Trip Report. Noyo Pelagics, 9 May and 11 May 2025
Around 25 birders and ocean enthusiasts went out of Noyo Harbor, Fort Bragg, on each of 5/9 and 5/11 for full-day (10-hour) deep-water pelagic trips with Captain Richard Thornton of Anchor Charters and Noyo Pelagics. As often happens in May-September, weather forecasts held fast for the 10 days previous, 15-20 knot NW winds on the 9th, calm and switching to light S on the 11th, and low swell on both days. We got a bit lucky as there were several un-doable days both before and after this period. This gave us the chance to compare and contrast what we saw in the same locations under different meteorological conditions.
On the 9th, the winds did not seem so bad at first, so we headed straight into them, rather than going up the coast in the lee of the Cape Mendocino and out. The ride was not too bad, although a bit slow, especially when moderate-sized swells came by. Eventually we made it through Noyo Canyon and out about 20 miles before increasing winds and a sense that the crowd (consisting of many younger birders, age <25) needed a boost, so we stopped to put out a slick. As we poured our allotted menhaden fish oil, Lucas Stephenson shouted out “Hawaiian Petrel” and there it was, sallying high above the boat, then swooping around in the winds for several minutes affording all great views and photos. Soon a second Hawaiian showed up (with darker head markings than the first) and then the first of our four Murphy’s Petrels for the day. We were barely done celebrating these two species when Cédric Duhalde spotted the large pink bill of a Shorttailed Albatross aimed straight at our slick. It sat comfortably down among the Blackfooteds and wound up following the boat for about 3 hours, through two more stoppages for slicks. We photo-captured the band, black on white 94N, showing it a different individual than that of April 27th (64N).
Hawaiian Petrel (left) and Short-tailed Albatross (right) at our first slick on May 9th. Photos: Roger Adamson (left) and Peter Pyle (right)
The young crowd went bananas, the order of the moment being selfies, Short-tailed over the shoulder. It was a three-lifer day for many. Other highlights for the day included many Sabine’s Gulls in their spring finery (and a couple of white-headed first-spring birds), a South Polar Skua, and a Short-tailed Shearwater, each of which were photo documented. These last two species are unexpected here at this time of year, or so we think, there being relatively little previous offshore coverage in spring.
Young birders on the 9th (photo P. Pyle) selfies by Cedric Duhalde with a Short-tailed Albatross on the 9th (left) and Chris Henry with Murphy’s Petrel on the 11th.
Our first question on the 11th was, do we head southwest to the shelf break off Navarro Canyon or repeat the route of the 9th? The calm winds allowed us this choice, and most of the vets were leaning to the south, where we have had good luck with deep-water species before. A straw poll of the participants, however, indicated than many wanted to see a Short-tailed Albatross. We then deduced that, if we went south and didn’t see one it would be our fault, whereas if we repeated the route and got skunked, we could at least say “that’s seabirding!” (even though it is rather random which way would produce more of what species). So we went out Noyo Canyon again, this time out about 35 miles. Soon we spotted high-arcing dots on the horizon which turned out to be Murphy’s Petrels. We stopped for a slick and the Murphy’s sallied about for all, 2-3 at our first slick, 4-6 at our second, 5-8 at our third, and counts of up to 13 in view at once while traversing in between. The NOAA research vessel Reuben Lasker came by at that point, with 4-5 Murphy’s seemingly riding its bow. Many came right over the boat and the new game for the young birders was getting a selfie with a Murphy’s overhead, Chris Henry being the winner of this game. We carefully estimated 60 for the day (eBird checklists summed 69). But no Hawaiians…despite great scanning effort. Now, why would the ratios on these two days be so different (chi square, p <0.01)? Hawaiian Petrels are currently breeding and coming here from Hawaii to get food for their chicks, whereas all the Murphy’s were sallying south, headed back to South Pacific breeding grounds after spending the winter to molt in the Gulf of Alaska. Yep. Was it this difference combined with winds that caused the disparity? Or, simply…”that’s seabirding”!
Murphy’s Petrels including one seemingly riding the bow of the NOAA research vessel Reuben Lasker on May 11th. Photos: Tim Bray (left) and Peter Pyle (right)
Those who wanted a Short-tailed Albatross then got their wish, as yet a third different bird in two weeks (this one with just a silver band and no coded band) accompanied us for 2+ hours after joining the Black-foots between two slicks. The STALs on 4/27 and 5/11 were darker than the one on 5/9, but all three still retained juvenile flight feathers. It could be that the bird of the 9th was a year older but still hadn’t molted primaries yet, and we look forward to seeing if this is the case after learning the banding histories from Japanese researchers. See the Trip Report at NoyoPelagics.com for more on the bird of 4/26 and the history of this species, once thought extinct. We are all anticipating the day when we get an older bird off California, or even an adult, dubbed the “Golden Goony” when one shows up on Midway Atoll, indicating a bird of at least 10-15 years of age.
Marine mammals were scarce on these two days, with only one distant Humpback (we had over 80 on this weekend last year) and a male Northern Fur Seal on the 11th, rolling around for all to enjoy, being the only real highlight. On the 11th, as we were headed out, there were some blows and a bit of splashing on the far southern horizon, that we figured were Humpbacks and figured we’d see more of, so we headed west, instead of south to go check them out. Later we got the report from fishermen that they were Killer Whales (or Orca if you prefer) having a party! Damn. The last time we forego splashing on the horizon until we are sure what they are.
Adult Northern Fur Seal, May 11. Photo: P. Pyle.
Our next Noyo Pelagics trips are on 5/24 and 6/13 (half days, both mammal dedicated), 6/15 and 7/15 (full days, birds and mammals) and 6/16 and 7/16 (half days, mammals and birds). We will aim for Noyo Canyon on all half-day trips and to deep water over the shelf on the two full-day trips. Please see noyopelagics.com for more information and to sign up for one or more of our trips through November!
Peter
Our 3rd Short-tailed Albatross in two weeks, May 11th. Photo: P. Pyle
