Arizona - California Trip ~ October 4, 2014

Today's agenda was a pelagic trip out of Point Loma on the 'Grande'. A Black-crowned Night-Heron and a Western Grebe were seen from the dock. On the way out to the Pacific, we saw a small group of birds on shore that contained Black Oystercatchers, an unusual American X Black Oystercatcher hybrid, and a few Whimbrel. Some Elegant Terns and an Eared Grebe were spotted near the point. Along the Mexican border, my first of many Black-vented Shearwaters zipped past.

Good numbers of Red-necked Phalaropes and smaller numbers of Cassin's Auklets were found along several stretches of the trip. At and around the '30-Mile Bank', I got to see my 'life' Black Storm-Petrels and, soon after, some Least Storm-Petrels. Back at the '9-Mile Bank', a few Pink-footed Shearwaters flew in, one of them nice and close.

I was lucky enough to see the two Craveri's Murrelets sitting on the water as we approached, my fourth 'lifer' of the day! Their grayish underwings were noted as they flew off.
A Striped Marlin put on a show, making several lunges out of the ocean.

A Humpback Whale surfaced just long enough for me to get a photo of the tail as it dove.

Other notables that I saw included an Ashy Storm-Petrel, several Pomarine Jaegers, and a Sabine's Gull. I also saw one of the Leach's Storm-Petrels, but it was so far out that I couldn't even consider counting it as my life bird.

As we headed back towards Point Loma, I had the good fortune to be able to talk with Guy McCaskie, "the godfather of California birding." I mentioned to him that I was planning on looking for the Red-throated Pipits at the Dairy Mart sod farm the next morning. I had seen them in Alaska but never in the 'lower 48'. He said he was going there, too, and let me know what kind of vehicle to look for.

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