New dates for pelagic boat-trips !

Wilson's Storm Petrels off Portimão, Sept. 2010. Photo: Pim Wolf

The Algarvian waters now hold good numbers of Wilson's Storm Petrels (Oceanites oceanicus) and many other pelagic sea-birds, the first Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus) of the season could also be observed already on the last trip, about eight days ago. Close observations under good conditions gave excellent opportunities for photographing this fascinating birds. For the moment, the following trips are scheduled and places are still available:

Tuesday, 26 of July 2011
A 3 hours-trip off Fuzeta with Passeios Ria Formosa
starting at 7.00 a.m., Price: 35 € p.p.
Further info
Trip-report
Further reports

SPECIAL RECOMMENDATION !!!
Sunday, 14th of August 2011
A 5-hours extended-trip off Portimão in the West-Algarve about 12 miles out to a sea-canyon, on the Catamaran of Ecoceanus
starting at 7.30 a.m., chumming, 6-9 people, Price: 55 € p.p.
Trip-Report
SPECIAL RECOMMENDATION !!!

Thursday, 1st of September 2011
A 3-hours trip off Fuzeta with Passeios Ria Formosa
Starting 9.00 a.m., Price is 35 € p.p. (25 € for members of SPEA)
Further info
Trip-reports

Tuesday, 6th of September 2011
A 3-hours trip off Fuzeta with Passeios Ria Formosa
Starting 9.00 a.m., Price is 35 € p.p.
Further info
Trip-reports

Monday, 12th of September 2011
A 3-hours trip off Fuzeta with Passeios Ria Formosa
Starting 9.00 a.m., Price is 35 € p.p. (25 € for members of SPEA)
Further info
Trip-reports

Please make your reservation via e-mail here, thank you !


Juvenile Northern Gannet taking off next to the boat. Photo: Pedro Marques

Pelagic of today

Audouin's Gulls (Larus audouinii) where very obliging

Date: 11-07-2011
Time: 7.15 to 10.30 a.m.
Location: 6 miles off Fuzeta (East Algarve)
Conditions: Sunny, 18 to 25 C, hardly any wind (SW before), sea plain, low tide, no chumming.

Trip-list:
Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedia borealis) c. 30 Ind.
Balearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) 3 -4 Ind., close
Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus) 1 Ind., good views
Wilson's Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) c. 25 Ind.
European Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) None ! (unusual)
Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) c. 20 Ind in total
Great Skua (Stercorarius skua) 4-5 Ind., all juv. or 2nd cy
Audouin's Gull (Larus audouinii) up to 4 Ind together
Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis) 1 Ind. (ad.)
Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) 1 Ind.


Wilson's ' showing a "light sheen" in the underwing, but never any white...


Sometimes can resemble Leach's Storm Petrel (slightly forked tail, pale band in the upperwing) but note that the silvery upperwing-band never reaches the carpal joint, the feet projecting the tail and (not visible) the obvious difference in size...



A very successful trip regarding Wilson's Storm Petrel, the main target, which we had around two trawlers mainly (3 or 4 birds at the first- and at least 16 Ind. together around the second fishing boat, when taking in the net). We watched them under ideal conditions and at very close distances (often less than 3 m !) when they were circling around the boats and also when foraging in the typical "Petrel-manner", touching the water with their yellow-webbed feet...
Most bird showed heavy primary-moult, the three outer primaries retaining. It was the first time I did not see any European Storm Petrel, when seeing good numbers of Wilson's-, no idea, why so.
On the way back we spotted splashing "Dolphins" but when we approached, they dived and we did not see any more of them. One participant saw a Flying fish.
A nice morning and good trip in the opinion of the participants. I am hoping for some good pictures, though I learned that photographing this quick and little "targets" at close distances is not an easy task and perhaps a 500mm lens is not the ideal tool to bring in this case. The record-shots I include here are made with a digital compact-camera (4x optical zoom) ;P ...






Great Skua (Stercorarius skua)