Date: 7/19/26 4:15 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] San Diego pelagic 18 Jul: 2 Cook's, 2 Laysans, 7 Guadalupes, Nazca, 4 Townsend's, 17 Black-footeds, 14 Craveri's
The San Diego pelagic trip on Saturday, July 18, aboard "Legacy" and sponsored by Buena Vista Audubon Society was excellent for quality species. The trip went out as far as the 30-Mile Bank and "The Corner." The top highlights included 2 Cook's Petrels, one at The Corner and one closer to shore than usual in the San Diego Trough only 18.4 mi WSW of the tip of Point Loma (32.606, -117.555). Two separate Laysan Albatrosses sat on the water near the boat, both at the 30-Mile Bank. The lofty total of seven Guadalupe Murrelets included the first two birds much closer to shore than usual at just 10.1 miles (32.709, -117.433) and 13.6 miles off Point Loma, and an amazing group of five birds on the return in the San Diego Trough (32.607, -117.584) comprised of two adults and three large fuzzy chicks. Most alcids raise only one or sometimes two young, so perhaps this group was comprised of individuals from two family groups or some sort of adoption? A sub-adult Nazca Booby flew right by the boat repeatedly inside the 9-Mile Bank. The total of 17 Black-footed Albatrosses ties the county high count set just six days earlier. Also, four Townsend's Storm-Petrels at the 30-Mile Bank, a total of 14 Craveri's Murrelets, and a single rare-in-July Scripps's Murrelet. Overall numbers of birds were unexceptional. Sea surface temperatures were a bit above average at 70-71 degrees.
Totals for the day once we were a mile offshore were as follows:
Also, Humpback Whale, N. Elephant Seal, Mola-Mola, California Flying Fish
Lots of photos will be added once the shared e-bird lists are available, likely on Monday.
Seven trips still remain this season, three in August, three in September, and one in October. For further information, see sandiegopelagics.com. Reservations made at sdwhale.com (look under "birdwatch trips").
--Paul Lehman, Bruce Rideout, Dan Jehl, Alex Abela, Adrian Hinkle, Matt Sadowski, Barbara Wise, San Diego
