Blog
PELAGIC TRIP NEAR LIMA
September 6, 2023
A few days ago, I (Steve Sánchez) was able to participate in a pelagic trip from the Pucusana Port, very close to Lima. I had done boat trips in this area before with groups of clients, because it is one of the best places to see and photograph some important species such as the Peruvian Booby, Humboldt Penguin, Red-legged Cormorant, and the spectacular Inca Tern. However, I had not yet made a pelagic trip of more than 20 miles offshore on the Pacific Ocean to look for seabirds and I was interested in finding new locations to offer to our clients.
I made the boat trip in the good company of a group birding friends (9 in total), taking advantage of Gustavo Bautista’s good contacts in the area, who was in charge of all the logistics.
At 5:30 am we were at the port ready to start the trip, even though the weather forecast was not very good. After some welcoming hugs and laughs, we boarded our small boat. We were all very excited about the next hours that we would spend looking for seabirds, how the weather conditions at open sea would be. There is always the possibility of a surprise: a new bird species!
During the first two hours on the boat, we saw many Peruvian Boobies and Inca Terns. But we were interested in seeing more uncommon species, so we had our eyes on other types of silhouettes. It didn’t take long for us to observe some Peruvian Diving-Petrels and the first Elliot’s Storm Petrels fluttering over the waves.
After 16 miles we started to see more seabirds and enjoyed large groups of Sooty Shearwater, a few Pink-footed Shearwaters, Red-necked Phalarope, Swallow-tailed Gull and the first Waved Albatross, among many others that we would see during the day. A couple of miles later we had a great moment with a Ringed Storm-Petrel and the first Chilean Skuas of the day.
In the afternoon, after a small lunch, we added more species to our list the Red Phalarope, Black Tern, Buller’s Albatross. We were happy because it seemed like we were having a successful day, until someone yelled: “a Pterodroma!” As usual with birders, everyone started to be very excited, trying to focus on the bird with binoculars or cameras. It passed a bit far and very fast a couple of times, but enough for all of us to see it. And I could add one more species to my life list: the Cook’s Petrel, what a moment! I am almost sure that it was lifer for all of us who were on the boat, without a doubt the “bird of the day”.
Then we started to return to the port knowing that a long journey awaited us. All of us felt tired, because the sea was rough and we started the day at 4:30 am, some friends even earlier. But it was more than worth it. On the way back we saw some more species such as the South American Tern, and several common species of the area. We arrived in Pucusana almost at night, happy to have shared another memorable day of birding with each other.
Photos and text by Steve Sánchez
Kuntur Nature and Adventure EIRL
Company Address: Av. Industrial Conj. Hab. FOVIPOL. Nr 104 – Santiago – Cusco – Peru
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