2015 WildWings Mexico Pelagic – Report from Chris Collins

(Great frigatebird photo by Tom Blackman)

Our inaugural pelagic birding expedition into Mexican waters, organized by WildWings, was a big success, with sightings of both target species (Ainley’s storm petrel and Townsend’s shearwaters) and much more. The itinerary included Guadalupe Island, Alijos Rocks, Socorro Island, and areas in between.

Chris Collins (at left) and Steve Howell were leaders aboard this voyage. Trip report and sightings list are attached below.

We are already looking forward to our 2017 repeat of this exciting and unique expedition! More info here: http://www.bajawhale.com/pelagic/mexico-pelagic-birding-tour/

• WildWings 2015 Mexico Pelagic Trip Report from Chris Collins
• 2015 Mexico Pelagic Species List

Take a quick look through the Team Searcher trip reports below:

The Mexico Pelagic Birding Tour is off and running! We are proud to host the historic Mexico Pelagic Tour, sponsored by WildWings, which left today. Leaders aboard are Chris Collins and Steve Howell. Stay tuned to this blog for daily reports from the field. Their first stop will be Isla Guadalupe.... read more Day 1 (November 29) report Hello friends: All is well here on our first day!  We entered Mexico smoothly. Then we saw a breaching humpback whale outside of Isla Todos Santos.  Then we spotted several Cassin's auklets, Black-vented shearwaters, and a few Brown boobies. The weather is good, with light winds. We are headed toward Isla Guadalupe, with a stop at a...... read more Mexico Pelagic Birding, day 2 (November 30) Hello! We started our day 50 miles northeast of Isla Guadalupe at a seamount that rises out of 2000 fathoms, and comes up to 200 fathoms. We laid a large chum slick of Rice Krispies and fish oil. We stayed with the slick for 2 hours and had some good looks at Least, Black and Leach's...... read more Mexico Pelagic, day 3 (December 1) Hello birders, One of the target birds everyone hoped to see came to us! It is an Ainsley's storm-petrel. We didn't see any yesterday offshore, but after anchoring at Isla Guadalupe at the south end, we had several come aboard the Searcher! Everyone had an opportunity to see and photograph them. Since this bird is only...... read more Mexico Pelagic Birding Tour, day 4 (Dec 2) Hello birders, We arrived at Alijos Rocks after lunch today. We motored around the rocks and found a spot to drop the anchor with the correct lighting to see the rocks. We looked at Layson albatross; Red-billed tropicbirds; Frigatebirds; and Masked, Blue-footed and Brown boobies. A few California sea lions and a hammerhead shark came by...... read more Mexico Pelagic Birding Tour, day 5 (Dec 3) Hello all, We are currently 160 miles off the Baja peninsula and 330 miles from Isla Socorro.  We are at the same latitude as the tropic of Cancer and will be in the tropics shortly. The weather is awesome with light winds, calm seas, warm air and the sea temperature is 77 degrees. We have seen a couple...... read more Mexico Pelagic Birding Tour, day 5 (day's end) 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...... read more Mexico Pelagic Birding Tour, Day 6 (December 4) 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...... read more Mexico Pelagic Birding Tour (day 7)--big day! 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...... read more Mexico Pelagic Birding Tour, day 8 (Dec 6) 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...... read more Mexico Pelagic Birding Tour, day 9 (Dec 7) 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...... read more Mexico Pelagic Birding Tour Photo Album-Nov 29-Dec 8, 2015 Here are some snapshots from the Mexico Pelagic Birding Tour, which included Isla Guadalupe, Alijos Rocks, Isla Socorro, and many offshore locations Townsend's shearwaters, Socorro wrens, Ainley's storm-petrels, and many other fascinating sightings were enjoyed by 24 passengers and leaders. Many thanks to WildWings for their organization of this journey.... read more