| Trip Dates | Trip Destination | Current Status* |
|---|---|---|
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March 10, 2012 Saturday |
Seabirds of Oregon 8 hours from Newport, Oregon |
$130 24 spaces remain |
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April 7, 2012 Saturday |
Seabirds of Oregon 8 hours from Newport, Oregon |
$130; $120 early signup discount 26 spaces remain |
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May 5, 2012 Saturday |
Perpetua Bank 10 hours from Newport, Oregon |
$150; $140 early signup discount 24 spaces remain |
|
July 21, 2012 Saturday |
Seabirds of Oregon 8 hours from Newport, Oregon |
$130 16 spaces remain |
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August 11, 2012 Saturday |
Deepwater trip 12 hours from Newport, Oregon |
$165 SOLD OUT! - Inquire on Wait List availability |
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August 25, 2012 Saturday |
Oregon Shorebird Festival Charleston, Oregon |
$85 24 spaces remain |
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September 15, 2012 Saturday |
Seabirds of Oregon 8 hours from Newport, Oregon |
$130; $120 early signup discount 26 spaces remain |
|
September 23-26, 2012 |
Seabird Fest Vancouver BC to Los Angeles |
Deep sea birding on Princess Cruise ship! Hosted by Zugunruhe Tours |
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October 6, 2012 Saturday |
Perpetua Bank 10 hours from Newport, Oregon |
$150; $140 early signup discount 26 spaces remain |
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October 20, 2012 Saturday |
Seabirds of Oregon 8 hours from Newport, Oregon |
$130; $120 early signup discount 26 spaces remain |
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* Current status kept up-to-date, no need to inquire first before filling out reservation form. Trips may cancel if minimum signup not reached 21-30 days in advance--please sign up early. Status of "trip confirmed" indicates minimum signup met. |
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2012: Our 19th year! Spring trips! We will have 3 spring trips this year, one each in March, April, and May. Many birders take trips in the fall. How do spring trips differ, and what might you see? Unlike fall, early spring trips have few shearwaters, jaegers, phalaropes, and terns. By May, though, these species increase and adults are in breeding plumage! Seabirds in March are still very much as winter; offshore zones are dominated by HERRING, THAYER'S, and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, and NORTHERN FULMARS. Two species have peak numbers in March, often numbering over 100 on pelagic trips: RHINOCEROS AUKLETS (in breeding plumage and "horns") and BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES. Photo trip report from March 1, 2008 Waterfowl, including loons, grebes, and sea ducks, are migrating in early April. Offshore, birds are pretty much the same as March, but in higher numbers, generally, with a few early migrants as found in May. Photo trip report from March 25, 2007 Ealy May is the peak of spring seabird migration. As on land, there are migratory "waves" of birds, depending upon weather fronts. Flocks of ducks, loons, and shorebirds are in a constant northward stream near shore. Offshore, you may encounter flocks of RED and RED-NECKED PHALAROPES in bright breeding plumage. SOOTY and PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS are in good numbers. JAEGERS, if seen, will have their tell-tale tail streamers, making identification easier. BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS numbers are quite high, as young have fledged on the Hawaiian Islands breeding grounds and birds move to the West Coast for the abundant fish and squid. Photo trip report from May 15, 2011 The target bird on these spring trips is LAYSAN ALBATROSS. These magnificent birds join the regular BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES on over 75% of our spring trips out at least 25 miles. We've seen up to 8 birds in a day. They often come up to feed behind our boat when we stop to chum. Another target bird on spring trips is ANCIENT MURRELET. They are spotted on about 65% of our spring trips. They usually occur in small flocks, sometimes quite near shore. The third target bird of spring is SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER. We see them on over 75% of March trips. However, they are usually rare by April. Again, these birds are often quite near shore. Spring has several rare seabirds. SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSSES have been seen several times and are attracted to boats. MANX SHEARWATERS are most frequent in spring. HORNED PUFFINS are sometimes encountered (two ill birds washed up on the beach this January and were taken to a rehabilitator). We have several records of FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATERS in spring. Our early May trip is the perfect time for MURPHY'S PETRELS. These deep water rarities are mostly out beyond our pelagic trips, but we'll keep looking! The same could be said for LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS. We don't expect either, but we know they are out there regularly just a few more miles offshore, and have been found closer (30 miles offshore, where our pelagic trip ventures). Join us! Greg Gillson |
Rarity photo archive
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