10,000 Birds

JUNE 24, 2013

It took me awhile, but I managed to get on quite a few, especially when the boat slowed down to go check out some Humpback Whales and a huge number of Common Dolphins. Sooty Shearwaters and a Western Gull fly back the aftermath of a Humpback Whale breaching. We estimated at least 3,500 sooties and over 1,000 dolphins.

Whales 151

Whales Whaling Dolphins California 151

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2015

Offshore Sea Life ID Guide: West Coast is designed to be a quick, handy resource for use on whale watching and one-day pelagic trips. It does not include near-shore, coastal species, like Brown Pelican, Elegant Tern, and Harbor Seal. We saw two Blue Whales on our trip, quickly identified by the boat’s crew.

Dolphins 162

Dolphins Whales Whaling Porpoises 162

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 14, 2019

We also saw lots of dolphins in the ocean and Humpback Whale blow. Then Matthieu pointed out the Brown Pelican flying by over the ocean and all hell broke loose! Everyone managed to see the pelican except for one person (sorry, Donna ). Sometimes our attention wavered from birds like when this Black Swallowtail appeared.

Pelicans 133

Pelicans New York Whales Whaling 133

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2013

It is acceptable to point out other sea creatures–dolphins or whales or dragonflies–but the main goal is the observation and identification of the birds. This, I am told, is seawatching , a birding activity in which one stands in one place, sometimes for hours, and watches for birds of the sea and lake and river.

Ducks 236

Ducks Groups Species North America 236

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 5, 2016

I’ve been on a whale-watching trip in Orange County , twice gone out to Santa Cruz Island , and even visited Protection Island off the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. Brown Pelicans cared not for my taint. Hordes of Brown Pelicans , Heermann’s Gulls , and Western Gulls made it clear we were on the west coast.

Whales 111

Whales Whaling Albatross Dolphins 111