Central California: Seabirds and Specialties

Black-footed Albatross © Chase Dekker/Shutterstock

An exploration of the California Central Coast features Monterey Bay, offshore waters, tidal marshes, chaparral hills, and oak-filled interior valleys; an amazing array of great California birds is assured, from Black-footed Albatross and Buller’s Shearwater to California Condor and Yellow-billed Magpie.

This new tour to the beautiful California Central Coast focuses on two offshore boat trips—one each from Monterey and Half Moon Bay—where we will seek a superb array of seabirds and marine mammals in some of the world’s most wildlife-rich waters. Among the many pelagic birds we’ll seek are storm-petrels of three species; Pink-footed, Buller’s, and Sooty shearwaters; Rhinoceros and Cassin’s auklets; and much more. Black-footed Albatross is always cause for great excitement when one cruises past the boat, which is likely. Monterey Bay is also famous for its marine mammals. Humpback Whales, Pacific White-sided and Risso’s dolphins, and California Sea Lion are possible. Closer to shore we should find Pigeon Guillemots around Monterey’s Fisherman’s Wharf along with raucous Western Gull and the handsome Heermann’s Gull. Sea Otter is a common sight in this area as well.

Our birding will not be limited to the water. Central California hosts the declining Tricolored Blackbird, which we’ll target around the wetlands near Moss Landing. One day we will venture into the dry interior valleys of golden pastures and scattered oaks—the realm of the endemic Yellow-billed Magpie and the handsome Lawrence’s Goldfinch. Also here are California Quail, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Hutton’s Vireo, California Scrub-Jay, Oak Titmouse, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Pacific Wren, and California Thrasher.

Our search for the ice age relict California Condor will take us down the spectacular coastline to Big Sur with its giant Coast Redwoods. Wandering around the rocky coastline at Point Piños, we should encounter Black Oystercatcher and perhaps some of the “rockpipers” including Surfbird, Wandering Tattler, and Black Turnstone. Late September is the peak of fall migration on the California Central Coast, and anything is possible! We will seek migrant warblers and other songbirds in coastal groves during our stay. Townsend’s, Hermit, and Black-throated Gray warblers are all likely, and you never know what rarity we might discover. Wetlands, beaches, and fields should host a variety of shorebirds from stately Marbled Godwit and Long-billed Curlew to diminutive peeps, such as Western Sandpiper.

The California Central Coast hosts many wonderful birds, and this tour provides great variety in a spectacular coastal setting.

Good accommodations and excellent food; two pelagic trips, weather and sea conditions permitting; easy walking on established roads and trails; mild temperatures with fog possible along the coast; rain unlikely.

California Thrasher © Brennan Mulrooney