CHANNEL ISLANDS DAY TRIP: MURRELETS, TROPICBIRDS, RARE SHEARWATERS Santa Barbara - Condor Express Saturday September ??, 2011 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Craveri's Murrelet from Grande (c) Steve N.G. Howell
Red-billed Tropicbird (c) Todd McGrath
This 8 hour trip departs from the Santa Barbara Harbor at 7:00 a.m. on the catamaran Condor Express. Birds to be expected: Northern Fulmar; Sooty, Pink-footed and Black-vented shearwaters; Black, Ashy, and Leach’s Storm-Petrels; cormorants (3): rocky shorebirds (up to 5); Red-necked and Red phalaropes; South Polar Skua; Pomarine, Parasitic and Long-tailed Jaegers; Sabine’s Gull: Royal, Common and Arctic terns.
Uncommon species or rarities to be looked for: Buller’s Shearwater, Least Storm-Petrel; Red-billed Tropicbird; Craveri’s Murrelet. Whales and dolphins can be seen this time of year.
The 2009 trip produced the first Ventura County record of Blue-footed Booby. Also seen was a Brown Booby and Minke Whale. 2009 Trip Report
RESERVATIONS: Reservations are $125. Call Condor Cruises(805) 882-0088 for reservations and trip status.
IMPORTANT DETAILS: Click for important logistic information about the Condor Express, Santa Barbara landing, driving directions, maps, lodging, weather, refund and cancellation policies, on-board facilities, meals and snacks.
HOW TO PREPARE: tips on how to prepare, what to wear, what to bring and when to arrive.
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS: Occurrence and identification of the Leach’s Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) complex off southern California (click the PDF icon at the right)
FLYING ON THE CONDOR EXPRESS
Flying over the Pacific Ocean at 30 knots aboard the Condor Express on March 1, 2009 in flat calm conditions with blue skies and golden seas stretching for miles in all directions - pure heaven on earth. . . . AND we found Parakeet Auklets! Whoo-hooo! Video by: W. Terry "Tuna" Hunefeld. Best viewed full screen by clicking the icon near the lower right hand corner of the video beneath the "you" in YOU TUBE. Enjoy!
CANCELLATION POLICY: Trips on this website are sponsored by different organizations using different boats departing from different landings and harbors. As such, policies vary from trip to trip. This trip is subject to the policies of Condor Cruises (805) 882-0088. When registering, please familiarize yourself regarding their reservation, cancellation, refund and substitution policies as well as reviewing driving directions, check-in times, procedures and equipment allowed on the boats.
(c) Todd McGrath and Jon Feenstra
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