Date: 8/31/26 7:39 am From: Peter Pyle via groups.io <ppyle...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Noyo Pelagics -August 30th recap
As hoped for we had calm winds inshore and a nice shear about 15 miles out. The ride was a bit bumpy inshore but once we reached are endpoint in the mouth of Noyo Canyon, 22 miles or so from shore, we were able to lay several slicks and ride the winds rather comfortable back to harbor.
Highlights were (tentative estimated numbers):
Cook's Petrels 4-5, although all at some distance.
Hawaiian Petrel 1 sallied for 3-4 minutes over our second slick to be enjoyed by all.
Nazca Booby adult or near adult attracted to the albatrosses and gulls on our third slick, swooped around above the boat against blue skies for 10 minutes or so. It was giving short "kairk" calls, a lifer sound for all on board (ID by Merlin!)
Storm-petrels found our 4th slick and these included Ashy 15-20 Black 15 or so here and 30-40 on the day, probably tripling the number of previous Mendocino records Fork-tailed 1-2 Wilson's 1-3 Least 1-3 for the 2nd+ county record(s) - we'll check photo time stamps to see how many.
Under these weather conditions there are birds around all trip and this was no exception: Black-footed Albatrosses, shearwaters including 10+ Buller's, Sabines Gulls in view at all times, the usual mix of all 4 jaeger and skua species and ages, a murrelet that was likely a Guadalupe, Arctic and Common terns, etc.
Most of the Mendocino old guard was aboard and got 1-2 new county birds each
We'll get a fuller report up with photos later this week. Our next scheduled trips are for 9/27 (half-day) and 10/17 (full day) although we may also schedule some more half-day trips when we see a good weather window ahead. We are also discussing adding a trip in late November or early December for Mottled Petrels. So stay tuned!
Peter
On 8/28/2026 8:56 AM, Peter Pyle wrote: > Last chance! > > In the week before a pelagic trip we check the forecasts continually, > hoping, dreading, strategizing. We don't want too much wind and rough > seas, of course, but we also don't want flat calm seas as the > tubenoses lay low or go elsewhere, following the winds, and it's too > much effort for the gulls and albatrosses to keep up with our > chumming. We muse that the perfect conditions are for relatively calm > winds inshore but a shear of higher winds off shore, as often happens, > the shearline extending from Cape Mendocino to Point Arena. Well, it > looks like we have our wish this trip, as such conditions are setting > up for us on Sunday. We'll be able to head north inside the shear, > then get out into it and ride it comfortably home. > > We still have a few spots on the boat so please consider joining us. > If you wake up early and suddenly have the urge to go, come on down to > Noyo Harbor by 7:20 or so and we'll be able to get you aboard. The > cost is $185 for a full day, cash, check, or card at the dock. We're > looking forward to an interesting trip given mixed warm and cool > offshore waters. To secure a spot, go to https://noyopelagics.com/. > > Scholarships may still be available, and a camping spot as well (see > below). > > Cheers, Peter > > On 8/21/2026 9:02 AM, Tim Bray via groups.io wrote: >> From Peter Pyle: >> >> We still have some room on our pelagic trip on Sunday, August 30th, >> from Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg. Northwest winds continue and are >> predicted for some days between now and then, but they are generally >> not big blows, in the range of 10-15 knots, as typically occurs in >> late August. Upwelling produced by these winds has kept water >> temperatures cool off the Mendocino coast, now in the 54-58 degree >> range, with a cooler band of water occurring off our coast among the >> warmer incoming water associated with El Niño. >> >> https://www.ospo.noaa.gov/products/ocean/cb/sst5km/?product=ssta >> >> New and interesting birds continue to be seen on our trips. Following >> positive comments from outside reviewers, we have accepted records of >> 6 Townsend's Storm-Petrels observed and photographed on our trip of >> August 3rd. Summaries of these and other recent records, representing >> the first documented occurrences of this species in northern >> California, are in the eBird Checklists, for example here: >> >> https://ebird.org/checklist/S380229170 >> >> On a half-day trip on August 16th we photographed a first-cycle >> Hawaiian Petrel in formative plumage, a poorly understood plumage for >> this species: >> >> https://ebird.org/checklist/S384651087 >> >> Late August is a great time for a variety of all the regular species >> (albatrosses, shearwaters, jaegers, skuas, Sabine's Gulls, Arctic >> Terns, puffins, phalaropes, etc.) and we anticipate finding good >> numbers of storm-petrels as we did on our August 3rd trip (five >> species including Wilson's). Nazca Boobies seem to be having an >> incursion year, with 2 in SF, 3-4 off Mendocino, and one off Humboldt >> yesterday, so far. Other southern or warmer-water species such as >> Cocos Boobies and Guadalupe Murrelets have also been seen in >> relatively good numbers off the central and northern coasts of late, >> and we anticipate that these and other unusual species will be >> attracted to the cooler waters of higher marine productivity off >> Mendocino, surrounded by warm-water "oceanic desert" moving in. >> Finally, you never know, there's always the chance for a >> 'mega-rarity' on any pelagic trip. >> >> We still have scholarships available for high school and college >> students, sponsored by Mendocino Coast Audubon, for free tickets. If >> interested in one of these, contact Tim Bray (<audubon...>). MCAS >> has also reserved a campsite at MacKerricher State Park for the night >> of the 29th-30th. If interested in taking advantage of this, contact >> Roger Adamson (<radamson...>). >> >> To join us on the trip: https://noyopelagics.com/ >> >> Hope to see you on the 30th! >> Peter >> >> >> >> >> >> >
