When I relocated to Washington state, something kinda weird happened. I stopped doing as much local, in state exploring as had in California. I didn't stop enjoying roaming about, but when I moved here almost 7 years ago, there was SO MUCH needed doing it got me out of my nomadic ways. I hereby declare my stationary days are over, damn it!
Decided to go on an all day Pelagic Birding trip with Westport Seabirds in Gray's Harbor County. It's 3 hours south and It was fun viewing the local folk... some with red glowing eyes....
I arrived in Westport, WA early Friday afternoon, stymied when GPS insisted my motel was in the center of a cluster of Industrial buildings. Called the hotel, and they kindly told me where they were hidden. After setting up my hotel room, I scouted out where the boat pier was so I would not freak out at 5 AM, searching for where one boards the birding boat.
The boat wasn't gigantic (kind of a plus!) and there were maybe 16 co-birders plus the crew, captain and more importantly, 3 pelagic guides. The Guides' jobs were to spot the cool oceanic birds and get us 'onto them', i.e., point out where the birds were so we could get our binoculars onto them.
It was a beautiful day, lots of sun, although the waters seemed gray much of the day. I hoped to see two new lifer birds - Parakeet Auklet, and Manx Shearwater.
A Manx Shearwater, unseen by 'moi'
No Parakeet Auklets showed up. Where the EFF are they hiding? We weren't a half hour out of port and a Manx Shearwater, 2 of them were seen... sadly, not seen by me.
One thing learned in birding is you can neither make birds show up because you want to see them, and even if they show up, you personally may not manage to see them. I stared where the guides pointed as they called out 'ABOVE THE HORIZON AT 1 O'CLOCK!' and BELOW THE HORIZON AT 3 O'CLOCK!" Despite the helpful shouts I could not 'get on the bird' with my binoculars to save my life. Oh well. Some times the magic works, and sometimes the magic doesn't work. *sigh*
Here's a few birdies I managed to see and photograph.
Herring Gulls
Black-footed Albatross
Black-footed on the lam
Sabine's Gulls
Common Murres
Flotilla of Common Murres
Common Murre
Yes, even more Common Murres
Any pelagic birding outing can turn into a Whale watching opportunity. Early in the trip Gray Whales were seen, and *sigh* I missed seeing them. But the gods were with me for two other species.
HUMPBACKS! This one is headed into a dive...
That means it's TAIL UP!
This Humpback has mostly dark flukes, with slight white markings at the ends. Betcha if this photo were sent out on line, there's a registry of individual humpbacks based on their fluke patterns.
Bye bye!
YAY! A small pod of Dall's Porpoises popped up. I bet it's been 20 years since the last time I saw any. Used to see them on various pelagic trips to the Farallon Islands out of San Francisco. Dall's are shaped like big fatties and are slightly faster than the speed of light. Ok, almost that fast, lol.
Dall's Porpoise (headed left)
Hoped they'd 'ride the bow' but they did not. One did swim past quite close and was able to look to see one of these speed demons zip by about 15 feet below me.
Dall's Porpoise
Fun has to end at some point, and mid afternoon, the good ship Blitz headed back towards dock ten. First we passed buoys loaded down with boys & girls of the Steller's Sea Lion persuasion.
Headed dock-ward, Double-crested Cormorants were on hand. Note the Double-crested have orange skin on their faces. On the right top is a Brant's Cormorant on its nest - it has blue skin on its face.
Cormorants sunning and nesting on harbor marker
The cormorant below is a Pelagic Cormorant. They have skinny necks and long thin-ish bills. Some of the year they have white flank patches (normally how I identify them). If you can see it, this species has a little red skin around the eyes and bill. Can't see that on this one.
Pelagic Cormorant
Now here's a weird thing. There are no Brown Pelicans where I live and I'm not very far from the Pacific Ocean, and am smack on the San Juan Straits. Still, no pelicans and wow, do I miss them. Thought they would be common here, but not so. They show up maybe one at a time, once in a bit. But they are totally common around Westport, south to Mexico. Such graceful and greedy giants.
Brants Cormorant on the wing
Double-crested Cormorant, and you can see the double-crest on its noggin
Heading back into port, as we neared the dock, folks lined the pier because today is officially CRAB DERBY day!
And as the Blitz headed into its pier, bubbles floated over the bow. You can see the bubbly source in the short vid below.
I got in a visit to Pu'uhonua O Honaunau twice on this trip, once by myself, and a second time with Jeannie & Ron. We took our time viewing the exhibits and roaming the sandy walkways as the weather was on the warm side today.
Pu'uhonua O Honaunau is known as 'the Place of Refuge', as those who offended the powers that be, enough to risk kapu - a death sentence - on arriving here was their salvation.
Hale O Keawe - once a burial place for Hawaiian Royalty
This lady blew a Conch Shell as part of a ceremony... or so I believe
Gulf Fritillary, like the ones I found in Fair Oaks!
When we left the park, I recommended we leave so we could see the Halloween decorations I'd spotted earlier in the week.
Avoid the Creepy Toddler!
Enter at your own RISK!
Spooky Halloween Kitty Tower
We didn't get out of the car - the roadway didn't allow for side-of-the-road parking - to enjoy the elaborate decor. I got excited because I noticed the presence of a flock of birds that I didn't see earlier in the week - Gray Francolin.
Several of the partridge-like birds were happily hunting for insects and whatnot amid the spooky Halloween fare.
Grey Francolin
We spent the rest of the day goofing around our condo, until it was time for a Halloween treat. First the three of us drove over to Teshima's Restaurant.
It is usually quite full, so we had to wait a short while to be seated. Jeannie & Ron ordered full dinners - Loco Moco - but I had quite a bit of lunch so didn't have much appetite.
I
Salty Poke Bowl
ordered a Poki Bowl, and for the 2nd time this week, got a WAY oversalted meal! As usual, I was too shy (stupid?) to return the dish. Instead I used a generous portion of rice I got from Jeannie & Ron to dampen down the saline meal.
When we were done eating, it was time for Ron to drop Jeannie & myself, off at the Aloha Theater. Earlier in the week, to my stunned surprise, Jeannie said she was interested in seeing a play. That was surprising as Jeannie is quite picky about what venues she will and will not visit.
Perhaps that the presentation of local talents today is Carrie, of Stephen King fame, it was too tempting for her to turn down. Trust me, attending an honest to gosh MUSICAL with Jeannie was enough to make this a totally unforgettable Halloween.
The Aloha Theater is quite the museum piece and is quite well preserved.
I didn't get any photos but the audience was largely all decked out for Halloween - Vampires, Victorian ladies, warrior gentlemen, quite impressive all! I was chatting with Jeannie when a lady behind me patted my shoulder. She was a pretty young woman who wanted to know how long I've worn my 'Sister Locks', my hair. She was thinking of having her hair done. I was tickled, and I probably talked the poor thing's ears off! I've worn my Sister Locks since 2008, but depending on my memory of the moment I told her 11 years, as opposed to the true number - 17 years!
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