The “Conversation with…” series is inspired by “Conversation with Izzy”, beloved marine biologist and ACS chapter board member who before passing suddenly in November 2021 regularly graced us with reports of cetacean activity in or near San Francisco Bay. In this conversation, board member Susan Hopp receives quite an exciting report from naturalist and chapter board member, Susan Sherman.
A variety of ocean birds participating in a feeding frenzy, photo courtesy of Susan Sherman
Susan Hopp: Susan, this is typically the end of the season for whale watching in our ocean off San Francisco Bay. How did the season end for you?
Susan Sherman: Let me answer that with a question: Ever Wonder “Who Is Out There”?
On Sunday, December 4, a pelagic boat trip was organized to answer that question. Sponsored by Redwood Regional Ornithological Society and the Napa-Solano Audubon Society, the participants on the trip were curious to see what birds and wildlife were around in December, 30 miles from shore. There were expert bird spotters and 30 hearty participants.
The boat, Captain Rick Powers' New Sea Angler, began the 9-hour birding trip from Bodega Bay harbor to Cordell Banks then north to Bodega Canyon and back to the Harbor. The sea forecast was better than predicted with sunny weather, no sea spray, and some long periods between 7-9 foot swells. It was not a wet trip, just very cold. A large amount of bait fish (krill and anchovies) was observed in the water the entire time and recorded from the surface down 200-300 feet in many places. This triggered a feeding frenzy for birds, whales, and dolphins. We brought “chum” but didn't use all of it because the amount of food in the water was naturally bringing in the birds.
I counted numerous cetaceans including over 25 humpback whales lunge feeding at the surface, 5 grey whales swimming south, harbor porpoises, over 20 white-sided dolphins, and at least 12 bow-riding Dall porpoises! This was just the beginning of the wildlife that we observed.
Lunge feeding humpback whales, photo by Gail Koza
The exciting birds that I observed included winter plumage rhinoceros auklets, 3 tufted puffins, 2 small flocks of black-legged kittiwakes, black-footed albatrosses, one Laysan albatross, a flock of Bonaparte gulls, many herring gulls, 2 or 3 short-tailed shearwaters, pomarine jaeger, and 3 ancient murrelets. There were the usual suspects of brown pelicans, common murres, cassin auklets, Brandt's cormorants, light and dark morph Fulmars, a few Red Phalaropes, Sooty and Pink-footed Shearwaters, Pacific and Common Loons.
Tufted puffin in winter plumage, photo by Spirit of Orca
All the birds and marine mammals were actively feeding on the bait – a sight to behold. It was an amazing day of activity! Even Captain Rick Powers commented on how exciting it was to be on the ocean on this one winter day in early December to witness "who was there”.
Susan Hop: Wow! Short of being there, it is a thrill to have you relate your firsthand experience. What a crescendo to end the season. Thank you, Susan, for sharing a spectacular day in the life of our ocean!