Pelagic Schedule

Pelagic Bird Watching Trip Schedule for 2010

Trips are open to the general public! 

For more information or to make reservations contact the SEA Landing at 805-882-0088 or 1-888-779-2423.

Saturday, May 1 and July 31, 2010 Trips - A deep water trip toward the San Juan Seamount.
This trip departs from the Santa Barbara Harbor on the fast catamaran Condor Express at 7:00 a.m. and will return approximately by 8:00 p.m. This is a One Day Murphy Petrel Search! We will cruise along the deep water shelf by the San Juan Seamount. Birds previously seen: Laysan and Black-footed albatross; Northern Fulmar; Sooty and Pink-footed shearwaters: Parasitic, Pomarine and Long-tailed jaegers; Leach's and Fork-tailed storm-petrels; Cassins Auklet, Xantus Murrelet and Tufted Puffin. Rare possibilities are Cook's Petrel and Red-billed Tropicbird.
Leaders: Dave Compton, Jon Feenstra, Todd McGrath, David Pereksta and Wes Fritz.
$195
There is a complete galley that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Trip is affiliated with LA Audubon Society: LAAS

Saturday, September 18, 2010, Around the Northern Channel Islands/San MIguel Island looking for rare Shearwaters
Departs 7:30 a.m. Santa Barbara Harbor

This 8 hour trip departs from the Santa Barbara Harbor at 7:30 a.m. on the catamaran Condor Express. Birds to be expected: Northern Fulmar; Sooty, Pink-footed and Black-vented shearwaters; Black, Ashy, and Leach’s storm-petrels; cormorants (3): rocky shorebirds (up to 5); Red-necked and Red phalaropes; Pomarine, and Parasitic jaegers; Sabine’s Gull: Royal, Common and Arctic terns. Uncommon species or rarities to be looked for: Buller’s Shearwater, Least Storm-Petrel; Red-billed Tropicbird; South Polar Skua, Long-tailed Jaeger; and Craveri’s Murrelet. Whales and dolphins can be seen this time of year. There is a complete galley that serves breakfast and lunch. Leaders: Terry Hunefeld, Todd McGrath and David Pereksta. Cost: $125.

Trip is affiliated with LA Audubon Society: LAAS

For more information about Condor Cruises bird trips, contact Captain Mat at captmat@condorcruises.com

 OTHER TYPES OF OPEN PARTY BIRD TRIPS INCLUDE:

San Miguel & Richardson's Rock Trip: This trip usually departs at 7am from the Sea Landing in the Santa Barbara Harbor. We head over to the waters off San Miguel Island and around Richardson's Rock. We will return around 4pm. Cost for this trip vary depending on the length of the trip and reservations can be held with a 25% deposit (refundable only if we cancel).  A number of local bird experts will be our main trip leaders.

Photo by Mitch Heindel

Deep Water Pelagic Trip: This trip normally departs from Sea Landing in the Santa Barbara Harbor early enough (5am) so that we can reach the deep waters on the back side of the Northern Channel Islands near daybreak. And then the fun begins! We'll run from there to an areas where pelagic bird species are commonly found. After a day of bird watching we will pull up to one of the Channel Islands at sunset for a fine dinner and a glass of wine or cocktail from our full bar and talk of the day's sightings as we make way for home.

Arguello Canyon Trip: This trip depart from Sea Landing in the Santa Barbara Harbor early enough (approximately 5am) so that we arrive on the Arguello Canyon near daybreak and the fun begins! We'll run from there to an area west of Richardson's Rock off San Miguel Island just before sunset. This area has been full of last minute surprises in the past!  We finish with a fine dinner, a glass of wine or cocktail from our full bar and talk of the day's sightings as we make way for home.

For more information about our OPEN PARTY bird trips, contact either Captain Mat at captmat@condorcruises.com or (805) 896-7489 or Bernardo Alps at whalephoto@earthlink.net or (310) 548-0966. The cost will vary depending on the trip and reservations can be held with a 25% deposit (refundable only if we cancel).   To make your reservation for one of these trips use one of the following two options:

Los Angeles Audubon Society (LAAS) & CONDOR Express: We are proud to offer pelagic bird trips each year in association with the LA Audubon Society.  Some trips run to the San Juan Seamount while others will go to Cherry, Tanner, & Cortez banks (weather allowing as usual)! These warm water banks rise up out of very deep surrounding water and are key spots for feeding and transient birds. Trips will depart at 7am and returns around 8pm. 

For more information on these trips (click here) or to make a reservation please visit the Audubon Society reservation webpage by clicking here: LAAS Reservations