Date: 8/31/26 12:03 pm From: Alvaro Jaramillo via groups.io <chucao...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] Morro Bay pelagic - Thu Sept 10
Hello all,
We were largely weathered out this last weekend, so I do not have any
pelagic news. Baird’s Beaked Whales off Monterey though is a highlight! We
have spots on many of our remaining pelagics and may add dates if the
situation warrants. But note that we do have a Sept 10 Morro Bay pelagic,
which is much more accessible to southern California birders than the Half
Moon Bay and Monterey Bay trips. This has been a great year for
storm-petrels, offshore murrelets, and Pterodroma petrels. We shall see what
happens now that we are in peak seabird season.
The conditions keep on getting more and more interesting for unusual
sightings. Warm water offshore due to marine heat waves and the El Niño are
moving things around offshore. As well, a huge marine heat wave off Japan
may have a smaller but perhaps noteworthy effect, it could increase chances
of Asian seabirds this year, and they have already been seen (Streaked
Shearwater etc.). Offshore tropical storms may also have an influence. In
short, it is always a crapshoot in terms of what a pelagic trip will provide
in terms of sightings, but the options seem to be greater this year in terms
of unusual sightings than most. Already this is perhaps the peak year for
Guadalupe Murrelet for at least 15 years? Lots is happening out there, and
we will report in with sightings from this coming weekend if we see
something unusual.
