PORT O'CONNOR
PELAGIC June 28, 1997 Aboard the Chip XI
Subject: Pelagic trip results
Date: Sun, 29 Jun 1997 19:32:59
From: Bob Doe
The 28 Jun 97 pelagic trip out of Port O'Connor was great! Although a little choppy in the morning,
by noon the wind had calmed down so the afternoon had seas of only 1-3 ft.
Birds were good. Most species occurred more than once during the trip and presented good,
prolonged views, frequently close to the boat. Birds seen were:
Magnificent Frigatebird
Bridled Tern (including one flock of approximately 60!)
Sooty Tern
Band-rumped Storm-petrel (surprisingly common, probably 20+ seen)
Leach's Storm Petrel
Masked Booby
Cory's Shearwater
Also seen were several species of dolphins and a sea turtle. The highlight of the
trip may have been the pod of Spinner Dolphins that swam with the boat for several minutes.
The pod included a couple of very young animals swimming with their mothers.
Additional trips are scheduled for July, August and September. These trips are not
ferry rides: you are on the water for 16 hours and go well over 60 miles offshore,
where you are subjected to the wind and waves, and sun and heat. But they are a
wonderful way to experience the open ocean and potentially see birds and other
animals that you will not see in the wild on shore. Cost for each of the trips
is $90.00.
