Dana Point
Sea & Sage Audubon Bird Camp

By: Terry Hunefeld

(Dana Point)  The Sea and Sage Audubon Advanced Bird Camp Program went to sea 23JUL09 from Dana Point on the Discovery Center’s Sea Explorer.  Marine mammals and seabirds were seen in good abundance.

Departing Dana Harbor we found 3 Black Oystercatchers on the rip-rap jetty.  About two miles out to sea we encountered the first of  100 Sooty Shearwaters for the day.  Not 30 seconds later, a first-of-season (FOA) Black-vented Shearwater by.  60 seconds later we encountered our first Pink-footed Shearwater and Black Storm-Petrels.  The action was non-stop for 2 hours.

Although time limited us from getting out too far, Captain Mike knew where to go and found and took us to two large feeding flocks of birds and dolphins – the first about 4 n. mi south of Dana Harbor, the next about 2 n. mi further south. 

We didn’t find any Blue Whales (which Mike said were fairly regular here) but we did encounter 500 Common Dolphins, 75 Risso’s and 10 Bottlenose Dolphins.

Elegant Terns, Least Terns, Black Oystercatchers, 3 species of Shearwater, 3 species of dolphins.  A great morning was had by all. 

The kids attending Bird Camp at Sea and Sage are engaged, observant, enthusiastic, optimistic, witty and fun to be with.  Yes, it’s a great year for America. 

Totals:

Sooty Shearwater  100
Pink-footed Shearwater 35
Black-vented Shearwater  1
Black Storm-Petrel  120
Black Oystercatcher   3
Least Tern   4  
Elegant Tern  50

Risso’s Dolphin  75
Common Dolphin  500
Bottlenose Dolphin  10