2009 05-16 Condor Express All Day Bird Trip

The Condor Express ran an all-day bird trip for Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary volunteers and their guests. Despite overcast skies all day, the Condor ran up the Channel to a spot 20 miles west of San Miguel Island, then headed south for a few hours of deep water hunting. As you will see from these images, many good birds and mammals were observed. Another great day on the Condor Express.

Six common dolphins (Delphinus capensis) rocket past us underwater.
delphinus six clear blue water cal bight
Rhinoceros auklet, Cerorhinca monocerata, swimming on a rippled surface.
cerorhinca monocerata one glassy 2009 cal bight
Two common dolphins (Delphinus capensis) leap together.
delphinus two leaping 2009 cal bight
Three c ommon dolphins (Delphinus capensis) take a dive.
delphinus three spash drops 2009 cal bight
Two curious common dolphins take a look up at us (Delphinus capensis).
delphinus two dappled surface 2009 cal bight
The horned puffin (Fratercula corniculata) turned out to be a major sighting of this unusual looking fish-eating bird.
fratercula corniculata 2009 cal bight
Another look at the horned puffin (Fratercula corniculata).
fratercula corniculata 2009 cal bight
Two looks at a northern fulmar (Fulmaris glacialis); shot 1 of 2.
fulmaris glacialis 2009 cal bight 079
Two looks at a northern fulmar (Fulmaris glacialis); shot 2 of 2.
fulmaris glacialis 2009 cal bight 278
Three humpback whales (Megaptera novangliae) come in for a "mugging" of the Condor Express.
megaptera novangliae three condor passengers 2009 cal bight
Our resident pelagic bird gurus: Jon Feenstra (left) and Wes "Shipwreck" Fritz (right).
jon feenstra wes shipwreck fritz 2009 cal bight
Adult Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) raises its pectoral fin, while a juvenile swims by in the foreground.
megaptera novangliae two one young pectoral 2009 cal bight
Sequence shot 1 of 3: Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) rises up to the surface pectoral fin first, then slams it down as it rolls its tremendous body over to the left.
megaptera novanglliae sideways 2009 cal bight
Sequence shot 2 of 3: Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) rises up to the surface pectoral fin first, then slams it down as it rolls its tremendous body over to the left.
megaptera novanglliae side pectoral air 2009 cal bight
Sequence shot 3 of 3: Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) rises up to the surface pectoral fin first, then slams it down as it rolls its tremendous body over to the left.
megaptera novanglliae pectoral slap 2009 cal bight
Colorful underside of a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) tail fluke.
megaptera novangliae tail flluke glassy 2009 cal bight
A long, tall pectoral fin from a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae).
megaptera novanglliae pectoral 2009 cal bight
Grey, overcast and glassy. A Humpback whale (Megaptera novangliae) spouts.
megaptera novanglliae head spout glassy 2009 cal bight
Two more Humpback Whales (Megaptera novangliae) cruise close by the people on the Condor Express. "Look at all the blue jackets," they must be thinking.
megaptera novangliae condor passengers 2009 cal bight
Powerful tail-throw from a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae).
megaptera novanglliae tail throw 2009 cal bight
Three whales (Megaptera novangliae) and one of them on its side.
megaptera novanglliae three one pectoral 2009 cal bight
Elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) on the sand dunes along the south side of San Miguel Island.
mirounga angustirostris masses beach 2009 miguel island
Several Humpbacks (Megaptera novangliae) close to the boat and one does a pectoral slap wave.
megaptera novanglliae three one pectoral condor people 2009 cal bight
An entire Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) passes alongside the Condor Express and rises to the surface to breathe.
megaptera novanglliae whole body visible 2009 cal bight
Two Humpbacks (Megaptera novangliae) on a glassy overcast morning.
megaptera novanglliae two one spout glassy 2009 cal bight
Red necked phalaropes (Phalaropus lobatus) fly across the glassy ocean surface leaving abstract reflection patterns.
phalaropus lobatus flock flight abstract reflections 2009 cal bight
A red necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) in flight.
phalaropus lobatus flight 2009 cal bight
A Humpback Whale (Megaptera novangliae) with people watching from the Condor Express.
megaptera novanglliae people condor 2009 cal bight
Two young black-footed albatross (Phoebastria nigripes), one taking off.
phoebastria nigripes juv two one take 2009 cal bight
Mola mola!
mola 2009 cal bight
For size comparison purposes, here's a Western Gull (Larus occidentalis) and a young black-footed albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) in flight.
phoebastria nigripes larus occidentalis flight 2009 cal bight
Young black-footed albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) in flight.
phoebastria nigripes one flight 2009 cal bight
A flock of red-necked phalaropes (Phalaropus lobatus) in flight.
phalaropus lobatus flock flight 2009 cal bight 128
Sooty shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) get a running start towards taking flight.
puffinus griseus four taking glassy surface 2009 cal bight
A pink-footed shearwater (Puffinus creatopus) takes flight.
puffinus creatopus taking glassy 2009 cal bight
One sooty shearwater (Puffinus griseus) and its reflection on the mirror surface.
puffinus griseus one reflection glassy 2009 cal bight
A juvenile Xantus' murrelet (Synthliboramphus hypoleucus).
uria aalge juv flightless glassy water 2009 cal bight
The juvenile Xantus' murrelet (Synthliboramphus hypoleucus) is so young and puffed up that it cannot dive; its father looks on.
uria aalge two adult male juv flightless glassy water 2009 cal bight
A juvenile Xantus' murrelet (Synthliboramphus hypoleucus) swims one way, while a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) swims the other. Many bird photographers complain that every time you get a rare bird up close near the boat a pesky furry mammal comes in to get itself in the picture. As you can tell by my company logo, and as much as I love pelagic birds.....
uria aalge zalophus glassy water 2009 cal bight
Sooty shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) create horizontal lines as they take off.
puffinus griseus many taking 2009 cal bight
Pink footed shearwater (Puffinus creatopus) and California sea lion (Zalophus californianus).
zalophus puffinus creatopus water 2009 cal bight
A mob of sooty shearwaters (Puffinus griseus).
puffinus griseus flock water 2009 cal bight
Pink footed shearwater (Puffinus creatopus) and California sea lion (Zalophus californianus).
zalophus puffinus creatopus water 2009 cal bight
Adult male Xantus' murrelet (Synthliboramphus hypoleucus). and its very young offspring.
uria aalge two adult male juv flightless glassy water 2009 cal bight
Three California sea lions (Zalophus californianus).
zalophus three heads 2009 cal bight
A mob of curious California sea lions (Zalophus californianus).
zalophus eight rafting 2009 cal bight
A lone California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) takes refuge near some floating Cystoseira sea weed debris.
zalophus cystoseira paddy 2009 cal bight

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2009 05-16 Condor Express All Day Bird Trip

Location of today's photography