Photo Salon 
In summer and fall of 2009, seabird researchers and seabirders recorded an influx of Cook's Pe- 
trels into nearshore California waters like none other on record. The first inkling of this incur- 
sion came from Southern California waters 25 July, when a deep-water pelagic trip from Santa 
Barbara counted an unprecedented 136 Cook's Petrels. In Northern California waters on 30 July, 
researcher Michael Force observed a Cook's just 9 kilometers from Ragged Point, Monterey 
County — far closer to shore than normal. The next day. Force tallied 179 in nearby waters, and 
a Shearwater Journeys trip inside Monterey Bay counted 1 38! From top left to bottom, these 
images depict individuals off Monterey County 31 July (one of 138 documented that day); west 
of San Nicolas Island, Ventura County 25 July (one of 130; top right); and over the San Juan 
Seamount, Santa Barbara County 25 July. Photographs by Brian L Sullivan. 
668 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
