RROS Bodega Canyon/Cordell Banks Pelagic Birding aboard the New Sea Angler out of Bodega Harbor in a time of Covid-19:
This is the first of two Fall 2021 pelagic trips for RROS on the New Sea Angler with Capt. Rick Powers, out of Bodega Bay.
The birds offshore need our attention, if only to verify their continued existence. To that end two dates have been reserved this fall for offshore birding trips from Bodega Harbor aboard the 65-foot New Sea Angler with Captain Rick Powers, two Sundays, the first, August 29, and the second, October 3, peak times for offshore migrants and whale encounters. The standard route departs Bodega Harbor heading west to Bodega Canyon and the continental shelf, then turning south and east across the Cordell Banks. Though we will all probably be vaccinated by this fall, we will be careful to meet Sonoma County Health Department requirements to assure a safe trip (details below).
What might we see? We should expect to encounter the usual suspects: Black-footed [and maybe Laysan] Albatross, Northern Fulmar, Pink-footed, Buller’s, and Sooty Shearwaters, Fork-tailed and Ashy [and maybe Black, Wilson’s and/or Leach’s] Storm-Petrels. We might hope for Flesh-footed and Short-tailed Shearwaters, though they are rare and can be difficult to spot. Also likely are Sabine’s Gull, Common and Arctic Terns, South-Polar Skua, Long-tailed, Parasitic, and Pomarine Jaegers, Red-necked and Red Phalaropes, Common Murre [Pigeon Guillemot near shore], Cassin’s and Rhinoceros Auklets, and maybe a Tufted Puffin or a Scripps or Guadalupe Murrelet]. In short, you never know what might turn up. Cetaceans may be conspicuous, with numbers of Humpback and often Blue Whales [largest animal in the world] and perhaps a Fin Whale plus a variety of dolphins, porpoises, and pinnipeds.
Our Covid-19 Protocol: We will limit birders to 30, in contrast to our maximum load of 40 of previous years. Fewer bodies aboard will also make for a much more comfortable ride. Everyone will wear an appropriate facial covering, if required. The reduced passenger load should relieve some of the usual crowding at the rail, but we all will need to be mindful of our social distance. Stay out of the cabin as far as possible. There will be ample seating outside in the open air if you need to get off your feet. Hand sanitizer will be widely available on board, but feel free to bring your own.
To break even with this charter each participant will contribute $180 ($100 if a student). This adds a “Covid-19 surcharge” to the traditional $150 fee, given that charter costs are fixed while paying customers are limited to 75% of normal capacity. You may reserve a spot on one or the other or both trips by sending a post-dated check for the appropriate amount (dated August 29 for trip 1 and/or October 3 for trip 2) made payable to the New Sea Angler (Bodega Bay Sportfishing Center). Mail them to Gene Hunn at 1504 Smokey Mtn. Dr., Petaluma, CA 94954. I will hold on to them until we sail. In case of cancellation by the Captain due to Covid retrenchment or terrible weather, your check will be returned.
- Gene Hunn, RROS Pelagic Trip Coordinator
(enhunn323@comcast.net; 206-450-0570)
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More details to come in the future via email.