The San Diego pelagic trip on 14 May aboard “Legacy” and sponsored by Buena Vista Audubon Society took place under beautiful sea conditions. We explored out to the western edge of San Diego County waters. The light seas provided for fine looks at virtually all species and for excellent photographic opportunities. The biggest surprise was the loose group of 3 breeding-plumaged Black Terns at the inside of San Diego Trough. eBird lists with lots of photos will be posted in the next couple days.
Offshore totals for the day were as follows:
Brant 16 (northbound)
Red-necked Phalarope 170
Red Phalarope 18 (incl. in full breeding plumage)
Pomarine Jaeger 2
Cassin’s Auklet 29
Scripps’s Murrelet 68 (excellent total, and incl. large chicks)
Sabine’s Gull 2
Heermann’s Gull 5
Western Gull 180
California Gull 15
Herring Gull 1 (getting late; first-cycle)
BLACK TERN 3 (breeding plumage; 17.8 mi off Point Loma)
Least Tern 25 (good number well offshore)
Royal Tern 2
Elegant Tern 350
Pacific Loon 31 (northbound flocks)
Northern Fulmar 8 (starting to look worn and tattered)
Pink-footed Shearwater 38
Sooty Shearwater 48
Black-vented Shearwater 3
Ashy Storm-Petrel 4 (good comparisons with Blacks)
Black Storm-Petrel 300
Brandt’s Cormorant 1
Brown Pelican 180
Great Blue Heron 1
passerine sp. 1
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–Paul Lehman, Dave Povey, Nancy Christensen, Pete Ginsburg, Matt Sadowski, et al.
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