Far off the west coast of Mexico lie Guadalupe and Socorro Islands. Even the names are unfamiliar to most people, and they are some the most rarely visited islands in the world. This unique voyage will visit the waters around them in search of the rare and endangered seabirds that breed only here and will offer one of the first ever chances to search out Townsend’s Shearwater, Townsend’s Storm Petrel, Ainley’s Storm Petrel and Guadalupe Murrelet. Many other interesting seabirds’ nest on these islands or feed in their offshore waters and we also hope to see Laysan Albatross, Scripp’s, and Craveri’s Murrelet, Ashy, Black and Least Storm Petrels, Black-vented Shearwater and many more besides. We should also see a range of other pelagic species including several whales and dolphins, the near endemic Guadalupe Fur Seal, and with luck, various sharks, turtles, and other marine life.

The islands of Guadalupe and Socorro also hold four endemic land bird species between them: Guadalupe Junco, Socorro Parakeet, Socorro Mockingbird and Socorro Wren. Permits are almost never issued to land ashore on the island, but we will be making every effort to obtain permits to seek out these species. If we are not able to land, we should be able to observe Socorro Wrens from skiff rides offshore.

The trip will be led by Adam Walleyn and Eric Antonio Martinez. Adam is one of the world’s most experienced seabirders and has extensive experience with almost all the world’s seabirds and marine mammals during over 1 000 days spent at sea. Eric is one of Mexico’s leading birders and has spent decades guiding birders to every corner of the country. The trip will be operated on the most comfortable vessel that visits these waters with a captain and crew that have made several previous visits.