NINE MILE BANK & BAJA CORONADOS ISLANDS
GRANDE - San Diego
Sponsored By: DoD Partners In Flight
May 29, 2009 6:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
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By Matt Sadowski
The Department of Defense Partners in Flight sponsored pelagic trip covered the upper 9-mile bank (both in the a.m. and p.m.) and the 30-mile bank (mid-day). The highlight was yet another relatively inshore Black-footed Albatross at the west edge of the 9-mile bank.
Two Ashy Storm-Petrels were picked out from the abundant Blacks on the 30-mile bank. Adult Least Terns were noted flying west in the morning with the farthest birds in the afternoon along the west edge of the 9-mile bank (about 15 nautical miles from closest breeding colonies). A Xantus's Murrelet chick was accomanied by two adults near the 30-mile bank, already well away from their Islas los Coronados breeding site. Lingering still were a few Northern Fulmars (including a light morph) and Rhinoceros Auklets.
Offshore List
Pacific Loon (60)
Common Loon (1)
Black-footed Albatross (1, at 32.672 -117.482)
Northern Fulmar (4)
Pink-footed Shearwater (80)
Sooty Shearwater (120)
Ashy Storm-Petrel (2)
Black Storm-Petrel (200)
Brown Pelican (25)
Brandt's Cormorant (5)
Double-crested Cormorant (2)
Pelagic Cormorant (1)
Heermann's Gull (10)
Western Gull (100)
California Gull (1)
Least Tern (28)
Caspian Tern (4)
Forster's Tern (2)
Elegant Tern (160)
Pomarine Jaeger (1)
Parasitic Jaeger (1)
Xantus's Murrelet (16)
Cassin's Auklet (150)
Rhinoceros Auklet (5)
hummingbird sp. (1)
Western Wood-Pewee (2)
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The Dept of Defense Partners in Flight (DoD PIF) group will be meeting in San Diego from Monday 25 May thru Thursday 28 May. (See below for more info on the DoD PIF).
DoD PIF 12-Hour Pelagic: Tim Burr and Eric Kershner have booked Grande on behalf of the DoD PIF for a 12-hour pelagic on Friday, May 29. About 20 PIF attendees will be aboard, and they have generously opened Grande to 20 additional guests.
Departure Time: The trip will depart Point Loma Sportfishing on Friday morning at 6:30 a.m. and travel to the Nine Mile Bank, the Thirty Mile Bank and the Coronados Islands. Grande will return to the dock at 6:30 p.m.
Tentative leaders include Paul Lehman, Jon Feenstra, Dave Povey, Kimball Garrett, Eric Kershner and Stan Walens.
Registration: To join the PIF on their pelagic aboard Grande, please remit a check payable to Tim Burr for $75 per person to:
Tim Burr
17063 Tam O'Shanter Dr
Poway, CA 92064
Please include your email address with your check.
Questions should be addressed to Tim Burr by email at: tburr@san.rr.com; Eric Kershner at sturnellamagna1@yahoo.com; or Kyle Rambo at kjrambo@md.metrocast.net
or telephone Tim Burr
Home: (858) 485-6904
Cell: (858) 207-7901
HOW TO PREPARE: Click for tips on how to prepare, what to wear, what to bring and when to arrive.
EXPECTED SPECIES: What we see depends on the season, the itinerary and how far from shore we venture. Learn more about what species we will probably see and what species might be seen.
THE DoD PIF: Founded in 1990, the DoD PIF Program supports and enhances the military mission while it works to develop cooperative programs and projects with PIF partner organizations ensuring a focused and coordinated approach for the conservation of resident and migratory birds and their habitats.
DOD is a member of the international Partners in Flight initiative, a cooperative, non-advocacy partnership among federal, state and local government agencies, philanthropic foundations, professional organizations, conservation groups, industry, the academic community, and private individuals organized to address declining populations of migratory birds, and to emphasize the conservation of birds not covered by existing conservation initiatives.
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RESERVATIONS & CANCELLATIONS: Reservations, cancellations, refunds and substitutions are all handled by Tim Burr.
GRANDE is a big, comfortable 85 foot live-aboard boat with two heads, bunkhouse, spacious salon/lounge area with restaurant booth style seating, and a full service galley. Grande is the biggest and most spacious boat (85 feet x 24 feet) in the fleet specializing in one- to three-day trips from Point Loma Sportfishing, with more room per passenger and a larger stern area than any other boat in the fleet. Due to its size and stability, it's also the the most comfortable boat in any weather conditions.
LOCATION: We will board Grande 20-30 minutes prior to departure at Point Loma Sportfishing Landing, 1403 Scott Street, San Diego 92106.
ARRIVE: 5:30 a.m.
BOARD: 6:00 a.m.
DEPART: 6:30 a.m.
RETURN: 6:30 p.m.
GOOGLE MAP OF THE LANDING: Map and driving directions
DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO THE LANDING: http://www.pointlomasportfishing.com/pg/map.php
PARKING: There is a large parking at Point Loma Sportfishing for $5 a day. Allow plenty of time to find the landing, park, unload, transport gear and board Grande 20-30 minutes before scheduled departure. All trips depart on-time without waiting for late-comers.
FOOD, DRINKS, SNACKS, MEALS: Breakfasts, burgers, sandwiches, snacks, dinners and beverages are available on board for purchase. Participants are allowed to bring snacks and sandwiches aboard.
FIRST PELAGIC TRIP? See tips and hints on our trip preparation page.
BIRD QUESTIONS: Questions about expected species or bird status and distribution? Consult our extensive Seabird Reference to get a good idea of what you may see and might see on this trip.
AGE: This trip appropriate for children 10 years and older.
WEATHER CANCELLATION: All trips depart on time, even in rain, wind or small craft advisories. Weather rarely interferes with boats the size of Grande. A storm may blow through at any time of year. Trips always go out in rain, wind and choppy seas. Participants will fly in from all over North American to be on these trips, so cancelling and rescheduling for "next weekend" is not an option.
The very rare decision to cancel a trip due to extreme weather will made by the captain. This decision is normally made the morning of the trip, very rarely the evening before the trip, never sooner. In the highly unlikely event that a trip cancels due to weather, your entire trip fee will be refunded. If you have weather questions or concerns for this trip, check with Tim Burr or call the landing the afternoon or evening before the trip at (619) 223-1627.
TRIP ITINERARY: We will alter our course in winds and heavy seas to make the trip as comfortable as possible for all passengers, which is why our itinerary is a very flexible one.
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