New England Seabirds

This site is dedicated to the Wilson's Storm-petrel.

Latest reports, upcoming trips, conservation alerts, new booksChecklist of birds, species descriptionsWhales, Dolphins, Fish, SealsSee birds from land, pelagic trip destinationsOrganized dedicated pelagic trips and how to see birds from whale watch or fishing boats.What birds have been seenLink to NOA buoy data for New England.How to see seabirds in their breeding colonies.Events that endanged seabirds in the Atlantic Ocean and on their breeding grounds.Letters from readersPelagic trips from other areas, more information about local destinations.Hints for your first pelagic trip, giving directions at sea, safety and comfort.Antarctica, Midway AtollPelagic birding books and other resources.
Reports | Gulf of Maine 2001 Search | Help | Comments | Site Map

Fall Gulf of Maine
9/29/2001

Reported by Lysle Brinker
lbrinke1@maine.rr.com (lysle)

Maine Audubon Society's annual Fall Gulf of Maine Pelagic trip from 6am-1pm out of Bar Harbor, Maine aboard the Friendship V jet-powered catamaran visited the waters around Mt. Desert Rock (~25 miles offshore) and the southern Grand Manan banks (~ 70 miles east of Bar Harbor).

Weather Conditions
Wind NE 18-24 kt for most of trip. Wave height 3-5 ft.

Great Skua
An adult Great Skua was seen 15-20 miles south of Gr. Wass Is.at about 12:00, during cruise back to Bar Harbor. It was 200 yards away and flying in opposite direction. Many saw the bird well, but unfortunately missed by some. Description: .pale-flecked, rich brown upperparts, very bold white flash, molting wing coverts, big. Skuas have been encountered on 5 out of 6 MAS Fall GOM trips.

Northern Fulmars
The trip saw 65 Northern Fulmars including a group of 50 foraging in the same area near Mount Desert Rock. Two dark morph birds were seen.

Red-throated Loon 1
Common Loon several
Sooty Shearwater 2
Greater Shearwater 130
Northern Fulmar 65
Wilson's Storm-petrel 350
Leach's Storm-petrel 2
Northern Gannet 86
Red Phalarope: 300, most in same area west of GM banks
Red-necked Phalarpe 35, most near MD Rock
Phalarope sp. 75
Great Cormorant 10 on MD Rock
Double-crested Cormorant ++ ( I assume this means many, not counted)
Common Eider +1000+
Black Scoter small #
White-winged Scoter small #
Surf Scoter small #
Great Skua 1
Pomarine Jaeger 1 imm. (1st or 2nd -year type) visited chum slick, flew by at very close range, pouncing on Gr Sh.'s,
Bonaparte's Gull 1 adult
Ring-billed Gull 2 juveniles
Herring Gull ++
Great. Black-backed Gull: ++
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 juvenile
Glaucous Gull: 1 immature
Black-legged Kittiwake 1 ad-basic near MD Rock
Atlantic Puffin 11, max 2 at one-time
Razorbill: 2, fly-bys B.
Guillemot: 1
   
   

Land Birds
Peregine: 1 w/prey
Merlin: 1
Kestrel 1 male
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 7, including 3 on MD Rock
Sanderling: 1 MD Rock
Flicker: 6
Vireo sp.: 1
Cedar Waxwing: 1
Dark-eyed Junco: 2

Mammals:
Harbor Seal: many @ MD Rock
Gray Seal: a few at MD Rock
Harbor Porpoise: a few
Atlantic White-sided Dolphin: ~20
Humpback Whale: +1
Fin Whale: +1

Logistics:
Gulf of Maine Pelagic Birding From Bar Harbor Saturday, September 29, 6 am-1 pm Leaders: Lysle Brinker, Rich Eakin, Don Mairs, Jan Pierson, Bill Sheehan. Maine Audubon Society Cost: $70/member; $80/nonmember Limit: 125 participants .