Ken and I headed to Westport last night along with Laurel Parshall and Lisa to go on today’s Westport Pelagic and a 2-day extension ABC trip to the coast Sunday and Monday. Kay is joining us tomorrow for the coast trip component.
Today was the pelagic trip, and it went well. In brief weather and sea conditions were both better than anticipated with modest breezes and maybe 5-6 foot seas and minimal rain. We went southwest to the Willapa Canyon rather than straight out to Grays Canyon because that’s where the fishing boats seemed to be. On the way out we got only usual birds, lots of SOSH, one POJA, a very few RNPH, but about 22 miles out we cam onto a group of fishing boats. with a processing ship and several “catchers.” Behind the processing ship were a huge flock of maybe 5000 birds. The two most prominent species were Northern Fulmar, an estimated 3000 and California Gulls, maybe 1500. In addition there were numerous BFAL, PFSH, SOSH, Buller’s Shearwaters, a couple FTSP, HEGU, and the WA lifer for me, at least one, maybe 2 Laysan’s albatross. The rest of the trip was pretty much more of the same, though at various times we had several Sabine’s gulls, at least 2 first winter BFKI, and an out of place GWFG who almost crashed into the bow of the boat.
I got lots of photos, though cannot download until I get home. Can’t wait to see Kay tomorrow. Hoping for good weather and good birds.