Farallon Islands Pelagic Trip: Sunday, August  7, 2011

Aboard: Superfish with Shearwater Journeys
Departs from Emeryville at  7:30 AM, Returning approximately 3-4 PM
Leaders: Debi Shearwater & some very special guest leaders
Boat Fee: $129 GGBA members (non-refundable), $152 non-members; fuel surcharge not included.
Reservations: Send payment to Debi Shearwater, POB 190, Hollister, CA 95024
Contact: debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

This is a fabulous pelagic trip to the unique breeding seabird colonies of the Farallon Islands. Our main target seabird is the Tufted Puffin, but we shall also see many other seabirds, as well as whales. Dolphins are possible, too. Last year’s trip saw Black-footed Albatross; Northern Fulmar; Sooty, Pink-footed and Buller’s Shearwaters; Ashy, Black and Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels; Pomarine, Parasitic and Long-tailed Jaegers; Pigeon Guillemot; Xantus’ Murrelet; Cassin’s and Rhinoceros Auklets, and, of course, Tufted Puffins! Whales included: Blue, Minke, Humpback and Gray. This trip always sells out, weeks in advance. Please make your reservations as soon as possible by sending a check to Debi Shearwater. Please note: your check confirms your reservation. Be sure to include the names, addresses and phone/email for each person in your party. You will receive a return confirmation letter by snail mail.

Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trips with Shearwater Journeys

JULY 30, 31; AUGUST 1; SEPTEMBER 16, 17, 18, 19; OCTOBER 2, 10, 15; NOVEMBER 22
Aboard: New Captain Pete
Departing from Huck Finn Center, Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay at 7:00 AM, Returning About 3:30-4:30 PM
Leaders: Debi Shearwater & The Shearwater Journeys’ Leaders, varies each trip
Boat Fee: $150 GGBA members (non-refundable), $175 non-members; fuel surcharge not included.
Reservations: Send payment to Debi Shearwater, POB 190, Hollister, CA 95024
Contact: debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

This is a new program of seabird trips offered by Shearwater Journeys in 2010. Some excellent sightings were made in 2009, including a Short-tailed Albatross and White-chinned Petrel (second record for North America, first live sighting). In 2010, our July 31 trip recorded Cook’s Petrels in both San Francisco and San Mateo Counties. It is expected that these trips will be very popular. It is easy to get to Half Moon Bay, either from San Francisco, the East Bay, or Silicon Valley. We may be able to reach seabirds such as storm-petrel flocks more easily than other ports. The July 30, 31 and August 1 trips offer a great chance to see Cook’s Petrels which were so abundant last year offshore. For general trip reports see: www.shearwaterjourneys.com…

The Lafayette Library and Learning Center has asked for help from area birders in creating a Beautiful Book Corner, a place to peruse stunning books on gardening, flowers, birds, art, photography and any subject of interest to our patrons.  Any resident of California may obtain a library card to become a patron.

As they plan this space, they need your input.  Are you excited about the idea?  What, specifically, would be your wish list for such a space?

If this sounds good, they’d love to hear from you.  Please send e-mails (so they can measure your interest) to Richard Zoller (rszoller@aol.com) and Library Manager Susan Weaver (sweaver@ccclib.org).…