Packing for a pelagic trip is different from packing for a morning at your local patch. You’re heading offshore on a boat for 8 to 12 hours, often in rough seas, with salt spray, wind, and sun all working against your gear and your comfort. Forget something important and there’s no turning back.
This pelagic birding gear checklist covers everything you should throw in your bag before heading to the dock. Print it out, tape it to your fridge, and check things off the night before.
Optics
Binoculars are the single most important piece of gear on a pelagic. Go with 8x42 or 10x42 models that are fully waterproof and fog-proof (nitrogen-purged, O-ring sealed). Salt spray is inevitable. An 8x magnification is easier to hold steady on a rocking boat, but 10x gives you more reach for distant shearwaters and storm-petrels. Pick whichever you’re comfortable hand-holding in rough conditions.
Image-stabilized binoculars like the Canon 10x42L IS are a game-changer on the water if your budget allows. They cut through boat vibration and let you pick out field marks that would be impossible with standard glass.
Spotting scopes are useless at sea. Leave yours at home. The boat’s motion makes them impossible to use, and they’ll just take up space.
Bring a lens cloth or microfiber towel to wipe salt spray off your optics throughout the day. You’ll use it constantly.
Camera Gear
Seabird photography from a boat is challenging but rewarding. Here’s what works.
Lenses: A 100-400mm zoom is the sweet spot for pelagics. Birds come in close to the chum slick (where you’ll want the short end) and fly past at distance (where you’ll want 400mm). Prime lenses like a 400mm f/5.6 or 300mm f/4 also work well. Anything longer than 500mm is usually too heavy and too slow to track birds from a moving platform.
Camera settings: Shoot in shutter priority or manual mode. You’ll want at least 1/1600s, and 1/2500s is even better. Seabirds move fast, and the boat is moving under you. Bump your ISO as high as you need to get the shutter speed; a sharp photo with some noise beats a blurry photo every time. Use continuous autofocus (AI Servo on Canon, AF-C on Nikon/Sony) and burst mode.
Waterproof protection: Salt spray will find your camera. Bring a rain cover or at minimum a large zip-lock bag you can drape over your camera between shots. A lens cloth for the front element is essential.
Memory cards: Bring more than you think you’ll need. A full day of burst shooting eats through storage fast.
Clothing
Conditions offshore are almost always colder and windier than on land, even in summer. Layer up.
Base layer: Moisture-wicking synthetic or merino wool shirt and pants. Cotton gets cold when wet.
Mid layer: Fleece or light down jacket. Even on warm days, wind chill on the open ocean will surprise you.
Outer layer: A waterproof, windproof jacket is non-negotiable. Gore-Tex or a similar membrane keeps spray out. Waterproof pants are worth bringing on rougher days, especially if you’ll be on a smaller vessel.
Hat: A brimmed hat keeps sun off your face and spray off your optics. Secure it with a chin strap or clips; hats blow off boats regularly.
Footwear: Rubber-soled shoes or boots with good grip. Boat decks get slippery, especially near the stern. Rubber boots or waterproof hiking shoes work well. Avoid open-toed shoes.
Gloves: Thin, grippy gloves are useful in cooler weather, especially for early morning departures. Fingerless gloves or those with touchscreen-compatible tips make it easy to operate your camera.
Seasickness Prevention
Seasickness can turn a great day into a miserable one. Take it seriously, even if you don’t usually get motion sick. Offshore swells are a different beast than harbor chop.
Medications: Start the night before your trip, not the morning of. Options include:
- Meclizine (Bonine, Dramamine Less Drowsy): Available over the counter. Less sedating than original Dramamine. Take the first dose the evening before.
- Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine Original): Effective but can make you drowsy. Some birders prefer this for overnight crossings.
- Scopolamine patches: Prescription only. You apply the patch behind your ear at least 4 hours before boarding (the night before is best). Effective for up to 3 days. Common side effect is dry mouth.
Non-medication options: Ginger capsules, ginger chews, or fresh ginger can help with mild nausea. Sea-Bands (acupressure wristbands) work for some people.
On the boat: Stay on deck in fresh air. Focus on the horizon when you’re not looking through binoculars. Avoid going below deck or staring at your phone. Position yourself near the center of the boat where motion is least. Eat lightly but don’t skip meals; an empty stomach makes things worse.
The night before: Get a full night of sleep. Fatigue makes seasickness significantly more likely.
Sun Protection
You’re exposed all day with no shade. Water reflects UV, so you’re getting hit from above and below.
Sunscreen: Apply SPF 50+ before you leave the dock, and reapply every two hours. Choose a reef-safe formula (look for mineral/zinc oxide-based options) since you’ll be in the marine environment. Don’t forget the backs of your hands, ears, and neck.
Sunglasses: Polarized lenses cut glare off the water and make it easier to spot birds on the surface. Secure them with a retainer strap.
Buff or neck gaiter: Protects your neck from sunburn and doubles as wind protection.
Food and Drink
Most pelagic boats provide coffee and water, but everything else is on you. Plan for a long day.
Water: Bring at least 2 liters. Dehydration sneaks up on you at sea, especially on hot days.
Food: Pack ready-to-eat items. You won’t have a table or cutting board. Sandwiches, wraps, energy bars, fruit, crackers, and trail mix all work well. Avoid greasy or heavy foods if you’re prone to seasickness. Snack throughout the day rather than eating one big meal.
Thermos: Hot coffee or tea is a luxury on a cold morning pelagic. Some boats provide coffee, but having your own thermos guarantees a warm drink when you need it.
Field Guides and Apps
Field guides: Bring a physical guide appropriate to your region. For North American pelagics, the Sibley Guide or National Geographic Field Guide are standards. For Australia or New Zealand, grab a regional seabird guide. Familiarize yourself with the expected species list before the trip so you know what to look for.
Merlin Bird ID: Cornell Lab’s free app helps with identification, especially if you can get audio recordings of calls. Download the relevant species packs before you go since you won’t have reliable cell service offshore.
eBird: Log your sightings in real time or shortly after the trip. Many pelagic operators submit a shared eBird checklist for all participants. Having the app ready saves time.
Keep your phone in a waterproof case or zip-lock bag between uses.
Miscellaneous Essentials
- Waterproof dry bag: A 10-20 liter dry bag protects your phone, wallet, car keys, and spare electronics from spray and rain. Worth every penny.
- Zip-lock bags: Bring several gallon-size bags. Use them for your phone, field guide, snacks, and as emergency rain covers.
- Small notebook and pencil: For jotting down field notes, flight descriptions, or plumage details you want to remember. Pencil works when wet; pens don’t.
- Spare batteries: For your camera and any other electronics. Cold and damp drain batteries faster than normal.
- Motion sickness bags: Even if you’ve taken medication, bring a couple just in case. Most boats have them, but having your own means you don’t have to go looking.
- Trash bag: For your own garbage. Leave the ocean cleaner than you found it.
What NOT to Bring
Tripods and monopods. They’re useless on a moving boat and they take up valuable deck space that other birders need.
Expensive jewelry or anything you can’t afford to lose. Things fall overboard. The ocean doesn’t give them back.
Massive camera rigs. A 600mm prime on a gimbal head might work on shore, but on a boat it’s unwieldy and slow. You’ll miss birds while wrestling with it.
Strong fragrances. Perfume and cologne won’t win you friends on a crowded boat, especially when people are fighting seasickness.
Excess gear. Deck space is limited, especially on smaller boats. One bag is ideal. Two is the max.
Before You Go
Book your trip early. Popular pelagics sell out months in advance. Check out our trip directory to find pelagic birding operators worldwide, from Monterey Bay to Kaikoura and everywhere between.
Study the expected species list for your trip. Knowing what you’re likely to see (and what would be rare) makes the day far more productive. Most operators publish species lists on their websites or share previous trip reports.
And above all, enjoy it. There’s nothing quite like watching an albatross arc over the swells or a storm-petrel dance across the wave tops. The gear just helps you appreciate it more.