PTERODROMA CHASE SAN JUAN SEAMOUNT CONDOR EXPRESS - Santa Barbara Sponsored By: Los Angeles Audubon Society & Condor Cruises Saturday, May 1, 2010 7:00 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Murphy's Petrel (c) Matt Sadowski
By Todd McGrath
On our first Condor Express trip of the season we will search the 2000+ fathom water around the San Juan Seamount in hopes of finding such rarities as Murphy's, Cook's and Hawaiian Petrel. We hope to see both Black-footed and LaysanAlbatrosses as both are regular offshore in spring, with Black-footed being more common. Parakeet Auklets were seen on this trip in 2007.
Spring is one of my favorite times to head offshore, beacause in addition to the rarity potential, spring migration will be in full swing. We can expect to see Northern Fulmar; Sooty and Pink-footed Shearwaters; Black, Ashy and Leach's Storm-Petrels; Pomarine, Parasitic and Long-tailed Jaegers; Cassin's and Rhino Auklets plus Xantus's Murrelets around the Channel islands.
The trip cost is $195, which is quite reasonable to cover the 250 mile round trip to the San Juan Seamount. I hope to see you on board!
Horned Puffin from the Condor Express (c) Dave Pereksta 16May2009
The spring Condor Express pelagic trip has a record for finding rarities. For example: a thousand Sabine's Gulls, a pod of Orca Killer Whales and seven Parakeet Auklets were enjoyed by dozens of birders on 21 Apr 2007 on this spring pelagic trip aboard the Condor Express.
This trip departs from the Santa Barbara Harbor on the fast catamaran Condor Express at 7:00 a.m. sharp and will return approximately by 8:00 p.m. Weather permitting we will cruise along the deep water shelf by the San Juan Seamount. RESERVATIONS: Reservations are $195. Call Condor Cruises(805) 882-0088. IMPORTANT DETAILS: Click for important logistic information about the boat, the landing, driving directions, maps, lodging, weather, refund and cancellation policies, on-board facilities, meals and snacks.
HOW TO PREPARE: Click for 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!
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.
Cook's Petrel - May 2009 (c) Dave Pereksta
Point Conceptions (c) Thomas A Blackman
(c) Todd McGrath and Jon Feenstra
This site is owned and operated by the Buena Vista Audubon Society 2202 South Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA 92054 (c) 2007-2010 Buena Vista Audubon Society, Oceanside, California. All rights reserved. All photos copyrighted.
