Tropical Audubon Society

South Florida’s Voice of Conservation

Jack Crittenden and I headed out in search of wahoo and hopefully some birds. Chances for the first were shot due to a lack of current in the ideal depth. Seas were rough but manageable in the outer reef, but once you got into the Gulfstream current farther offshore they were 4'-6 with the occasional 7' thrown in. The period was very short so it was not fun.

We started at Pacific Light early where there were about 80 Brown Booby, the highest number I've ever seen of this species in one place. We got excellent looks at a Dark Morph Pomarine Jaeger, and later had a fly-by Manx Shearwater that we tried to chase down but it was flying too fast. The trip was cut short when I got news of the Variegated Flycatcher. We did get a small tuna and some mahi for dinner. The celebratory libation consisted of sashimi tuna and Ballast Point Sculpin IPA.

The list:

Brown Booby 80
Cory's Shearwater 2
Manx Shearwater
Pomarine Jaeger, 2
Jaeger sp (likely a pom)