1998 Pelagic Birding Trip Reports

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

September 26 Stellwagen Bank

BBC Blue Book trip aboard the Newburyport Whale Watch. Beautiful, warm day with flat seas. Majority of birds sighted were between the mouth of the Merrimack River and Gloucester. No terns were seen on Stellwagen Bank and only a few in the river. No Jaegers or Wilson's Storm Petrels. Only one Sooty Shearwater was seen on this trip. I recall that in 1997 the numbers of Sooty's fell off dramatically in late fall while we were still seeing good numbers of Greater Shearwaters. The Sooty Shearwater must migrate south sooner than the Greaters. The Harbor Seals reported (29) were all on the rocks at the mouth of the Merrimack River. Once again we had a good whale show.

September 5 Stellwagen Bank

BBC Blue Book trip aboard the Newburyport Whale Watch. Stiff wind and 6 foot swells hampered the trip. Whales were feeding on the southern end of the bank requiring a long ride before the boat slowed. Jaegers were unidentified to species because they were so far away, but were presumed to be Parasitic due to aggressive chasing of terns. Great whale show with 9 individuals feeding close to the boat. Best bird show was a flock of 5 Manx Shearwater that came very close to the boat.

August 31 Cashes Ledge, Fippenies Ledge, Stellwagen Bank

BBC Cashes Ledge overnight pelagic. Sailed from Plymouth, MA at 11 PM on Sunday August 30 and arrived on Cashes Ledge at 5:30 AM. Hurricane Bonnie passed thru the area during the previous week increasing the number of birds reported by whale watch trips on Stellwagen Bank. Sunday at noon, the Gulf of Maine buoy was recording waves of 6.6 - 7 feet. By Monday morning sea had flattened to swells and the most of the day was relatively calm. Overcast skies. Air temperature warm. Trip was led by Simon Perkins. Birding started on Cashes Ledge. A pass was made over Fippennies Ledge and the trip ended with a pass over the southern end of Stellwagen Bank.

Two thousand of the Wilson's Storm-Petrels were recorded on Cashes Ledge with the remaining 500 recorded from Fippennies Ledge. No Storm-Petrels were recorded from Stellwagen. Two Red-winged Blackbirds and 2 unidentified land birds possibly Savannah Sparrows followed the boat for a time. We also had a flock of 34 Hudsonia Godwits, 1 Sanderling and 1 Semipalmated Plover. A most unusual occurrence was a Mourning Cloak Butterfly. A nice pod of 50-80 Atlantic White-sided Dolphin were observed for some time. They showed no interest in the boat and continued with their own agenda.

August 22 Stellwagen Bank

BBC Blue Book trip on the Newburyport Whale Watch. Scott Mercer reported decreased numbers of birds during the week and this trip did nothing to change that. A Sabine's Gull was reported by another trip leader earlier in the week. There was a nice show of whales and a pod of Atlantic White-sided Dolphins played with the boat for a time. The sea was flat and the weather warm. A hurricane "Bonnie" is brewing in the Carribean.

August 8 Stellwagen Bank

BBC Blue Book trip on Newburyport Whale Watch. The sea was calm and devoid of birds from the mouth of the Merrimack River to Stellwagen Bank. As we approached the northern end of Stellwagen Bank, a Humpback Whale was seen breeching. The boat went slightly out of its way to pass near a fishing boat that was chumming. There were two Sooty Shearwaters in with the gulls and a Wilson's Storm-Petrel. The breeching immature Humpback put on a wonderful show for twenty minutes or more. Around whales that were actively feeding we had Common Terns, Greater , Sooty, and Manx Sheartwaters. Two Parasitic Jaegers put on a marvelous show chasing the terns and each other for some time. We also had a few more Wilson's Storm-Petrels.

On the way back to the dock, we received a radio report of the Fork-tailed Flycatcher at Hellcat Swamp on Plum Island. The trip continued to the island where we had good looks at this rare and unexpected bird.

July 25 Stellwagen Bank

BBC Blue book trip with 23 observers on the Newburyport morning Whale Watch to Stellwagen Bank. Weather was beautiful. Birds continue to be dispersed and the whales deep feeding on the banks. Nice looks at Greater, Sooty and Manx Shearwaters. The low number of Wilson's Storm-Petrels continues a mystery. Only four was seen on the entire trip where last year several thousand would have been normal.

July 17 Stellwagen Bank

Newburyport morning Whale Watch to Stellwagen Bank. On this extremely hot day it was very pleasant out on the water. Whales were deep feeding and the birds very dispersed. Sooty Shearwaters outnumbered Greater 26 to 15. Only 8 Wilson's Storm-Petrels were seen. One Laughing Gull was seen flying over the tuna fishing fleet. There were 10 observers including a guest from Germany.

June 28 Stellwagen Bank

Newburyport Whale Watch to Stellwagen Bank. Beautiful day with no fog. Manx Shearwaters seen between Merrimack River and the banks. No Gannets on the entire trip. 3 observers.

June 23 Stellwagen Bank

Captain John boats out of Plymouth to Stellwagen Bank. One observer. Report by Herman D'Entremont

June 21 Stellwagen Bank

BBC Blue Book trip on the Newburyport Whale Watch to Stellwagen Bank. Four observers. Warm and foggy. Visibility ranged from 1 mile close to shore to less than 100 yards on the banks. Whales were finally located by turning off the boat motors and listening for the blow. We had very good looks at 3 Humpback whales logging on the surface. Wilson Storm-Petrels and Northern Gannets were seen in small groups throughout the trip. On the banks we had 5 Sooty Shearwaters and 2 Greater Shearwaters. Visibility was very limited and these observations probably greately underestimate actual numbers. There seemed to be more trash than usual including a Duncan Donut cup and a red balloon.

May 23 Stellwagen Bank

BBC Blue book trip on the Newburyport Whale Watch to Stellwagen Bank. Six observers. Birds seen while still in the Merrimack River included: Black Tern, Bonaparte's Gull 100, Purple Sandpipers 75, Dunlin 10, Great Egret. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird was seen at sea. Since the Humpback whales were feeding on the southern tip of Stellwagen Bank, the boat covered a good part of the banks looking for the whales. Excellent views of Humpback Whales bubble feeding within 20 feet of the boat. Emmalee Tarry, trip leader.

April 12 Stellwagen Bank

New England Aquarium Whale Watch Boat to Stellwagen Bank. Boston Harbor sightings of interest: Double-crested Cormorant displaying breeding plumes and Red-throated Loon almost in full breeding plumage. Two Humpback Whales close to the boat. Reported by Emmalee Tarry

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