Hi Folks,
Our pelagic got winded out on Sept 26. I'm going to try again, Sunday,
Oct 25. Without this trip Mr. James "Jimmy" Billstine will have to perform
some amazing feats to break the Douglas County year record. With this trip,
he will have the opportunity to smash the record to smithereens! You may go
on the trip and have a great time, or donate a participant fee (or whatever
amount you like) to ensure we have enough funding to pay for the trip.
You do not need to send a check this time to hold your reservation (bring
it with you if the trip goes), but I need you to email me and I need you to
follow through with payment if you say you're going to go, otherwise it
will come out of my pocket! I will determine by Oct 17 whether we have
enough pledged/participant funding to pay for the trip or not. EMAIL ME
NOW!!!
Details:
This will be a rare excursion to waters off Douglas County. See photos from
our 2013 trip here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewghunter/sets/72157635555116764. On
that trip we encountered fishing vessels accompanied by thousands of
seabirds, which included Oregon's second record of Great Shearwater,
multiple Laysan Albatross and South Polar Skua, all three jaegers,
Flesh-footed Shearwater, and more. That trip was phenomenal, and while I
can't expect a repeat, we do expect a good diversity of seabirds on this
trip (see below). Several experienced seabirders will be on board and can
help you learn to identify birds at sea.
Birds: Oct 24 is later in the migration period and approaching when some
winter birds could be more likely. We should still encounter most regularly
occurring seabirds. Expected are Black-footed Albatross, Sooty,
Pink-footed, and Buller's Shearwaters, Northern Fulmar, Parasitic and
Pomarine Jaegers, Sabine's Gull, Red-necked Phalarope, Cassin's and
Rhinoceros Auklets, and Marbled Murrelet. Because this will be late
October, South Polar Skua is likely, and we have a good chance at the rare
Flesh-footed Shearwater, and perhaps an early Short-tailed Shearwater. Also
possible are Laysan Albatross, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, Long-tailed
Jaeger, Red Phalarope, and a few others. If seas are calm enough (haha!)
brief sightings of whales, sharks, and mola mola (ocean sunfish) may be had
as well.
Plans: We will depart from Charleston, near Coos Bay, aboard the Betty Kay
(nice 50-ft boat) at 0730 (board at 0700). From Charleston we will travel
north near shore to off the mouth of the Umpqua River (2-3 hrs), then head
west to deeper water to look for albatross and other offshore species,
spending about 5 hours in Douglas County waters, then head SSE back to
Charleston (2-3 hrs). Total about 10 hrs.
Cost: $120 per person. Bring your check to the boat (or mail your donation
to me at Matt Hunter, 1330 Cleveland Hill Rd., Roseburg, OR 97471). Please
email me with name, address, phone and email of each person you are paying
for. Thanks!
Trip preparation: Conditions on the ocean can vary. Be prepared with rain
gear and layers for conditions from very cold to warm. Even when it is
completely sunny, wind can lift up ocean spray and get us wet when the boat
is moving, so be prepared with rain gear tops and bottoms and boots. Bring
adequate food and water for the 10-hour trip. If you are concerned about
possible motion sickness, consult your physician.
Meeting Place/Time: Betty Kay Charters, Albacore Dr, Charleston, OR 97420.
1-800-752-6303. See in Google Maps here: http://tinyurl.com/o2hsrkr. From
Hwy 101 follow signs to Charleston (e.g. just south of the Mill Casino, go
west on Newmark St, which turns into Cape Arago Highway and leads to
Charleston). Once in Charleston, take the first right turn after crossing
over the small arm of the bay. Please be there by 0700. We will depart at
0730.
For questions, contact Matt Hunter, matthewghunter@xxxxxxxxx, 541-670-1984.
