Captain's Blog

Hello birders,

We were traveling all day today. We are headed to Cabo San Lucas for arrival tomorrow morning. We stopped for a final fish oil slick at about 95 miles south of Cabo. We attracted Least and Leach’s storm petrels; Pomarine jaegers; and Brown, Red-footed and Masked boobies–a great way to end a birding trip to Mexico!

Since this was the first trip of its kind from San Diego to Guadalupe Island and the Revillagigedo islands to Isla Socorro, we would consider this a huge success.  Two species were at the top of the list: Ainley’s storm petrel at Isla Guadalupe and Townsend’s shearwater at Isla Socorro, and we were able to locate and observe them both.

We learned much about all these birding locations and so when we return next year ,we will have a better idea where to go and a much more defined itinerary. We can’t wait to go back! Many thanks to the organization that made this happen–WildWings, John Brodie-Good, and leaders Chris Collins and Steve Howell.

Photo today is a Pomarine jaeger.
Team Searcher

Hello birders,

For day two at Isla Socorro Island we started just after daylight with a skiff ride to Playa Blanca, adjacent to Cabo Henslow. The group had plenty of views of the Socorro wren in the 2 hours they were out in some windy conditions. We left there and circled the island for the rest of the morning, going around the north-end and down the northeast side of the island. Unfortunately there wasn’t much life. We wanted to check that side of the island in case we missed something yesterday.

We ended up 9 miles south of the island looking at boobies, frigates and terns, hoping to find more shearwaters. We worked back towards the island with the sun at our backs. We came across 3 Townsend’s shearwaters for our efforts today–a little disappointing as we hoping for more birds today.

We would consider our visit here a success locating Townsend’s shearwaters. We are headed north tonight with a day at sea and arrival Tuesday morning in Cabo San Lucas.

Photo today is  Cabo Henslow. We saw several hundred boobies leaving there early this morning. It is a very pretty location.

Team Searcher

Hello birders (morning report):
We arrived at Isla Socorro at at daylight today. We experienced some tropical weather to start –20 knot winds and heavy rain. It was a tropical welcome to the island! We checked in with the Mexican navy at their base here, and gave them all the proper documents needed. Then we headed to the southern side of the island, anchored at Grayson Cove and put the skiffs in the water. Almost everyone went out in the skiffs for a coastal cruise. They saw the endemic Socorro Wren from the skiffs!
After lunch we plan to go offshore a few miles and look for the Townsend’s shearwater. Wish us luck!
This is a spectacular island and we are really glad to be here. The photo is our skiffs in Grayson Cove on a coastal cruise.
Team Searcher

Hello birders (day’s end report),
We had success this afternoon finding Townsend’s shearwaters! Windy conditions made it a bit difficult to photograph them close up, but everyone had a chance to see the bird. Approximately 30 shearwaters were seen today along with several Masked, Brown, Red-footed and Blue-footed boobies; Magnificent and Great frigatebirds, Noddy terns, and Socorro wren. We are spending another day here and then we will head towards Cabo tomorrow night.
Team Searcher

Hello birders,

Another day at sea and a good day with light winds and calm seas. With 82 degree sea temp and warm air as well, we are definitely in the tropics! We stopped twice today to put a fish oil slick out and we saw more Leach’s storm-petrels. They have quite a range. We had Red-footed, Masked and Brown boobies joining us from time to time during the day with the occasional Pink-footed shearwater, Jaeger and Red-billed tropicbird.

The highlight for me was a group of Rough-toothed dolphin. We saw a barrel floating with a few dolphin around it and as we got closer, we identified them – a first sighting for me and for the crew. The crew also wanted to see a Red-footed booby and they had lots of opportunities today.

Hello birders,
We ended our day by creating another fish-oil slick and multiple storm petrels came in to our view. Then we enjoyed a small group of common dolphins and a green flash at sunset. After a great dinner of chicken parmesan, salad, and boat-baked bread, we turned off the lights and slowed down to do some star gazing. It was spectacular since we had such clear skies! A few people knew their constellations well, so everyone enjoyed the night sky.
We are headed for Isla Soccorro and are due to arrive tomorrow night.
Team Searcher