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Hi Texbirders and Pelagic Fanatics,
Reservations for 2016 are now open! I am excited to announce that we are =
planning to run 7 trips again in 2016.=20
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In 2015 we had what undoubtedly ranks as one of the best years ever for =
Texas Pelagics. Not only did we successfully run 6 Trips in 2015, the =
most pelagic trips that have ever been run in Texas in one year! But we =
also had 2 spectacular trips where we observed 274 and 219 individual =
pelagic seabirds. These 2 trips tallied the highest number of pelagic =
seabirds ever seen on a Texas Pelagic from South Padre Island and the =
highest numbers of pelagic seabirds seen on one trip in almost 20 years. =
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The 2015 highlights included:=20
Manx Shearwater =E2=80=93 1;=20
Leach=E2=80=99s Storm-Petrels - a record number of ~ 110;=20
Great Shearwater -1;=20
Sabine=E2=80=99s Gull =E2=80=93 1;=20
Whale Shark -1;=20
Sperm Whale =E2=80=93 1;=20
Mesoplodon Beaked Whale -1;=20
Pygmy/Dwarf Sperm Whale -1;=20
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And if that wasn=E2=80=99t enough we encountered very high numbers for =
the season of many of the regular pelagic seabirds:=20
Audubon=E2=80=99s Shearwater =E2=80=93 75;=20
Cory=E2=80=99s Shearwaters =E2=80=93 16;=20
Band-rumped Storm-Petrels =E2=80=93 47;=20
Magnificent Frigatebirds - 23;
Masked Boobies =E2=80=93 18;=20
Sooty Terns =E2=80=93 127;=20
Bridled Terns =E2=80=93 18;=20
Pomarine Jaegers =E2=80=93 25.=20
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< <http://texaspelagics.com/2016-schedule-2/> Schedule for 2016 Texas =
Pelagic Trips:>
We are planning 7 trips again for 2016. The scheduled dates for the =
all the pelagic trips are firm, except for the RGVBF trip.
Click the above link to learn more about upcoming Texas Pelagic trips, =
i.e. fares, trip lengths, departure times, spaces remaining, etc.
1. Sat June 4th (June 11th weather back-up date); 12 hour; S. Padre =
Island.
2. Sat. July 23rd; 16 hour; Port Aransas;
3. Sat. August 27th, 16 hour; S Padre Island
4. Sat. Sept 17th; 12 hour; S. Padre Island
5. Sat. Sept 24th; 12 hour; S. Padre Island. (exclusive for Arroyo =
Colorado Audubon Soc)
6. Sat. Oct 8th; 12 hour; S. Padre Island
7. Sat. Oct 31st; 12 hour; S. Padre Island (tentatively with RGVBF)
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NEW FOR 2016: We are planning to run one summer trip from Port Aransas =
in 2016. The last time Texas Pelagic trips were run from Port Aransas =
was back in 2002 and 2003, so I think it=E2=80=99s about time we tried =
Port =E2=80=9CA=E2=80=9D again. The waters off Mustang Island are more =
interesting on the continental shelf because of the numerous gas =
production platforms and the fish and birds they can attract. The only =
disadvantage is that it is a slightly longer cruise to the shelf edge so =
we are planning to run a 16 hour trip to ensure we have adequate time in =
deep Pelagic waters.
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WHY GO ON A TEXAS PELAGIC? Short answer =E2=80=93 they are a lot of =
FUN!! If you talk to any of the Texas Pelagic leaders and regulars =
they'll probably tell you some of the most amazing bird and wildlife =
encounters they've ever had in the state of Texas occurred on a Texas =
Pelagic. Our experiences from 2015 indicate that with more frequent =
coverage by pelagic trips we are much more likely to have a few very =
good birding days in the season. This is probably due improving our odds =
of hitting favorable current, wind and sea conditions for seabirds that =
occur every so often in the deep Gulf off South Padre.=20
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If you've never been on a Texas Pelagic this is the year you should try =
one or two. If it's been a long time since you've been on a Texas =
Pelagic come back this year and see how much fun they can be. If you're =
afraid of seasickness try using the Transderm Scop patch (prescription =
needed) and enjoy a day at sea with our great pelagic leaders and =
groups. These trips are also a great way to spend a hot summer weekend =
out birding where it is definitely cooler offshore than it is onshore. =
If you're still unconvinced check out the testimonials from our =
participants and leaders here: =
<http://texaspelagics.com/testimonials/> =
http://texaspelagics.com/testimonials/
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SEABIRDS: In additional to the seabirds listed above we regularly =
encounter Red-billed Tropicbird, Sooty Shearwater, Brown Booby, =
Long-tailed Jaeger and Parasitic Jaeger. We have also accumulated an =
impressive list of rarities: One trip was fortunate enough to have a =
mixed species flock that included both Brown Noddy and Brown Booby in =
the same binocular view/camera viewfinder! =E2=80=AFAnd of course in =
Sept 2003 we had an incredible Yellow-nosed Albatross encounter! The =
first record of South Polar Skua was seen in October 2004. Black-capped =
Petrel and Arctic Tern has been seen twice from Port O'Connor in May and =
July. =E2=80=AFIt is exciting possibilities like this that keeps folks =
coming back for more. There are undoubtedly new discoveries still to be =
made offshore. Seabird galleries, checklists and bar-graphs can be =
found here: http://texaspelagics.com/seabird-occurance/=20
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MARINE MAMMALS AND WHALE SHARKS: And of course, when there aren't great =
birds around, sometimes other marine life activity steals the show. =
=E2=80=AFWe routinely get Bottlenose Dolphins and Atlantic spotted =
dolphins on most trips. We have had frequent encounters with Whale =
Sharks, like the August 2011 trip where an absolutely monstrous Whale =
Shark bumped into the boat. Check out the photos of it about half-way =
through the slide-show from that trip at: =20
<http://www.texaspelagics.com/trips/20110827/index.html> =
http://www.texaspelagics.com/trips/20110827/index.html=20
In 2014 on one trip we saw 18+ Sperm Whales, some right next to the =
boat, and 250+ Melon-headed Whales that also circled the boat. These are =
some of the amazing wildlife encounters you may experience on a Texas =
Pelagic.=20
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SIGN-UP SOON FOR EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTS: It really helps us with planning =
and outreach if people sign-up early. We offer discounts for pelagic =
birders to register early and pay more than three months in advance of a =
departure date. =20
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Unfortunately our Charter boat prices have increased significantly over =
2015=E2=80=99s rates. We=E2=80=99ve done our best to keep fares per =
person reasonable but we=E2=80=99ll need to have more people sign up per =
trip to do that. To help keep costs down for everyone all of our leaders =
have agreed to pay at least half fare for all trips this year.=20
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More information on these trips, logistical considerations and sign-up =
instructions can be found here: <http://texaspelagics.com/register-2/> =
http://texaspelagics.com/register-2/
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CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE:
Information on Texas Pelagics in general (including photos from previous =
trips and what species can be expected) can be found at this informative =
website:=20
<http://www.texaspelagics.com/> http://www.texaspelagics.com/=20
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Also there is a Facebook page for Texas Pelagics.=20
=
<https://www.facebook.com/pages/Texas-Pelagics/173057036078295?ref=3Dhl> =
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Texas-Pelagics/173057036078295?ref=3Dhl
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Please check these out for more information as well. =20
I hope you'll join us.=20
Gary Hodne=20
The Woodlands, TX=20
garyhodne@xxxxxxxxx=20
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Garett =E2=80=98Gary=E2=80=99 Hodne
www.TexasPelagics.com <http://www.TexasPelagics.com> =20
281-684-5425
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