Same bird? A Waved Albatross has been seen in Californian waters on two occasions

The October 2025 Waved Albatross at sea off California, photograph by Stan Tekiela

A Critically Endangered Waved Albatross Phoebastria irrorata was photographed and videoed at sea on 05 October 2025 on the Cordell Bank off Sonoma and Marin counties, Northern California from a seabird-watching vessel.  This has been reported as the first record for the species north of Central America (click here).

Endangered albatross spotted in North Bay waters marks first-ever sighting north of Costa Rica”, video by Mike Carozza

What has been considered likely to be the same individual was identified from a research station at sea roughly 37 km offshore near Point Piedras Blancas, central California on 23 January 2026.  The sighting was approximately 4800 km north of the Galapagos Islands where the species breeds (click here).

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 10 February 2026