Date: 8/30/25 8:26 pm From: Tom Benson via groups.io <thomasabenson...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] SBVAS pelagic trip, August 30
San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society sponsored a 10-hour pelagic trip out of Dana Point today, August 30, aboard the Ocean Institute's R/V Sea Explorer. We departed at 7 AM and returned at 5 PM, visiting Crespi Knoll, a small portion of the ridge southeast of Catalina Island (in LA County), and the nearshore waters off Dana Point and Laguna Beach. Overall, we had a productive trip, though it was relatively slow far offshore. We were only 12 km southwest of Dana Point when we encountered several feeding Fin Whales and a large raft of 800+ Pink-footed Shearwaters. While there were some Black-vented and Sooty Shearwaters mixed in, we did not encounter any rare shearwaters in the mix, but a Sabine's Gull was seen by a few. We had only travelled a couple kilometers away from the shearwater rafts when we encountered a SOUTH POLAR SKUA sitting on the water with some gulls. It was fairly cooperative and everyone on board was able to see it. We continued offshore to Crespi Knoll where there were relatively few birds, although a raft of 50 Black Storm-Petrels that were mostly uncooperative was unexpected (in that they were rafting on the water; we don't usually encounter them in this manner). We saw very few birds, and none of interest during our traverse of LA County waters. After returning to Orange County waters, we were passing between Lausen Sea Mount and the 279 Bank (19 km southwest of Dana Point) when a RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD picked up off the water and then flew past our boat. Continuing back toward the harbor, we encountered what were likely some of the same Pink-footed Shearwaters that we had seen in the morning, and while scanning through them we found a FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER 17 km southwest of Dana Point. Other highlights from the trip included offshore Barn Swallows and an unidentified hummingbird, and a single Common Tern that may have been seen by only one person on board the ship. Black Storm-Petrels were scattered about for most of the day, several Pomarine Jaegers and a few Red-necked Phalaropes were seen, but we encountered no alcids of any kind.
Tom BensonSan Bernardino Valley Audubon Society
