Reports 2004

June 14 - CORE 12 Hour Whale Trip to Great South Channel This trip, a fund raiser for CORE, was primarily for marine mammals. There were several dedicated birders Paul Kelly and myself . Since both Jeffreys Ledge and Stellwagen Bank have produced disappointing results so far this summer, the trip headed south to the Great South Channel. We left Gloucester at 5 AM, sailed across the north edge of Stellwagen Bank and down the east side to the 50 fathom line in the Great South Channel. During the 12 hour trip we covered more than 150 miles of ocean with only one confirmed sighting of a Humpback on the Great South Channel. On the morning crossing of Stellwagen Bank about 10 Wilson's Storm-petrels were seen along with 4 Sooty Shearwaters and 1 Greater Shearwater. Birding improved slightly on the Great South Channel with 3-4 Storm-petrels in sight most of the time some following in the wake of the boat. Approximately 50 Sooty Shearwaters were seen along with 1 more Greater Shearwater, 1 Common Tern, 2 juvenile Gannets. It would appear that we may be in for a very lean summer on Stellwagen Bank for both birds and whales. Birders may do better on Jeffreys Ledge where Minke and Finback Whales have been seen lately. Most boats from ports north of Boston are heading to Jeffreys Ledge now. You may as well drive to Gloucester or Newburyport to spend more time actually looking for birds. Reported by Emmalee Tarry July 5 BBC trip to Plum Island reports Wilson's Storm-petrels from shore.Reports also from Gloucester Harbor and Hampton Beach. July 5 -7 CORE Continental Shelf Edge Whale Watch This was another fund raising trip for CORE. The cost was $500 for 3 nights and included all meals. The boat was the Yankee Freedom which has bunk beds below. Mike Overton (right) was aboard as the birding leader representing Brian Patterson. Birders participating included: Nick Paulson, Bob Kelly, and Emmalee Tarry Area covered included Lydonia Canyona, Oceanographers Canyon and beyond into the very deep water off the shelf, Welker Canyon, Asia Ripp to the Great South Channel. Birds: South Polar Skua, Manx, Corys, Greater and Sooty Shearwaters, Wilsons Storm-petrels, Leach's Storm-petrel. We did transverse several large areas of blue water without finding a White-faced Storm-petrel. I did not see other evidence of warm water such as Portuguese Man-O- War Jellyfish or rafts of Sargassum Weed. Mammals sighted:Sperm Whales, 2 Cuvier's Beaked Whales,Striped, Common, and White-faced Dolphins. Emmalee Tarry July 10 BBC Birding Trip on the Newburyport Whale Watch Morning trip went north to the ridges just east of the Isle of Shoals and south of Jeffreys Ledge. Wilson's Storm-petrels visible during most of the trip and we had 2 Northern Gannets. Two Fin Whales and several Minke Whales were seen. Very good sighting of a Harbor Porpoise which surfaced several times very near the boat. 16 birders participated. Ida Giriunas was the leader. August 1 - Whale Watch Stellwagen Bank I wanted to report on a trip some MAS at Broad Meadow Brook took out of Provincetown on Saturday morning (left 8:30AM). We went aboard the Dolphin Fleet. The ship cruised almost directly west of Race Point, then north and back to Race Point. Whales and seabirds were few and far between. The woman from the Center for Coastal Studies aboard said that this has been true lately. We saw NO Humpbacks. Bird list first: Greater Shearwater (5 on the whale watch: we had 4 from Race Point earlier that morning) Sooty Shearwater (1) Manx Sheawater (3 sitting on water together) Wilson's Storn Petrel (c.65+ on the boat trip. Mark Lynch August 25 - Provincetown to Truro Whale Watch Whale watch on Portuguese Princess boat the Captain Red from rovincetown to Truro along 100 foot line saw 1 Humpback Whale feeding, 1 Minke, 36 Wilson's Storm-petrels, 6 Common Terns, 11 Black-backed Gulls. Late afternoon trip had 4 Humpback Whales.One observer Emmalee Tarry. August 28 Nantucket Shoals and Veatchs Canyon on Continental Shelf Edge Four skuas, Bridled Tern, Band-rumped Storm-petrel, Leach's Storm-petrel and large flock of Cory's Shearwaters were the highlights. See full report.;