So, such winter specialties such as LAYSAN ALBATROSSES, SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATERS, and ANCIENT MURRELETS are regular in March, when seas average a bit calmer.
March is also the peak of abundance of BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES and RHINOCEROS AUKLETS.
Several rare species have also been found in March, including SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSSES, FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, MANX SHEARWATERS, and HORNED PUFFINS.
So, our first trip of the year is a "winter" trip on Saturday, March 10, 2012.
Since 2001, we've scheduled 11 trips in March. Of those, two trips weathered-out, and one trip was shortened due to rough seas. That's a success rate of about 77%, which isn't that different from our September and October success rates.
Here are the frequencies and high numbers for the target species in March:
| Species | Frequency | High number |
| Short-tailed Albatross | 22% | 1 |
| Laysan Albatross | 78% | 8 |
| Short-tailed Shearwater | 78% | 10 |
| Flesh-footed Shearwater | 33% | 1 |
| Manx Shearwater | 22% | 2 |
| Black-legged Kittiwake | 100% | 225 |
| Ancient Murrelet | 67% | 33 |
| Rhinoceros Auklet | 100% | 500 |
| Horned Puffin | 22% | 7 |
April has more birds overall, as migration starts up. But SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER is significantly less likely in April as compared to March. Nevertheless, you may want to consider our April 7, 2012 trip as having a good chance for several of the winter specialties, too. Visit The Bird Guide, Inc.'s web page to sign up for this pelagic trip.
We were excited to learn that just 4 days before our trip dozens of Parakeet Auklets were found offshore from Oregon, and over 100 in Washington State. Unfortunately, a storm blew in just 4 hours before we were set to depart. It's been blowing ever since, with no end in sight....
ReplyDelete