New England Seabirds by Emmalee Tarry Reports 2011

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Reports 2011

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Reports 2011

2011 BBC Off Shore Trip Reports

Juvenile Long-tailed Jaeger on 9/12 NH Audubon trip photographed by Leonard Medlock. This bird flew numerous times around the boat in perfect light late in the trip.

Dec 31, 2011 Final Report for 2011 New Jersey and Maryland Dovekies

Paul Guris <paulagics.com@gmail.com> Dec 31 04:09PM -0500

Several of us went fishing on an 18 hour trip for sea bass aboard the
Atlantic Star out of Wildwood Crest, NJ. The boat left at 2 AM and headed
south, placing us in Maryland waters for most of the daylight hours though
we believe we were north of MD at sunrise. (Position is difficult to
determine on these trips as the wreck sites are closely held secrets and
bringing a personal GPS aboard is STRICTLY forbidden.) Fishing was
excellent but between catching fish and while the boat made a few moves
between wrecks, we managed to have some really great pelagic birding.

Pre-sunrise we were accompanied by a half dozen COMMON DOLPHINS and started
picking up our first DOVEKIES. After we anchored and started fishing, we
noticed a big movement of Dovekies. I counted 200 birds in 3 minutes.
This later died down but we were still picking up Dovekies on and off
throughout the day until sunset. Since we were not paying continual
attention our count is low, but we ended the day with 1,360 Dovekies. Not
bad for only paying attention for a few hours.

Another nice count was 9 ATLANTIC PUFFINS. We had seen two when moving
between wrecks, but when we moved again with a following sea for 20 miles
or so, we were able to pick them up more easily. We also managed to find
10 RAZORBILLS, a species we usually do a little better with inshore.

Other pelagic highlights included a single MANX SHEARWATER, 4 NORTHERN
FULMAR, some BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES (all adults), GANNETS (almost all
adults), and 2 COMMON LOONS in over 300' of water.

We had one really bizarre experience. Mike Fritz landed a nice sea bass
which spit up a few things it had eaten. This isn't unusual and the first
one was a crab. The second one was an odd looking lump of something, and
when I pulled it out of the cooler to see what it was I realized that it
was a Dovekie's skull and neck! Dovekies don't normally dive all that deep
so I suspect that it had died, sunk to the bottom, and was consumed by the
fish.

The water is still very warm for this time of year offshore (well over 50
degrees) and it seems to be holding more birds than usual. We still have
room on our pelagic trips from NY, NJ, and DE. I will be posting details
out later or you can look up the details on our web site.

-PAG

--
*Paul A. Guris
See Life Paulagics

Dec 12 08:25AM -0500 Jeffrey's Ledge

Iceland Gull - 2
Glaucous Gull - 1 ad seabrook

Dovekie - 25
Atlantic Puffin - 1 beautiful adult picked out close to the boat by Greg Tillman
Black Guillemot - 1
Common Murre - 10
Razorbill - 23

Eric Masterson
beyondbirding.wordpress.com

Halloween Nor'Easter

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rsheil/?saved=1

Sept 12, 2011 NH Audubon Tri- State Pelagic

NH Audubon sponsored an all day pelagic bird trip yesterday aboard the
"Granite State" out of Rye Harbor, NH. We traveled east to the Isles
of Shoals where we wandered around the lee side of the islands waiting
for the southerly winds to dissipate. We then traveled SE toward Old
Scantum where we encountered great numbers of gulls working 2 active
gill netters returning toward shore. Incredibly, at this point, we got
word of gunning exercises being conducted by the Coast Guard in the area
where we were going, and they were prohibiting crafts within 6 miles of
this area. Fortunately, it didn't impact our trip. We diverted NE
toward Jeffrey's Basin where we found a group of Right Whales, then
worked south over Jeffrey's before heading back in. Essentially all of
the trip was in NH waters except for brief forays into ME and MA waters.

Another great trip highlighted by the last pelagic bird of the day, a
spectacular juvenile Long-tailed Jaeger that gave everyone on the boat
long, close views. Thanks to Jon Woolf for organizing this successful
trip and to Captain Pete Reynolds and crew for skillfully working the
birds and whales we encountered.

Map of trip:
-----------------

http://home.comcast.net/~smirick//NHAudubonPelagic-091211.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~smirick//NHAudubonPelagic-091211.kmz

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lmedlock/sets/72157627657639490/

Here is Steve Mirick's map of the trip.

September 12 Mass Audubon Newburyport Pelagic

"David Larson" <dlarson@massaudubon.org> Sep 12 05:43PM -0400 ^

Ah, it was a lovely day to be out on the ocean today. Sunny skies, a 2'
swell, and just a little chop. We had a very nice time from 10 am to 3
pm aboard the Prince of Whales on our last Seabirds and Whales trip of
the season. The birds were great as were the other vertebrates.

Birds seen offshore:
Northern Gannets 51
Great Shearwaters 85
Cory's Shearwaters 3
Parasitic Jaeger 3 (all immature)
Long-tailed Jaeger 1 (light immature, right over the bow
of the boat)
Northern Fulmar 1 (behind a dragger, seen by only a
few)
Wilson's Storm-Petrels 342
Red-necked Phalaropes 21
phalarope sp. 5
Black Tern 2 (southbound)
Usual hordes of Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls as well as a
smattering of terns.

Other vertebrates:
Harbor Porpoises 20 (very cooperative for this species,
included one apparent albino)
Atlantic White-sided Dolphins 100+ (lots of calves)
Minke Whale 2
Fin Whale 1 ("9904" seen twice)
Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) 2

Special thanks to the captain and crew of the Lisa Ann - they saved a
bunch of fish guts from their night of fishing and chummed for us on
their way in! And, as always, special thanks to the captain and crew and
naturalists on the Prince of Whales.
Dave
--
David M. Larson, Ph.D.
Education Coordinator
Joppa Flats Education Center
Mass Audubon
Newburyport, MA
978-462-9998

June 12, 2011

Trip Summary for SAWT Excursion

NECWA Trip Summary: June 12, 2011

By Wayne R. Petersen

Marine explorations are always interesting. In some years seabirds and/or marine mammals are numerous, and in some years not. One never knows what's out there for sure, however, unless one goes and looks. Thanks to the efforts of the New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance and its staff (especially Carol "Krill" Carson), and the Captain John Boats out of Plymouth, groups of wildlife enthusiasts have been fortunate to be able to explore the waters of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and the waters east of Cape Cod twice a year since 2005 - once in June and once in September.

Spring cruises are often highly variable in the numbers and variety of marine bird and mammal species likely to be encountered. In some year's wildlife activity in the offshore waters is just beginning by early June, while in other years the number and variety of seabirds and marine mammals observed is considerable. June 2011 was a good year! Despite threatening skies, scattered showers in the morning, and fairly rough sea conditions at the time of departure from Plymouth at 8 a.m., as the day went on things improved and by afternoon we actually saw the sun for a short while.

Always of interest are cetaceans, those animals more familiarly known as whales and dolphins. This year we enjoyed a nice variety of both individuals and species. Humpback Whales headed the list, with no fewer than 25 different individuals observed, many of which the marine mammal experts on board were able to identify as known individuals in the ever-expanding Humpback Whale database. Considerable time was spent appreciating the various behaviors of these often confiding and easily observed animals, by far the most familiar whale species regularly inhabiting the waters off Cape Cod.

While everyone was watching the Humpbacks, the somewhat more elusive Minke Whales periodically also rolled near the boat or on the near horizon, thus providing dual action for whale enthusiasts and photographers alike. A single brief encounter with a Fin Whale rounded out the list of whales observed. However, two members of the Family Phocidae (better known as seals) were also observed. Several Gray Seals were seen near Race Point Beach in Provincetown and at least one Harbor Seal was noted swimming near the boat.

The birders on the trip were especially pleased with the number and variety of seabirds documented on this year's cruise. A single Northern Fulmar was somewhat unseasonable since this is normally a winter species off our coast, so that was fun, but it was the shearwater numbers that were especially notable. No fewer than 200 Great Shearwaters, 450 Sooty Shearwaters, and 13 Manx Shearwaters were estimated, along with 75 Wilson's Storm-Petrels. One-hundred and twenty-five Northern Gannets added to the excitement, especially when they were observed plunge-diving for fish from great heights above the water.

The highlight of the trip for many on board, however, came when a rare South Polar Skua put in a brief appearance near the boat and was able to be seen trying to intimidate gulls and shearwaters into giving up their lunch! This is a Southern Hemisphere species seldom observed near shore off Massachusetts and one that was a life bird for many on board the trip. Thanks to the quick efforts of several photographers the bird was well documented for posterity, too.

All and all, this was a most successful trip and everyone aboard seemed to already be talking about the next trip coming up in September. I hope we'll see you on board!

Species Recorded

JUNE 12, 2011 Seabird & Whale Tales Excursion

Birds:

Common Eider - 4+

White-winged Scoter - 2

Red-breasted Merganser - 30

Common Loon - 1

Northern Fulmar - 1

Great Shearwater - 200

Sooty Shearwater - 450

Manx Shearwater - 13

Wilson's Storm-Petrel - 75+

Northern Gannet - 125

Double-crested Cormorant - X

American Oystercatcher - 2 on shore

Laughing Gull - X

Ring-billed Gull - X on shore

Herring Gull - X

Great Black-backed Gull - X

Least Tern - X Plymouth Beach

Humpback Whale - 20-25

(including: Pogo, Abrasion, Cajun, Fracture, Barb, Rattan, Buzzard, Flounder, Buckshot, Joy)
Fin Whale - 1
Minke Whale - 8-10
Gray Seal - 20+

Harbor Seal - 1

July 29 Macronesian Shearwater 165 nautical miles east of Nantucket

For anyone getting out on the water in the next little while, I thought I'd pass on news of a Macaronesian Shearwater (aka Baroli's
Shearwater or North Atlantic Little Shearwater) that I saw this morning. The bird was well seen only about 150 to 200 metres away as it passed across in front of the NOAA ship Henry B. Bigelow. With 20x prism-stabilised Zeiss binoculars the defining characteristics showed well with good light on the bird. It was in fairly fresh plumage with a silvery sheen evident on the inner upperwing coverts partly the result of pale tips to these feathers. Also prominent was the white face and beady black eye. We were about 165 nautical miles west ¹of Nantucket, Massachusetts.
Michael Force
currently aboard NOAA ship Henry B. Bigelow
about 160 nmi ESE of Nantucket, MA

1. Michael corrected this to east of Nantucket.

June 20, 2011 Tri-State Pelagic

NH Audubon sponsored an all day pelagic bird trip today aboard the "Granite State" out of Rye Harbor, NH. We traveled east from Rye over offshore waters known as "Old Scantum" and then south into MA waters before traveling north over "Jeffrey's Ledge" northward through NH and nto Maine waters.

Both on the way out, and again coming home, we spent some time exploring the Isles of Shoals. A bit slow for birds, but decent variety, highlighted by spectacular views of a fulmar and good, prolonged views of Leach's Storm-Petrels. Also a nice show of whales with great views of both Humpback and Fin Whales. Great weather helped to make for a wonderful day on the ocean.

Thanks to Jon Woolf for organizing this successful trip, Becky Suomala for helping out with the numbers, and to Captain Pete Reynolds and crew for skillfully working the birds and whales we encountered.

8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunny skies with excellent visibility.
Seas 1 to 2 feet
Winds - Very light W winds to near calm and then shifting to east.

Photo by Jim Beseda

Here is a nautical chart of the course of the trip, as well as a link to a Google Earth file showing the course:

http://home.comcast.net/~smirick//NHAudubonPelagic062011.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~smirick//NHAudubonPelagic062011.kmz

Total list for all waters (eBird reports from various locations will be
submitted)
-Canada Goose - 6 on Duck Island.
Common Eider - Including several creches of young eiders around the islands.
Surf Scoter - 2 adult males near Lunging Island with group of female eiders!
Common Loon - 2 well offshore in Maine waters.
NORTHERN FULMAR - 1 in NH waters. Spectacular views of adult light morph bird. Swam right up to the side of the boat for scraps for about 10 minutes or more.
Great Shearwater - 17 total.
Sooty Shearwater - Only 1.
Wilson's Storm-Petrel - 458 total. Great views of birds flying alongside the boat. Many/most molting adults.
LEACH'S STORM-PETREL - 4+ in ME waters. Good prolonged views, at times in comparison to Wilson's Storm-Petrels. We chased two birds with the boat, and then a short while later chased two more. There may have been 5 or more. We were able to keep up with the birds for quite a while. Long enough for everyone to study the coloration, shape and flight style of these birds. Although they have been reported by others in the past, this was my first ever sighting for this species in the vicinity of Jeffrey's Ledge. A life bird for several birders on the boat.
Northern Gannet - Only 6 total. Includes one full adult, which appeared
to be injured, but allowed some close views on the water.
Double-crested Cormorant - Nests seen on Duck Island. No Great
Cormorants noted.
Snowy Egret - 1 flying in to back side of Duck Island.
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 on Smuttynose Island.
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Roseate Tern - At least 3 flew over the boat.
Common Tern - HUGE flock over White & Seavey Islands (2,447 nesting pairs reported from census) as the birds irrupted in several "dreds"
while we were out there. Unsure on the reasons for these irruptions, it may have been the nervousness of a recent Peregrine Falcon on the islands. Or, as suggested by the tern biologist, may have been a result of anxiety from the first hatching of the terns, which were due to hatch yesterday or today.
Black Guillemot - 7 adults including group of 3 near White Island, and 2 sitting on the rocks at Smuttynose Island. Nice views of bright red feet.

Jim Besada photo of Humpback Whale head.

Marine Mammals
-------------------------
Fin Whale - 7+ including great close views of an individual identified
as "Dingle" with a unique shaped dorsal fin.

Humpback Whale - 5+ Good show of Humpbacks including individuals known as "Pinball", "Lutris", "Trident" (with calf), and "Chickadee".
"Chickadee" gave a great show as it repeatedly came up right next to the boat with the engines off.

Harbor Porpoise - A couple seen only by a few on the boat. Uncooperative, as often the case for this species.

Harbor Seal - A few around Duck Island
Gray Seal - A couple around Duck Island.

Fishes
---------
Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) - Great views of one right next to the boat!
Bluefin Tuna - A couple of small individuals breaking the surface offshore.

Steve Mirick
Bradford, MA

Fulmar in Hampton Harbor 1/22/11
Location: - NH coast
Observation date: - 1/22/11
Notes: - 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
Coastal Coverage from Seabrook to New Castle.
Clear and cold with high in low 20's.
West wind 10-15 knots dropping later in day.

American Wigeon - 3 - Two males flying south along coast from Town Line
cove in North Hampton and female continues in Sagamore Creek in
Portsmouth. No luck with Shoveler or Pintail in South Mill Pond today
for us.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL - 1 - Female flushed with Black Ducks by Bald Eagle
off Cross Beach Road in Seabrook.
Red-throated Loon - 2 - Both from Coast Guard Station in New Castle.
NORTHERN FULMAR- 1 - ASTONISHING BIRD INSIDE HAMPTON HARBOR!!!!! Flew
past Jane and I and Jason Lambert from parking area south of bridge in
Seabrook. Circled to the west and then disappeared to the south as if
flying down river. Never came back and must have flow over salt marsh
and over Route 286! We tried to relocate off Cross Beach Road, but no
luck. One of the more incredible sightings in my years of birding in
NH. Although it is to be expected offshore on Jeffrey's Ledge at this
time of year, I've only recorded Fulmar once from shore in NH, and that
was during a storm in October 2009. Today it was west of Route 1A and
on westerly winds! Hopefully Jason got an identifiable photo.
Bald Eagle - 1 - Immature off Cross Beach Road.
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER - 1 - Continues in Hampton harbor area. Today
again roosting by itself in marsh at north end of harbor in Hampton.
Sanderling - 7 - Roosting with Purple Sandpipers on rock along Route 1A
in North Hampton.
Purple Sandpiper - 15
GLAUCOUS GULL - 1 - FINALLY returning bird to parking area south of
bridge in Seabrook. Now as an adult. Surprisingly not reported until
today, this is almost certainly the same bird that has been coming back
each winter for the last two or three winters. Photo today by me first,
and then Len Medlock:

http://home.comcast.net/~smirick//photos/GlaucousGull1.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/lmedlock/image/132007612

Razorbill - 1 - One or two from mouth of Portsmouth Harbor; the most
reliable location this winter for Razorbill.
Black Guillemot - 1 - Amazing bird continues from deep inside Rye
Harbor. Again today, feeding IN SALTMARSH CREEK WEST OF ROUTE 1A! I
believe this bird has been deep in Rye harbor since September!
Northern Flicker - 1 - Flying over marsh near Odiorne.
Horned Lark - 13
Eastern Bluebird - 3 - Continue at feeder in Rye.
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL - 1 - Female with large group of House Sparrows
and House Finches off Old Beach Road in Rye. In same spot where towhee
was a couple of weeks ago. No towhee today.
Common Redpoll - 10 - Flock of 10 flew over Route 1A in Seabrook.

Steve Mirick
Bradford, MA

Fulmar photographed in Hampton Harbor photo by Jason Lambert