April 08: Steve Howell and Luke Seitz report from the conclusion of their trans-equatorial odyssey on the Chile to California cruise.
This trip transits over 5000 miles through the waters of 12 countries (this year, with documented first country records for four of them!). Some 33 species of tubenoses, ranging from five albatrosses to a remarkable 12 storm-petrels, topped the pelagic bill, here the handsome Hornby’s (or Ringed) Storm-Petrel.
Although up-close Blue Whales several times...
And fancy Striped Dolphins weren’t too shabby either!
Point-blank Nazca Boobies joined us on several days...
Intent on hunting flyingfish (like this Pied-tailed Necromancer) that the ship flushed
From Humboldt Penguins...
And Olive Ridley Sea Turtles
To Guadalupe Furseals the trip was an eponymic delight!
Birds at our varied landings ranged from this curious White-throated Tapaculo
And cryptic Peruvian Thick-knees...
To the ultra-fancy Inca Tern
And the eye-burningly bright Orange-breasted Bunting.
Memories of this remarkable trip will last a lifetime—happy oceanic birding!
Posted: April 08, 2024