2009 03-01 Condor Express All-Day Bird Trip

We left just after dawn on an oily glassy day. The trip ran up the middle of the SB Channel, west of San Miguel Island, and out to the Rodriguez Seamount (aka Rodriguez Dome). The birders were on board to chase down the elusive Parakeet Auklets. Many other species of birds, mammals and fish were seen too. A magnificent day. We ran home south of San Miguel, through the San Miguel Passage, then back to Santa Barbara Harbor. An all day adventure.

Dawn, Santa Barbara, and the Black Skimmers are out feeding (Rynchops niger).
sunrise rynchops niger skimming 2009 harbor
A dark morph Northern Fulmar (Fulmaris glacialis) flys by.
fulmaris glacialis one flight 2009 socal bight
Eschrichtius robustus & Platform Holly 2009 03-01 SoCal Bight - 438modCROP
eschrichtius robustus platform holly 2009 socal bight
A light morph and dark morph Northern Fulmar (Fulmaris glacialis).
fulmaris glacialis light dark 2009 socal bight
A good look at a light morph Northern Fulmar (Fulmaris glacialis), right lateral aspect.
fulmaris glacialis glassy water 2009 socal bight
Light morph Northern Fulmar (Fulmaris glacialis), left lateral aspect.
fulmaris glacialis glassy surface 2009 socal bight
The outline of the entire tail fluke of this Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) is seen as it prepares to lift out of the water...the whale is starting a deep dive.
megaptera novaengliae tail fluke just 2009 socal bight
Northern Fulmar (Fulmaris glacialis) trys to take off with no wind.
fulmaris glacialis take glassy 2009 socal bight
Northern Fulmar (Fulmaris glacialis) in flight.
fulmaris glacialis one flight 2009 socal bight
A small flock of Northern Fulmars (Fulmaris glacialis) take flight.
fulmaris glacialis group water 2009 socal bight
A dark morph Northern Fulmar (Fulmaris glacialis) walking on water.
fulmaris glacialis taking 2009 socal bight
Lone Rhino. Rhinoceros auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata) swimming on very glassy water.
cerorhinca monocerata glassy water 2009 socal bight
Cerorhinca monocerata on glassy water 2009 03-01 SoCal Bight - 0154modCROP
cerorhinca monocerata glassy water 2009 socal bight
A group of Rhinoceros auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata) in flight.
cerorhinca monocerata group flight glassy water 2009 socal bight
Portrait of Castle Rock, San Miguel Island. A smooth ocean surface and great visibility. The Santa Ynez mountains on the mainland can be seen in the background.
castle rock southern side 2009 miguel island
Outriggers on the beach - Dawn in Santa Barbara.
sunrise outrigger sand 2009 harbor
Two rhinos - Rhinoceros auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata).
cerorhinca monocerata two flight glassy water 2009 socal bight
On the back side of San Miguel Island - Cardwell Point, southeastern view. Santa Ynez mountains on the mainland can be seen in back.
cardwell point southeast 2009 miguel island
Image 1 of 2; The container cargo vessel 'MOL Proficiency' moving east as it enters the southbound coastal shipping lanes at the western end of the Santa Barbara Channel. The next photo is a close up showing the common dolphins in the water around the boat.
container vessel mol proficiency 2009 socal bight
Image 2 of 2; Common dolphins (Delphinus capensis) are dwarfed by the container cargo vessel 'MOL Proficiency' moving east as it enters the southbound coastal shipping lanes at the western end of the Santa Barbara Channel. The previous photo is the full frame showing the entire boat.
delphinus container vessel mol proficiency 2009 socal bight
A diving Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) showing a tail fluke that is missing a chunk on the left edge. Ouch.
eschrichtius robustus deformed tail fluke 2009 socal bight
Four rhinos in a row - Rhinoceros auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata) in flight.
cerofhinca monocerata four flight 2009 socal bight
Deceased Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) floats on the open sea. Image 1 of 2.
phoca vitulina eyes gone 2009 socal bight
Deceased Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) floats on the open sea. Image 2 of 2.
phoca vitulina eyes gone 2009 socal bight
A Dall's Porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) speeds up to visit the Condor Express.
phocoenoides dalli 2009 socal bight
Northwestern portion of Santa Rosa Island showing springtime greenery.
northwest spring 2009 sta rosa island
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaegliae) with nostrils (blowholes) open wide.
megaptera novaengliae blowholes open wide 2009 socal bight
Three Dall's Porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli).
phocoenoides dalli three 2009 socal bight
Torpedo aimed directly at the Condor Express? No, it's a Dall's Porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) kicking up a characteristic rooster tail wake.
phocoenoides dalli one coming camera 2009 socal bight
Oily glass - Beaufort sea state zero; 80 miles offshore from Santa Barbara.
sea state zero 2009 socal bight
"The man in the blue suit." A blue shark (Prionace glauca) swims just below the glassy surface.
prionace glauca under glassy surface 2009 socal bight
Looking at the western end of San Miguel Island - Point Bennett in the middle, and Castle Rock off to the left side.
point bennet castle rock southern side 2009 miguel island
A flock of Cassin's Auklets (Ptychoramphus aleuticus) with bellies too fat to allow a quick take off.
ptychoramphus aleuticus group taking glassy water 2009 socal bight
The sportfishing vessel 'Stardust' departs Santa Barbara at dawn in search of the wiley rock cod.
sportfishing vessel stardust dawn 2009 socal bight
As a photographer, sometimes it pays to get up early. Dawn - Santa Barbara Harbor.
sunrise harbor 2009
A Beaufort sea state nearly zero. A Xantus's Murrelet swims by (Synthliboramphus hypoleucus) .
sea state zero xantus murrelet 2009 socal bight
A Xantus's Murrelet (Synthliboramphus hypoleucus) takes flight on a glassy ocean surface.
synthliboramphus hypoleucus xantus murrelet glassy water take 2009 socal bight
A California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) swims by the boat.
zalophus glassy water 2009 socal bight
A Xantus's Murrelet (Synthliboramphus hypoleucus) swims on a mirror.
synthliboramphus hypoleucus xantus murrelet glassy water 2009 socal bight
Here we see a couple of Western Gulls (Larus occidentalis) walking along the top of a drifting kelp paddy (Macrocystis pyrifera) as a male California Sea Lion pops his head up.
zalophus larus drift macrocystis paddy 2009 socal bight
Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) feeding inside the Harbor; Santa Barbara.
sunrise rhychops niger skimming boats 2009 harbor
Sunrise and a Black Skimmer is at work(Rynchops niger); Santa Barbara.
sunrise rynchops niger 2009 harbor
A Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) works the surface of the ocean under golden morning light.
sunrise rynchops niger 2009 harbor
Here they come! Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) just before sun up; Stearn's Wharf is in the background; Santa Barbara.
sunrise rynchops niger group 2009 harbor
A Xantus's Murrelet (Synthliboramphus hypoleucus) pops up for air on a glassy surface.
synthliboramphus hypoleucus xantus murrelet head breaks surface comin glassy water 2009 socal bight

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2009 03-01 Condor Express All-Day Bird Trip