2000 Pelagic Birding Trip Reports

On This Page
Skuas Jaegers Gannet | Phalaropes | Loons Grebes Cormorants | Alcids | Ducks | Gulls | Whales | Trip Notes

All trips to Stellwagen Bank or Jeffreys Ledge unless date in red. See Trip Notes for details.

NR means not reported by observers but in the opinion of the webmaster, most certainly present. This includes whales and common gulls.

12/10/2000 Cox's Ledge from RI

The boat just got to the edge of Cox's Ledge. They had to take a smaller boat, and it was slower. I suspect the birding would have been better if they had the faster boat and could go farther offshore. Till next time.. Eleven birders went out on the fishing boat today on a trip organized by Mike Tucker for Audubon's Caratunk Wildlife Sanctuary. Although the boat only went about 20 miles out and Block Island was always in view, some nice birds were seen. 150 Northern Gannets (mostly adults) 40 Black-legged Kittiwakes 1 GREATER SHEARWATER (late) 2 Parasitic Jaegars 6 Razorbills 2 DOVEKIE (one was a flyby, and one came in and sat close to the boat) . Thanks to Janice St. Jean for this report.

12/9/2000 Jeffreys Ledge Lobster Boat

I picked another tough weather day to go birding on a commercial lobster boat. We started about 7 miles east of Halibut Point with a 5 to 10 knot northerly wind and ended about 5 miles east of Pigeon Cove Harbor with a 25 to 30 knot northerly wind. The approximate number of birds I saw were those within about 1/4 of the boat and only while traps were being hauled. Only the two commonest gulls sat in the water near the boat while the other birds were close to mostly distant flybys. 42 Razorbills (includes 1 group of 4 close and a distant group of 17) 8 Black Guillemots 11 Northern Gannets (3 close) 1 Greater Shearwater (landed in the water near the boat for a few seconds) 3 Red-throated Loons 1 Common Loon 2 Bonaparte's Gulls (1 close) 7 White-winged Scoters 8 Black Scoters 1 Jaeger (species to far for my id) 3 Oldsquaw 1 Black-legged Kittiwake 23 Canada Geese (1 string... coincidently none were in Rockport Harbor when we left, but there were 23 when we returned -- same birds?) 100 Great Black-backed Gulls 30 Herring Gulls No mammals Jim Wallius Rockport, MA jaw@escape.com

11/29/2000 - 12/1/2000 ESE Nantucket

DE-00-11%Delaware@ccmail.rdc.noaa.gov To: massbird@world.std.com I'm on a research vessel working off the Cape. On the 29th we were working east between Atlantis and Vetch sea canyons along the 2000-2500m contour. Very few birds except herring and great black-backs, a half dozen kittiwake, 8-10 gannet, and 15 greater shearwater. We steamed back to Woods Hole to avoid the storm then headed out through the channel between Nantucket and Monomoy this afternoon (Dec. 1). I spent about 1.5 hours on the bow before it got really rough as got well past Monomoy. As might be expected lots of birds. Large flocks of scoter (mostly surf), good numbers of eider, large numbers of Bonapart's gull and kittiwake and at least 12 pomarine jeager of all ages and colors. Less than 1/2 dozen long-tailed duck. We constantly put up small flocks of razorbills (1-12 birds). About 25 greater shearwater still in the area and constant single gannets moving. By early tomorrow (Dec. 2, 0300 hrs.) we will be on station at Bear Sea Mount about 190 miles ESE of Nantucket. I will keep you land lubbers posted. Karsten Hartel, NOAA Ship R/V Delaware II

11/24/2000 Rockport Lobster Boat Trip

Went on a lobster boat today out of Rockport and had a so-so birding day. Started around 5 miles east of Rockport in a 4 foot chop and northerly winds at 25. Ended next to the Thatcher Island sea buoy in a 2 foot chop and northerly winds at 10. My estimates concern the area around the boat within about 200 yards, and only while we were hauling traps. I have not included the hundreds of birds (and seals) seen around Salvages or while traveling in and out. 16 Greater Shearwaters (zoomed about the boat for about 10 minutes)... real nice show 25 Razorbills (closest to the boat was about 120 feet) 3 Red-throated Loons 1 Common Loon 1 Black-legged Kittiwake 21 White-winged Scoters 15 Black Scoters 30 Common Eider 43 Northern Gannets 25 Herring Gulls 33 Great Black-backed Gulls Only the gulls sat on the water near the boat. Normally on such a trip I would expect to encounter alcids and gannets on the water nearby. 1 Humpback whale The captain indicated that there are more birds near his traps that are about 12 miles east of Rockport. Jim Wallius Rockport, MA jaw@escape.com

10/28/2000 Fall Stellwagen Bank CANCELLED.

This trip was cancelled due to weather conditions.

10/7/2000 Stellwagen Bank on Yankee Fleet

BBC Blue Book trip to north edge of the bank. One migrating warbler probably Palm landed on the boat. No loons,Storm-petrels or terns. The last whale of the day was identified as Salt the first whale named and an animal that has a 27 year history of scientific research with her latest calf.

10/5 Shore Observation from Chathan Light

The jaeger show continues at Chatham Light: I saw 35+ birds from 4:00 - 4:45 this afternoon (10/5). In one scan across the mouth of the inlet, I counted 32 birds. Everything identifiable was a Parasitic. Once again, some of the birds were very close to shore. This is a rare opportunity to leisurely (and comfortably!) study jaeger plumages (Parasitic, at least). Even if the subject of jaeger plumages puts you to sleep, the aerial display they are putting on is spectacular. Totals: 20 Parasitic Jaegers 15+ jaeger sp. 1 Forster's Tern 400 Common Terns 100 Laughing Gulls From: Blair Nikula (Not included in the table above.)

9/30-10/1 Hudson Canyon NY from Point Judith,RI

Thanks to Charles Avenengo for this pelagic report: Point Judith, RI- SSE to 12 miles north of Hudson Canyon (New York Results from "7B's" charter tuna trip September 30-October 1. From waters). High H2O temps= 70.1 Birds: 1 Northern Fulmar 5 Cory's Shearwaters 30 Greater Shearwaters 2 Audubon Shearwaters 99+ Wilson's Storm-petrel 2 Parasitic Jaegar (both dark morph, unable to age them) 1 Lesser Golden Plover 8 White-winged Scoters (3 miles south of Point Judith) Marine Mammals: 4 Finback Whales 2 Minke Whales 1 Risso's Dolphin 50+ Common Dolphins 20+ Bottlenosed Dolphins also: 3 Blue Sharks albacore and yellowfin tuna small swordfish 20 Portuguese-man-o-wars 1 Portuguese Man-o-war fish By-the-wind Sailors sargassum All wildlife seen directly next to the boat except jaegars and scoters.

9/16/2000 Stellwagen Bank from Provincetown on Dolphin Whale Watch

Nick Samson led this trip on the 4 PM whale watch to the south west corner of Stellwagen Bank. We were disappointed that the trip stopped short of the BE buoy and we did not have as many birds as expected. Trip was full.

9/14/2000 Stellwagen Bank from Capt John Whale Watch

From Joe Paluzzi The following are the tallies for birds today on a Plymouth to Stellwagen excursion: 250 G Shearwaters 35 S Shearwaters 2 Manx and 1 possible Cory's ( not seen well enough to positively ID ) 2 Pomarine Jaegers 1 Parasitic " Conspicuous with their absence were either specie of Storm-petrels. Some birders on board spotted an alcid that was probably a Dovekie. It was Dovekie size, with an entire black head with white undersides, small bill and the bird flew with rapid wingbeats. The problem is that a Dovekie would be "out of season" by maybe a month or so, but what else could it have been? A Marbled Murrelet?? Anyone else on board may want to add their opinion of this bird to this report . What are the early report records for this bird in these waters? We probably saw 10 Hump-backed whales and 15 Minkes and not sure about Fin-backed. Gulls seen are estimated as 100 Bonies, 150 GBB and 1500 H Gulls on the ocean with 25 C Terns as well.

9/10/2000 Stellwagen Bank from Provincetown on Dolphin Fleet 4 PM

From Blair Nikula: Four of us took a 4:00 pm trip out to Stellwagen from P'town this afternoon and it was rocking (the birds that is, not the boat), highlighted by 2 adult Sabine's Gulls and the best jaeger show I've ever seen from a boat. We made up to the BE buoy and beyond, which, like last year, seems to be where most of the action is. With so many birds, and the boat going around in circles, trying to count birds is futile, but the following is my best guesstimate of what we saw: 2 Cory's Shearwaters 600 Greater Shearwaters 400 Sooty Shearwaters 8 Manx Shearwaters 2 N. Gannets 20 Pomarine Jaegers 8 Parasitic Jaegers 20+ jaeger sp. 4 B.-L. Kittiwakes 2 Sabine's Gulls (adults; the first one flew up and down one side of the boat a couple of times, then completely circled the boat - a great show; the second one was sitting on the water a couple of miles further north.) 150 Common Terns

9/10/2000 Stellwagen Bank from Barnstable Midday

On a Hyannis whale watch out of Barnstable Saturday we saw: common loon 2, Sooty Shearwater 30 ,Greater Shearwater 50, Manx Shearwater 3 ,Northern Gannet 1, Pomarine Jaeger 2, Laughing Gull 3 ,Bonaparte's Gull 1, SABINE'S GULL 1 imm, Common Tern 100+, John Hoye & Audrey McCarthy, Wayland Not included in table above.

9/9/2000 Stellwagen Bank from Provincetown on Dolphin Fleet 4 PM

A year ago today, I had the good fortune of getting 3 Sabine's Gulls on a late day Dolphin Fleet whale watch out of Provincetown. With hopes of repeating the event, Eddie Giles and I led a BBC trip on the 4:00 boat today. We had no luck with Sabine's, but there were no complaints heard as Stellwagen was alive with birds (and whales and dolphins) and we had both good numbers and good variety. Highlights include: Northern Gannet (2) Northern Fulmar (1) Thank you Mark Burns Manx Shearwater (4) Cory's Shearwater (2) Thank you Steve Mirrick Greater Shearwater (150) Sooty Shearwater (250) Parasitic Jaeger (10) Pomarine Jaeger (2) Jaeger sp. (3) Roseate Tern (3) Forster's Tern (1) Black-Legged Kittiwake (2) The jaegers were everywhere. At one point, we had 5 together off the bow and another 2 off the port. They put on an absolutely spectacular show as they dive-bombed the poor terns (and each other). 9 AM on same date on same boat saw only 5 Greater Shearwater, 6 Sooty Shearwater and 2 Gannets. There were 6 Humpback Whales, 1 Basking Shark and a mass of bait fish jumping on the surface.

9/9/2000 Bar Harbor Maine

Saturday 9 Sept 2000: Lysle Brinker reports that the Maine Audubon Society Pelagic trip aboard the Friendship V from Bar Harbor, Maine (visiting the southern Grand Manan Banks and vicinity and waters off Mt. Desert Is.[MDI]) recorded the following: 400+ Greater Shearwater, 4 Sooty Shearwater, 2 Manx Shearwater, +400 Wilson's Storm-Petrel (including 2 groups, +100, +200), 4 Leach's Storm-Petrel (1 or 2 in chum slick w/several Wilson's), ~40 Northern Gannet (mostly 1st-year and 2nd-year, only 2 adults), 1 Merlin (chased by Pom. Jaegers), 20+ Red Phalarope, ~4 Red-necked Phalarope, 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (in chum frenzy at GM banks), a few Laughing Gull near MDI, 2 ad Black-legged Kittiwake, 2 adult Arctic Tern, +25 unid. tern species (distant Co/Arctic types),1 fly-by Atlantic Puffin, 1 Razorbill and a few Black Guillemot. Mammals included +8 Pilot Whale, 2 Fin Whale, +20 Atlantic White-sided Dolphin and 10+ Harbor Porpoise. There were more than 20 "sightings" of jaegers, involving mostly imm. Pomarines. The 2 hour ride northeast to the GM banks recorded 8 or 9 jaegers, most of which were Pomarine, 1 Parasitic, and a few unidentified large Jaeger sp, most flying south. While chumming on the GM banks they recorded +8 different Pomarines (1 ad-dark, 1 juv., the rest light imm.) including at one point at least 6 different imm. buzzing aound the boat, loafing on water, pouncing on shearwaters/gulls etc., providing excellent comparative views, only 1 or 2 of the light imm.'s had any noticeable tail extensions another 4 or so Pomarines. or large unid. sp. were recorded while traveling south (including 1 distant, high-flying, very dark imm. Pom that was called a skua until chased down), another 2 Pomarines. (dark & light imm were hanging w/ a floating group of Greater Shearwaters nearer to shore on the way back to MDI).

9/2/2000 Stellwagen Bank from Barnstable on Hyannis Whale Watcher

This trip in rain and fog ended up 17 north of Race Point on the eastern edge of Stellwagen Bank. Spectacular whale show with 3 or more Humpback Whale breeching and tail slapping. Bubble feeding observed. Good number of Sooty Shearwaters and some Greaters although the whale feeding did not attrack as many birds as usual. Jaegers seen at distance. No Storm-petrels or Phalaropes and only 2 Northern Gannets. Ocean Sunfish in Cape Cod Bay. The Hyannis Whale Watcher again did not live up to the promise to spend more time on the banks returning in 3.5 hours.

8/27/2000 RI Pelagic

Here is the list of what we recorded today, August 27, on the offshore pelagic trip: Long-tailed Jaeger 4 Jaeger sp. 1