Birders,

The Searcher 5 day pelagic trip left San Diego on Monday Sep 2 and arrived back there around 830 AM on Friday the 6th (today). Highlights were many. 6 adult Nazca Boobies. 1 on the 30 mile bank in SD, one near SB island in SB county, a third in VEN just east of the the San Juan Seamount, and an additional 3 flying near the bait barge in SD harbor this morning. 2 Red-billed Tropicbirds (both in VEN). Over 100 Cooks Petrels seen across 3 days ranging from the San Juan Seamount to well south and east of the Cortez bank. Over a dozen Craveris murrelets in SD and SBA county, and two Guadalupe murrelets that allowed close approach and a twenty minute view.

Other highlights included a Wilsons Storm-Petrel in SBA waters, good numbers of Townsends Storm-Petrels in three counties, 500 Ashy Storm-Petrels north of SBI, as well as large numbers of Leachs and Black. Up to 10 Blackl-footed Albatrosses in view at once, plus all the jaegers, South Polar Skua And all the regular migrants. Brown Boolies at a fogged in Sutil Rock were the only place we saw that species.

non-avian highlights included a Swordfish at the surface, a large Mako shark that came right to the boar, Blue Whales. Two seldom-seen in CA Brydes Whales, and atleast two ETP Orcas on a fresh seal kill. A group of six minke whales were unusually cooperative south of Santa Cruz Island. commin dolphins of both types were seen on multiple occasions.

Thanks to Searcher Natural History Tours As well as Art Taylor and Celia Condit for another great trip.

Special thanks to my co-leaders Dave Pereksta, Dave Povey, and Adam Searcy, as well as to all the participants.

Todd McGrsth
sku@...
The Woodlands, TX