By Dave Povey
Steve Brad, Peter Ginsburg, Bruce Rideout, and I set out of Mission Bay, July 31st., to follow the same general route of the 17th. (Paul Lehman et al.). We included a side trip to the south end of "The Ridge" some 22-24 n. miles to the west of San Diego and still in county waters. Overall the bird activity was lower, on a nearly flat calm day.
Photos by Steve Brad
Some of the species of note were;
-Black-vented Shearwater, 2 on the Nine Mile Bank.
-Ashy Storm Petrel, one near The Ridge, one outside the Nine Mile Bank.
-Leach's Storm Petrel, one dark-rumped near The Ridge, one white/intermediate-rumped outside the Nine Mile Bank. All previous Leach's have been well offshore (50 n.miles +) this summer.
-Black Storm Petrel, raft of 300+ birds outer edge of Nine Mile and just above Mexican Border.
-Red Phalarope, on The Ridge.
-Common Tern (adult), on kelp paddy w/ Elegants between The Ridge and the Nine Mile Bank.
-Least Tern (adult) on fishing float 8 n.miles west of Pt Loma.
Species list
(1) Western Grebe (Mission Bay)
113 Pink-footed Shearwater
236 Sooty Shearwater -much lower than 17th numbers.
2 Black-vented Shearwater
2 Ashy Storm Petrel
2 Leach's Storm Petrel
350-450 Black Storm Petrel
17,(40)Brown Pelican (M.B.)
(5) Double-crested Cormorant (M.B.)
4 Brandt's Cormorant
(2) Whimbrel (M.B.)
(1) Spotted Sandpiper (M.B.)
(1) Black Turnstone (M.B.)
(1) Sanderling (M.B.)
(1) Western Sandpiper (M.B.)
1 Red Phalarope
190 Red-necked Phalarope -higher # than 17th.
5,(150) Heermann's Gull (M.B.)
27, (35) Western Gull (M.B.)
1 Common Tern
(2) Forster's Tern (M.B.)
1,(6) Least Tern (M.B.)
120,(10)Elegant Tern (M.B.)
1 Royal Tern
(2) Caspain Tern (M.B.)
17 Cassin's Auklet - lower # than 17th.
1 jaeger sp.
6+ Blue Whales - same area as 17th., north end of The Nine Mile Bank.
Extraordinary SHOW ! (see Steve Brad's photos)
100+ Common Dolphin
6-7 California Sealions
6 Mola mola (ocean sunfish)
1 Swordfish (see Steve Brad's photo)
Overcast a.m., partly cloudy p.m., calm to breeze of < 5 kts., 1-3 ft swell, 12-15 n. miles visability, air temp mid 60's. sea surface temp 63.9F-67.6F.
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