California Pelagic Birding at Its Finest

Pelagic - which means "open ocean" - birding gets you out where the really unique birds live! For many folks, this is the main avenue to see birds like albatrosses, storm-petrels, shearwaters and similar. But pelagic birding takes some effort. Read the Birdist Rule #55: Go on a Pelagic Birding Trip for more insight on the subject.

For 2024, check out Alvaro Jaramillo's pelagic birding trip dates that are finalized for the upcoming summer and fall. The trips head out from Sausalito for the Farallons trip (Tufted Puffins, anyone?), then out of Half Moon Bay, Monterey Bay, and Moro Bay for the rest of the pelagic trips.

For additional Monterey Bay trips, you can check out dates from Monterey Seabirds, run by Monterey Bay Whale Watch in the Monterey Harbor, for more trips in Monterey Bay specifically. These trips go out nearly every weekend from August through October, the height of pelagic bird season on the central coast. See you on the water!