San Diego to the Nine Mile Bank and Beyond
May 21, 2009

By Dave Povey

Today Peter Ginsburg, Eric Kershner, Tom Blackman, and I scouted the 30 Mile Bank for the up coming "Grande" pelagic trip on May 29th.

We found the high spot had relatively few birds but some quality, with up to 4 Ashy Storm Petrels, a South Polar Skua, and a Black-footed Albatross. We also found the area southeast of the bank, normally quiet, with a good number of Xantus' Murrelets. The very top (north end) of the Nine Mile bank still had a Black-footed Albatross right where we left it on Saturday's trip near the pink fishing bouy.

The following is a partial list:

Common Loon        1
Pacific Loon      15
B.f.Albatross      2
N.Fulmar           1 (dead)
P.f.Shearwater    23
Sooty Shearwater  59
Ashy S. Petrel     4
Blk.S.Petrel     135
Red-n.Phalarope    5
Royal Tern         1
Elegant Tern      37
S.P. Skua          1
Xantus' Murrelet  28
Cassin's Auklet  110

Surface water Temps; 65.5 at O.B., 64.3 at north end 9 Mi.Bk.,63.5 at the 30 Mi.Bk.

Yes we had another mystery whale (very small, no dorsal fin detected)?,  Cal.Sealions, Elephant Seal, and Common Dolphin.