Date: 10/17/25 10:03 am From: Tim Bray via groups.io <tbray...> Subject: [northbaybirds] Mendocino pelagics
Noyo Pelagics has only three more trips on the schedule. Jump on as many of these as you can, we have had some fantastic trips in October-November. Sign up for any and all at noyopelagics.com
Friday October 31 - All-day offshore seabirding - only a few people have signed up so far and this one is at risk of cancellation if there aren't enough people signed up to go. That would be a shame, as this is near peak migration for many seabirds, and a lot of birds will be moving south out of the Arctic and the Gulf of Alaska. Gull numbers and diversity will be increasing, Jaegers and Skuas may be abundant, Flesh-footed Shearwater is likely, and chances of a rarity like Parakeet Auklet, Horned Puffin, or Mottled Petrel are increasing. We've seen Cocos Booby twice this fall, and with the recent sighting of Waved Albatross at Cordell Bank (less than a day's flight from here, as the Albatross soars) we will be on high alert for another mega-rarity. Whales, dolphins, fur seals, and ocean sunfish are all likely to be encountered as well.
Monday November 3 - Half-day Noyo Canyon mammals and birds - We will be looking for whales (Humpback, Fin, and Blue are all possible) as well as the seabirds that often congregate above them. Several species of Dolphins are also likely, especially if the sea conditions allow us to maintain enough speed to attract the bow-riding Pacific White-sided and Northern Right-whale Dolphins. These half-day trips to the upper Noyo Canyon area have also been extremely productive for seabirds this year, with Petrels, Storm-petrels, Short-tailed Albatross, Cocos Booby, Manx Shearwater, etc. all seen just a few miles out.
Friday November 21 - All day Seabirding - Our November trip last year was amazing, with three Flesh-footed Shearwaters, and a surprising number of Fork-tailed and Leach's Storm-petrels, the latter rarely seen on these trips. We also had a stream of migrating Pomarine Jaegers, probably 40-50 different birds. Best bird was a Horned Puffin (possibly two). We also had Fin Whales.
Hope to see you on the boat - remember to sign up ASAP so the trips aren't canceled.
