SEABIRDS, DOLPHINS AND WHALES
From Helgren's Sportfishing, Oceanside
Sponsored By: Buena Vista Audubon Society
Saturday, January ?? 2011 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
TRIP STILL IN THE PLANNING STAGES
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Few sights are more breathtaking than a breaching whale, a cavalry of hundreds of dolphin leaping all around the boat or a feeding frenzy of thousands of seabirds brawling over bait fish. These are all sights seen regularly by ocean-loving birders and nature enthusiasts just a few miles off shore.
Please join us for adventure on the Fourth Annual Buena Vista Audubon Seabird, Dolphin & Whale Pelagic Trip from Helgren's Whale-watching and Sportfishing at Oceanside Harbor. You do not need be a member of the Audubon to join us. We'll depart on Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. sharp in search of jaegers, shearwater, seabirds, sea lions, dolphin and whales. More information.
WHALES: Prime Gray Whale watching-season begins in mid-December and extends through early-March. Over 15,000 peaceful "giants of the sea" make the annual trek from the cold Alaskan seas to the warm water breeding lagoons of Baja California.
2010: 2 species of whales, 4 species of dolphin, Gray Whales surfacing only 90 feet off the starboard side of the boat, 2 species of shearwater, lots of alcids, great looks at a Parasitic Jaeger, Wandering Tattler and Surfbirds.
2009: Close Minke and Gray Whales, a family pod of Risso's Dolphins with young, 3 species of shearwaters and 2 Xantus's Murrelets.
2008: Hilights included Common Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins and a spouting Gray Whale that surfaced 6 times within several hundred feet of the boat to the delight of all aboard. We had great close-up views of a Short-tailed Shearwater, a "lifer" for many onboard. We also saw Northern Fulmars, Bonaparte's Gulls, 45 Rhinocerous Auklets, Cassin's Auklets and Common Murre. Full Trip Report
2007: On our maiden 2007 voyage, participants were treated to a tremendous feeding frenzy of dolphins, gulls, shearwaters and jaegers. Thousands of birds were soaring, diving, screaming, brawling and gorging themselves on bait fish chased to the surface by hundreds of Common and Bottlenose Dolphins.
LEADERS: Experienced San Diego pelagic bird spotters, guides and leaders will be on board to identify and point out marine mammals and seabirds.
Arrival Time: 6:45 a.m. Park in the free lot across the street under the railroad tunnel. Bring your gear to Helgren's.
Check-in Time: 7:00 a.m. Stop at Helgren's Ticket Office and obtain your boarding pass.
Boarding Time: 7:15 a.m.
Departure Time: 7:30 a.m. sharp
Return: 12:30 p.m.
RESERVATIONS - this trip is still in the planning stages.
IMPORTANT DETAILS: Click for more information about the boat, the landing, maps, parking, driving directions, policies, meals, snacks, lodging and other fun facts,
CANCELLATION POLICY: SoCalBirding.com trips are sponsored by several different Audubon organizations, each using different boats departing from different landings and harbors. As such, policies differ from trip to trip. Please familiarize yourself with your trip's policies regarding reservations, cancellations, refunds and substitutions as well as check-in procedures and equipment allowed on the boats.
RESERVATIONS BY PHONE (Check or Credit Card): Call Helgren's Sportfishing (760) 722-2133 and tell them you wish to register for the January 30 Whale and Birding trip with Buena Vista Audubon. More information.
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| Risso's Dolphin & 2 calves were seen on our 2009 trip (c) W. Terry Hunefeld |
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| This rarely seen Minke Whale was photographed on the Jan 31 2009 trip by Tom Blackman |
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| Buena Vista Audubon Annual Winter "Seabirds, Dolphins and Whales" Pelagic Trip from Oceanside Califorina |
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| This giant Feeding Frenzy was seen on the January 2007 trip from Oceanside |
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| (c) Todd McGrath and Jon Feenstra |
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