New England
Seabirds
             
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SATURDAY, 27 AUGUST 2005: BBC BOAT TRIP to NANTUCKET
SHOALS, HYDROGRAPHER and VEATCH'S CANYON.
Weather: Mostly clear,
fog in the A.M. over Nantucket Shoals, otherwise excellent visibility, S-SE
5-10 mph, seas 1-3'. Seventy-seven participants plus the captain and crew of
the "Helen H" departed Hyannis at 0400 hrs., crossing Nantucket Shoals (sea
surface temperatures of 58 F, and fog) en route to the warm deep waters at
Hydrographer Canyon. We cruised the length of Hydrographer into water more than
4000 feet deep and 79 degrees F for a couple of hours before working WSW along
the continental shelf edge to Veatch's Canyon, then back N across the shoals to
Nantucket Sound, arriving back in port around 2120 hrs. Shearwater numbers were
exceptionally low, and we found no great rarities. Numerous flocks of
phalaropes of both pelagic species were encountered during the A.M. transit of
the northern shoals. The avian highlight was undoubtedly the several fresh and
beautifully plumaged juvenile Long-tailed Jaegers, expected at this season in
these shelf waters, which performed very well for us, as did the several
equally anticipated Audubon's Shearwaters. A frustratingly distant, seemingly
small whitish Sulid with blackish primaries and secondaries over Nantucket
Shoals, was troubling. In trouble was a juvenile Tree Swallow that briefly
circled the boat at the shelf edge. Perhaps the real story was the non-avian
marine natural history show: Amazing performances by several hundred of three
species of dolphins, including frolicking and bow riding Offshore Bottlenosed
and Saddlebacks; large pods of Gray Grampus (Risso's Dolphin) almost
omnipresent along the shelf, including many very whitish and scarred older
males; breaching Humpback Whales; Mako and Blue Sharks, Mahi-mahi, schools(!)
of Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola), Skipjacks, Bluefin Tuna; Several likely
Loggerhead Sea Turtles, and nice looks at three or more massive (1200 lb. ?)
and truly awesome Leatherbacks! Common Loon (1)-Nantucket Shoals. Cory's
Shearwater (5)-Nantucket Shoals. Greater Shearwater (35) Sooty Shearwater (1)
Audubon's Shearwater (3+)-canyons. Wilson's Storm-Petrel (3000): Concentration
of 2500 over Hydrographer. Leach's Storm-Petrel (9)-low. Sulid sp. (1): Ad. or
near ad., s. edge Nantucket Shoals. shorebird sp. (1): probable Red Knot, btn.
Veatch and shoals. Red-necked Phalarope (200+) Red Phalarope (15+) phalarope
sp. (50+) Long-tailed Jaeger (3 juvs.): All s. of shoals waters: 2
darkish/intermediate, one paler individual. jaeger sp. (1 juv. or 1S): possibly
also LTJA. Herring Gull (4)-shoals. Great Black-backed Gull (1)-shoals. Sterna
sp. (4): 'Comic' types, shoals. Tree Swallow (1 juv.)-far offshore at sheld
edge. ---------------- Most of the whale and all of the dolphin activity was in
the warm waters near or in the canyons or along the shelf edge: Finback Whale
(12) Humpback Whale (5) Gray Grampus (150+) Offshore Bottlenosed Dolphin (60+)
Saddleback Dolphin (70+) seal sp. (3) ---------------- All in warm waters south
of shoals: prob. Loggerhead Sea Turtle (4) Leatherback Sea Turtle (4)
---------------- Blue Shark (2) Mako Shark (1) shark sp. (5+) Ocean Sunfish
(23): Including 'schools of 4, 3, and 3.; at least two with apparent remora's
in attendance. Bluefin Tuna: several schools breaching. Skipjack Tuna: several
schools breaching. Dolphin Fish or Mahi mahi (5+) flying fish sp. (5+)
----------------- Monarch (2) sulpher sp. (1) butterfly sp. (2) moth sp. (2)
Richard Heil S. Peabody, MA rsheil AT juno.com http://www.savethenorthpool.com
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