DEEP WATER TRIP TO THE SAN JUAN SEAMOUNT AND SANTA ROSA RIDGE Santa Barbara - Condor Express Saturday July 31, 2010 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Cook's Petrel 25 JUL 2009 (c) Todd McGrath
This 13-hour trip departs from the Santa Barbara Harbor at 7:00 a.m. on the fast catamaran Condor Express and returns approx 8:00 p.m. We will cruise along the deep water shelf by the San Juan Seamount. Birds to be expected: Black-footed Albatross, Northern Fulmar; Sooty and Pink-footed Shearwaters; Black, Ashy, and Leach’s Storm-Petrels; South Polar Skua; Pomarine Jaeger; Pigeon Guillemot; Common Murre; Xantus's Murrelets.
Uncommon species or rarities to be looked for: Cook's Petrel (136 seen 25 July 2009 on this trip) and Red-billed Tropicbird. Todd McGrath's hoped for rarities: Hawaiian Petrel and Tristam's Storm-Petrel.
Other 2009 trip highlites included a well photographed Red-billed Tropicbird, a briefly seen Wilson's Storm-Petrel, 178 Leach's Storm-Petrels, 4 Blue Whales and 4 Humpback Whales. 2009 Trip Report.
RESERVATIONS: Reservations are $195. 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.
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!
By Todd McGrath
This trip will take us to the 2000+ fathom water around the San Juan Seamount. At this time of year potential rarities include Cook's and Hawaiian Petrel. Red-billed Tropicbirds are uncommon at this season, but seen regularly. Our July 2007 trip found a Tristam's Storm-petrel, highlighting the opportunity for rarities that exist at this time of year.
This is also an excellent time to study various subspecies of Leach's Storm-Petrel, including the summer breeders from Guadalupe Island, which are a good candidate for a split. The southern race of Xantus's Murrelet as well as Craveri's Murrelet are possible on this trip.
July 25 2009 Condor Express Trip Track by Matt Sadowski
Cook's Petrels (c) Todd McGrath
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.
Buller's Shearwater (c) Dave Pereksta
Point Conceptions (c) Thomas A Blackman
(c) Todd McGrath and Jon Feenstra
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