Hi all,
The sea surface temperature is a balmy 73 F in the Catalina channel today, and some of us headed out on Danny's small boat to do some pelagic birding out of San Pedro. We had a low swell with some mild wind chop and light winds. We only got as far as Avalon Bank and back.
Along the way, we stopped to check out a small dark Storm-Petrel at33.485481,-118.227702. It looked good for a dark-rumped Townsend's Storm-Petrel (but need to double check photos). While we were trying to stay on that bird and call out field marks, Dave Bell pointed out that a Red-footed Booby was sitting on the water less than 100 feet from the boat. Apparently the bird had been there all the time.
After some great looks at the Booby, we put down a slick, motored around for a bit and came back to check it out in an hour. The slick had attracted a raft of 100 Black Storm-petrels. An Ashy and a Least Storm-Petrel made an appearance too.
Other birds of note during the morning were a Leach's Storm-Petrel and a Sabine's Gull. Shearwaters were generally scarce all morning, with only a small number of Black-vents and a handful of Pink-foots seen. No Sooty Shearwaters.
Happy birding
Naresh
-- Naresh Satyan Pasadena, CA