2008 White-faced Storm Petrel Search- Aug. 22, 23, 24

        -Price $440 per person for the three day set; contact us for limited availability of single days

        -Meeting time : 0530 in Wanchese, NC  (we will send directions to participants when we find out where our slip will be)

Because the White-faced Storm-Petrel does not typically inhabit the hot, blue Gulf Stream water where we spend most of our time on pelagic trips off the Outer Banks, we have decided to run some trips to the east and northeast of Oregon Inlet where this species occurs sparingly, but annually, in the same areas frequented by large numbers of Wilson's Storm-Petrels in summer.  The likelihood of seeing some species (which are common in the Gulf Stream proper) such as Black-capped Petrel and Band-rumped Storm-Petrel is quite slim in this area, but the chances of finding White-faced Storm-Petrels is far greater than it would be closer to Cape Hatteras.  Nevertheless, there are no guarantees, and to give you the best chance for success, we are offering this as a "Three Day Set", with just a limited number of single day reservations available.  A three day bundle of trips also helps to make it worth our while to reposition the boat from Hatteras to Wanchese.  The game plan is to go looking for White-faced Storm-Petrel on Day One, and if we see the species to everyone's satisfaction, we will head to the Gulf Stream on Days Two and Three.  Otherwise, we will devote two or three days to looking for White-faced Storm-Petrels, as needed.  To date we have had about a 35 to 40% success rate w/ WFSP off Oregon Inlet on a given day, hence this arrangement.  Other species which are likely in the same area include Cory's, Greater, and Audubon's Shearwaters, Wilson's Storm-Petrel, Red-necked Phalarope, and Bridled Tern.  Other reasonable possibilities include Manx Shearwater, Leach's Storm-Petrel, South Polar Skua, and all three species of jaegers.  Black-capped Petrel, Band-rumped Storm-Petrel and other blue water rarities are very unlikely but not impossible.  And, of course, there is always the chance for something quite unexpected:  the Black-bellied Storm-Petrel found off Oregon Inlet in 2004 was west of the Gulf Stream in an area with lots of Wilson's Storm-Petrels.  Because of the relatively short run to the shelf break off Oregon Inlet, we will have much more time in deep water over the course of an 11-12 hour trip here than we would off Virginia Beach or other points north.  In 1999, I spotted a White-faced Storm-Petrel just minutes after reaching the 100 fathom curve here!  Other times it has taken the better part of two days to find one.  On a couple of occasions we have searched two days w/o success, but this will be our first three day program.  The White-faced Storm-Petrel is a charming little seabird with lots of character; I hope that you will join us in the search!

Brian Patteson