Spring 2019 Pacific Pelagic Cruise Itinerary

Rick Bowers leads.

9 – 12 May 2019

This tour can be combined with Washington State in Spring.

Day 1, May 9 – Arrive in Los Angeles. Group members arrive independently at LAX Airport, Los Angeles, California and transfer to our cruise ship, the Star Princess. WE WILL MEET IN THE EXPLORER’S LOUNGE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE MUSTER DRILL AND THEN TO THE APPROPRIATE SIDE OR BOW OF THE SHIP TO BEGIN OUR PELAGIC ADVENTURE.

NOTE: Folks planning to arrive on May 9th, our day of departure, should insure that their flights arrive as early as possible in the morning hours. If your flight is delayed or cancelled causing you to miss our ship’s departure, joining us becomes an impossibility. You might be better served arriving in Los Angeles the evening of May 8, 2018. You would be able to join our California in Spring tour group at our hotel that evening and may be able to join us for a bit of birding the following morning before you board the ship.

Cook’s Petrel
NW of San Francisco on Spring 2018 Pacific Pelagic Cruise. Photo by Rick Bowers ©.

Day 2-3, May 10-11 – At Sea.  Two full days are spent aboard our home for four nights, the exceedingly comfortable 951ft long cruise ship, Star Princess. While daily activities are up to each individual, leaders will spend the majority of the day scanning and scoping for seabirds from the forward deck of the ship for deep-water pelagic species. Group members will be able to come and go as you like for meals or breaks. We plan to eat dinner near the same time each evening so that we can have a social period together in order to review the day’s sightings, discuss ID challenges, etc.

Murphy’s Petrel on Spring 2018 Pacific Pelagic Cruise. Photo by Rick Bowers ©.

Most of our time at sea will be in deep water, as much as 50 or 60 miles offshore. The ship does move steadily while at sea, so getting everyone on each bird can sometimes be a challenge. Pelagic birding is often difficult and weather can complicate matters. While scopes are not required, if you are proficient with your scope you might find it helpful. NatureScape Tours will have a scope set up at all times. With patience and a bit of luck, everyone should get good looks at most things.

Murphy’s Petrel on 2018 Pacific Pelagic Cruise. Photo by Rick Bowers ©.

Seabird possibilities at this time of year are many. Possibilities include Rhinoceros Auklet, Pigeon Guillemot, Common Murre, Black-footed Albatross, Pink-footed, Sooty,  Black-vented Shearwaters, Fork-tailed, Black, Ashy, Wilson’s and Leach’s Storm-Petrels, Hawaiian, Murphy’s and maybe Cook’s Petrels, Northern Fulmar, perhaps Ancient or Marbled Murrelets, Tufted Puffin, Black-legged Kittiwake, Sabine’s Gull, Pacific Loon, Arctic Tern, Red-necked and Red Phalaropes, perhaps a Scripps’s, Craveri’s or Guadalupe Murrelet and maybe a Laysan or, if exceedingly lucky, a Short-tailed Albatross!

Blue Whale. Photo by Rick Bowers ©.

Day 4, May 12 – Arrival in Vancouver, transfer to SeaTac Airpoet  After breakfast, we’ll complete our off-loading procedures and say, “Good-Bye!” to the Star Princess. Boarding our comfortable coach bus, we’ll make the multiple hour journey to the airport in Seattle. We do have to clear customs & immigration along the way, but we’ll soon arrive at Seatac Airport where our tour ends. Those continuing onto the Washington State in Spring tour will depart for local birding once we have everyone and their luggage loaded into our vehicles. Everyone departs with fond memories of our Spring Pelagic Cruise…and hopefully some great photographs as well.