[obol] fall pelagic trips

[Greg Gillson]

Friends,

Our fall seabird boat trips are filling up fast!

Already our first trip of the fall, the 11-hour Perpetua Bank on August 25 
is full. This is the best date for Long-tailed Jaegers, Arctic Terns, and 
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels. If seas are calm we see sharks, ocean sunfish, 
and Humpback Whales. And the warm blue tuna water has been as close as 20 
miles to shore. This could really add some interesting possible rare birds, 
including Xantus's Murrelet or perhaps some rare warm-water storm-petrel 
(Black, Ashy, Wilson's?) or shearwater (Wedge-tailed?).

For beginners, especially those unsure of their sea legs, the 5-hour trip 
from Charleston on September 1 for the Oregon Shorebird Festival is for you. 
This exciting half day trip will see the common species, including 
Black-footed Albatrosses, Sooty and Pink-footed Shearwaters, Sabine's Gulls, 
and several other seabirds. Price is only $55, but there are only 8 spaces 
remaining!

Our special September 22 Perpetua Bank trip makes one additional chum point 
about 35 miles off Lane County on the edge of Heceta Bank. This is a good 
time for Buller's Shearwaters, Parasitic Jaegers, and South Polar Skuas. 
Price $155. Only 6 spaces remain.

Our October 6 Perpetua Bank is filling fast. Thus, I have just opened signup 
on a second trip that weekend, Sunday, October 7. Out-of-state visitors, 
especially, like to take two back-to-back trips to maximize their species 
tally, but also to really learn the birds. It seems that one day is usually 
better for birds than the other on these dual trip weekends, though most of 
the common species are the same. This is the best time of year for 
Flesh-footed Shearwaters and South Polar Skuas. This first weekend in 
October has been good to us for rarities: Shy Albatross (twice!), 
Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Brown Booby, Xantus's Murrelets, etc. Price $155.

Our last trip of the fall, to Perpetua Bank on October 20, still has many 
discount spaces remaining. This is the best time of fall for Laysan 
Albatrosses, Short-tailed Albatrosses, Short-tailed Shearwaters, and the 
first of the wintering Black-legged Kittiwakes, Ancient Murrelets, and 
Thayer's Gulls. Marine mammals often highlight trips at this time of year. 
Regular price $155, but significant discounts for the earliest to sign up.

For full information, abundance checklists, preparation material, sightings 
archives, and reservations, please visit: http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics

I hope to see you on the boat!

Greg Gillson
The Bird Guide, Inc.
greg at thebirdguide.com