MONTEREY BAY: PELAGIC BIRDS
JAEGERS THROUGH TERNS 
text & most photos by Don Roberson
those attributed to other photographers are
used with permission; all rights reserved.
These pages feature the regular pelagic birds to be found on Monterey Bay boat trips, but each species has its own season. Of course, not all birds will be found every trip, even in the prime season. Inshore species are excluded; all these migrate primarily offshore although some (Parasitic Jaeger, Common Tern) are also regular along the shoreline and at river mouths. All photos on this page were taken on Monterey Bay (or nearby). We continue with jaegers through terns.
South Polar Skua is a regular visitor in small numbers in autumn (esp. Aug-Oct). All birds seem to be first-year individuals. They generally do not seem attracted to boats, and are thus usually seen as fly-bys or at a distance.
Photos above © D. Roberson, 22 Oct 1998 (left) & 22 Sep 1982 (right). Photos below © D. Roberson, 5 Feb 1994 (left) & 17 Nov 1979 (right).
Pomarine Jaeger is perhaps the commonest jaeger overall, with substantial numbers passing by offshore in fall and spring, and some wintering offshore annually. Although some may be seen by sea-watching from shore, the vast majority are farther offshore in Monterey Bay.
Photos below © D. Roberson, 22 Sep 1982 (left) & 5 Oct 1987 (right)
Parasitic Jaeger appears in good numbers in early fall (July-Sep is the peak) although some are passing through into early winter. This is the most 'inshore' of the jaegers, regularly seen at river mouths or working the Elegant Tern flocks off Pt. Pinos in autumn. Shown here are a juvenal (left) and a subadult (right).
Photos below © D. Roberson, 16 Aug 1998 (left) & 22 Sep 1982 (right; juv. at Salinas wastewater ponds)
Long-tailed Jaeger migrates well offshore, working the flocks of Arctic Terns found there. It is quite unusual to see one from shore, and onshore birds are extraordinary (as was this juvenal at Salinas ponds, near left). Adults (far left) are regularly found Aug-Sep on boat trips to the Monterey seavalley, but many are in tail molt (as in this photo) and lack the full long tail.
Photos below © D. Roberson, 4 Sep 2000 (left) & 23 Aug 1981 (right)
Sabine's Gull is a common migrant offshore in fall, esp. Aug-Sep, and it is always a treat to come upon a flock of this delicate gull over the sparkling sea (near right). The characteristic wing pattern is apparent even from below when backlit (far right; subadult). A return spring migration occurs far offshore in Apr-May.
Photos below © D. Roberson 24 Aug 1980 (left) & © Richard Ternullo 25 Sep 2000 (right)
Common Tern is a fall migrant (Aug-Sep). The two (right) landed on a boat offshore; others appear regularly in tern flocks at river mouths.
Photos below © D. Roberson 22 Sep 1982 (both photos)
Arctic Tern is a common migrant far offshore in autumn, esp. Aug-Oct. It is much scarcer near shore and is rather rare at tern roosts at river mouths. From below (near left) note the thin and well-defined black line at the tips of the outer primaries. From above (far left) not the uniform upperwings.
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ALBATROSSES
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SHEARWATERS
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STORM-PETRELS
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PHALAROPES
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Page created 10 Nov 2002