater 52
Black-footed Albatross 16                                             *humpback whale 1
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel 110                                       **northern fur seal 2
Northern Fulmar 25                                                         **ocean sunfish 2
Pink-footed Shearwater 52                                          **blue shark 2
1100-1200  Commercial fishing vessels including processor
South Polar Skua 5                                                           Common/Arctic Tern 1
Pomarine Jaeger 15                                                         Laysan Albatross 2
Parasitic Jaeger 6                                                              Black-footed Albatross 350
Long-tailed Jaeger 5                                                        Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel 3
jaeger sp. 3                                                                         Northern Fulmar 250
Sabine’s Gull 200                                                              Pink-footed Shearwater 500
Western Gull 100                                                              Flesh-footed Shearwater 1
California Gull 500                                                            Buller’s Shearwater 50
Herring Gull 4                                                                    Sooty Shearwater 150
Arctic Tern 1                                                                       Sooty/Short-tailed Shearwater 5
1202-1446 Returning  to 5 miles offshore
Greater White-fronted Goose 30                                   gull sp. 1
Red-necked Phalarope 2                                               Black-footed Albatross 5
Red Phalarope 15                                                             Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel 3
Red-necked/Red Phalarope 3                                      Northern Fulmar 9
South Polar Skua 3                                                           Pink-footed Shearwater 10
Pomarine Jaeger 2                                                           Flesh-footed Shearwater 1
Parasitic Jaeger 3                                                              Buller’s Shearwater 4
Common Murre 15                                                          Sooty Shearwater 46
Cassin’s Auklet 24                                                             Pelagic Cormorant 1
Rhinoceros Auklet 1                                                        ** Dall’s porpoise 3
Tufted Puffin 1                                                                  **northern fur seal 1
Sabine’s Gull 40                                                                 ** California sea lion 1
Western Gull 1                                                                  **ocean sunfish (mola mola) 2
California Gull 9                                                                                                                               
1446-1501  Return from 3.3 miles offshore to tips of jetties
Surf Scoter 6                                                                       California Gull 4
Western Grebe 1                                                              Pacific Loon 1
Clark’s Grebe 1                                                                  Sooty Shearwater 2
Red-necked Phalarope 2                                               Brandt’s Cormorant 1
Cassin’s Auklet 2                                                               Pelagic Cormorant 1
Rhinoceros Auklet 13                                                      **Steller’s sea lion 4
1501-1513  Return from ends of Yaquina Bay jetties to dock
Harlequin Duck 1                                                              Western Gull 100
Surf Scoter 30                                                                    California Gull 50
Red-necked Grebe 8                                                       Common Loon 2
Western Grebe 1                                                              Brandt’s Cormorant 25
Western/Clark’s Grebe 1                                              Pelagic Cormorant 30
Rock Pigeon 4                                                                    Double-crested Cormorant 50
Surfbird 3                                                                             Brown Pelican 12
Red-necked Phalarope 1                                               **California sea lion 3
Pigeon Guillemot 1                                                          **harbor seal 1
Heermann’s Gull 2