Date: 4/28/25 9:52 am From: Tim Bray via groups.io <tbray...> Subject: [northbaybirds] Three-Albatross Morning off Mendocino
On the half-day Noyo Pelagics trip the morning of Saturday April 26, we encountered mind-boggling numbers of Black-footed Albatross, with several hundred in view at one time. One Laysan Albatross briefly joined the party as well; this species was formerly considered rare here, but now seems to be regularly seen on spring trips. The highlight though, was a juvenile SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS that came in while we were chumming and gave us great views as it sat on the water. This will be the ninth documented off the Mendocino coast, and six of those were in the same area where we found this one, near the upper end of Noyo Canyon. Last year there were four sightings off Mendo, so it's exciting to think they are becoming more regular here.
Other interesting rarities were a Common Tern just outside the harbor, and a Scripps's Murrelet seen on the way back in, unusually close to shore. Sooty Shearwaters and Pink-footed Shearwaters put on a show, dynamically soaring in the breeze.
We were all struck by not only the large numbers of seabirds, but by how close in they were. The farthest out we got was the "dogleg" of upper Noyo Canyon, about ten miles, and most of the action was closer in, especially at the upper end of the canyon where a "drag boat" had attracted a huge flock of birds. An amazing day.
Noyo Pelagics has all-day trips scheduled for May 9 and May 11, so you can make a long weekend with a day of land-birding in between. Half- and full-day trips are scheduled each month after that. You can see the schedule and sign up for any trip at their website: noyopelagics.com
