Azores Summer Pelagic 2012

Black-capped Petrel, Graciosa, (26/05/07) by Killian Mullarney

We will be arranging a pelagic off the Azores for next summer, targeting speciality seabirds including the endemic Monteiro's Storm Petrel (at sea) and also Barolo Shearwater, Bulwers Petrel and Wilson's Petrel. We will also be exploring for Trindade and Black-capped Petrels. These species occur regularly in the Gulf Stream off Cape Hatteras and Trindade Petrel has been predicted to migrate into Azorean waters (see Flood, B & Danzenbaker, M 2009. Birding World 22:4) . This prediction is supported by a series of casual observations. Further exploration off the Azores, targeting these species at the prime time of year with modern chumming techniques is aimed at testing this prediction. The backdrop will be good numbers of cetaceans and other marine life.

Here is the summary from last years pelagic including info on the issue on unresolved large skua id: http://azoresnature.co.uk/?page_id=15

Here's a few photos from previous 'recces' and trips.

Barolo Shearwater

Great Shearwater

Wilson's Petrels

'Fea's' Petrel

Loggerhead Turtle

Sperm Whale

Sowerby's Beaked Whales

Blue Shark

Cory's Shearwater

Roseate Terns (Gareth Knass)- four different birds feeding together

Common Dolphins (Gareth Knass)

Risso's Dolphin (Gareth Knass)

2011 pelagic group. From left to right, Per, Tommy, Bonser, me, Bosse, Lee, Tony, Gareth, Rafa, Martin, Eric and Michael.

Monteiro's Petrel (Richard Bonser)

Wilson's Petrel (Richard Bonser)

Cory's Shearwater (Richard Bonser)

Risso's Dolphin (Ricard Bonser)

Super-pod of Common Dolphin (Richard Bonser)

Cuvier's Beaked Whale (Richard Bonser)

If you are interested in joining the Azores Summer Pelagic please email me on littleoakgroup@btinternet.com