Hydrographers Canyon August 2001

Photo of White-faced Storm-petrel by Steve Mirick. Photo remains the property of the photographer. Great job. Steve

Trip Report This trip was sponsored by the Brookline Bird Club with Nick Samson as coordinator and Glenn d'Entremont and Steve Mirick as co-leaders. Originally scheduled for August 19-20, the trip had to be postponed a week because of a forecast of rain and poor sea conditions on the original date. This trip report reflects the authors opinions. First let me admit that as I write this, I do so without my trip notes which were lost in the scramble to debark the boat at midnight. While this is unfortunate my memory is very fresh.

Gulf Stream Water
We left the dock in Plymouth about 8 PM on Sunday night. We sailed south in Cape Cod Bay to the Cape Cod canal. Outside the canal we sailed east of Martha's Vinyard and south toward Hydrographers Canyon. At dawn Monday morning we were still several miles north of the head of the canyon. Soon we noticed that the water was blue (Gulf Stream blue) not green (Gulf of Maine). During the course of the day we would see other indicators such as Sargassum Weed, Portuguese Jellyfish, and 2 flying fish. While I am not an expert on the currents in this part of the ocean, I understand that this means we have hit one of the cores of warm water that regularly breaks off of the Gulf Stream as it turns east some where south of Cape Cod and heads toward Europe. These cores of warm water move so Hydrographers Canyon does not always exhibit the same conditions. In fact, I was out there in June of this year and Hydrographers Canyon was cold. See the trip report for the CORE June trip. The boat does not have a water temperature gauge, but someone said the water temperature was 71degrees.

Gulf Stream Water Blue water and Portuguese Man-O-War Jellyfish indicate that you are in warm Gulf Stream Water. This photo by Steve Mirick and used with his permission. Photo remains the property of the photographer.

We immediately began seen large numbers of Wilson's Storm-petrels, and a few Greater Shearwaters and Leach's Storm-petrels. About 7 AM we had the first White-faced Storm-petrel some distance from the right side of the boat. The bird flew towards the boat making the bouncing feeding movements. It came within 50 feet of the boat before disappearing. We circled the area and laid a slick, but the bird was gone. Most people aboard had good looks.

We continued south down the canyon, laying slicks at various places and continued to attrack the same birds and a few Audubon's Shearwaters. You can tell where the canyon is because of the large red and white balls that mark the lobster traps laid on the canyon walls.

The second White-faced Storm-petrels put on a much better show flying across the bow to the left side, recrossing the bow and finally coming within 20 feet of the right side. Everyone had good looks this time. This bird too paid no attention to the slick and disappeared. This time photographs were taken.

In this photo by Steve Mirick you see the White-faced Storm-petrel bouncing off the water with feet extending beyond tail. The bird seemed to bounce along just like a basketball. Photo remains the property of the photographer. Thanks Steve for sharing these wonderful photos with all of us.

Another Steve Mirick photo, this one showing the white underside and again the feet hitting the water in the bouncing flight. Photo remains the property of the photographer.

Almost a front view of the bird landing on the water. Photo by Steve Mirick and used with his permission. It remains the property of the photographer. This little bird made 46 people very happy.

We continued south the length of the canyon and went beyond to the very deep water. However, no more exciting birds were discovered. We also did not see any Sperm Whales. There was a small pod of offshore Bottlenosed Dolphins that followed the wake of the boat some leaping out of the water.

Around 11 AM we started the return trip up the canyon seeing more of the same birds.We had some Red-necked Phalaropes on the water.



Bottlenosed Dolphin always add excitement to the trip. This group followed the boat wake leaping in the air. Photo by Steve Mirick and used with his permission. Photo remains the property of the photographer.

Labrador Current
Late in the afternoon the boat left the warm Gulf Stream water and re-entered the green cold water. Now we experienced Greater, Manx, Cory's Shearwaters and finally a Sooty Shearwater. Wilson's Storm-petrels of course were seen. A number of Pomarine Jaegers were also seen in this water. As we drew closer to land both Herring and Black-backed Gulls in small numbers were seen.

The trip arrived back the Plymouth dock about 12 PM on Monday night.

Trip List

Flying fish, Swordfish (jumping, apparrently caught on a drifting long-line-the individual was too small for a legal catch and was probably going to perish in vain!), Portugese Man-O-War

Trip Logistics
The rest of this report is written to give a realistic picture of this pelagic trip in order to set expectations for those considering future trips. One does not embark on a pelagic birding trip on a party fishing boat expecting to have a stateroom or even a comfortable cot, and a hot shower. Overnight pelagic birding trips are not for everyone. For the most part they are not for inexperienced pelagic birders. This trip had some enthusiastic young birders aboard including a remarkable eleven year old who added one of the rarest birds in North American to his life list. Young and old enjoyed this trip and I heard no complaints. The organizers did a remarkable job and I am grateful for their efforts.

Boat
The trip was on the Captain John boat out of Plymouth. This boat is used for party fishing and is not really outfitted for overnight trips. Conditions for spending the night aboard are challenging at best. Participants brought sleeping bags, air mattresses, and pillows and most found a place on the upper deck, sleeping on the benches and the metal deck. Since the boat was steaming all night it was quite windy, but not too cold. I slept on the upper deck and enjoyed a magnificent view of the milky way and the moon on the water. I love the sleeping on the ocean and waking before full sunrise with birds on the water.

Others slept in the main cabin. I don't think anyone had to sleep below where the accomodations are a triple decker plywood platform without any mattress. The boat has two heads, no showers. The crew did a good job of preparing the boat for the trip and traditional whale watching and party fishing food was available throughout the trip. Since I did not buy any food I really cannot comment on the quality. Most people brought food in coolers and one person was even making tea with an electric kettle.

The trip leader was able to stand in front of the pilot house and move from side to side. The microphone required one hand and there were some problems with the microphone. The captain did an excellent job of maneuvering the boat for nature study and was able to put the bird on the side of the boat opposite the sun whenever possible. This is a skill usually aquired by captains with experience on whale watch boats. Captains with fishing only experience may have problems with this.

Chumming
The crew did an outstanding job of chumming using chopped fish, and popcorn mixed with ground fish. Several slicks were laid which attracted Greater Shearwaters and Wilson's Storm-petrels.

Cost
Participants paid $160 for the overnight trip. There were 46 people aboard. Galley food was available at cost. Boarding began about 6:30 PM on Sunday night and we sailed about 8:00 PM. Our route was across Cape Cod Bay to the Cape Cod canal, down the canal and east of Martha's Vineyard. We returned the same way. We returned to the dock at 12 PM on Monday night.

Trip Organizers
Nick Samson did a great job of organizing this trip and deserves special praise for his tenacity in rescheduling the trip after it had to be cancelled because of the weather. He was assisted by Glenn d'Entremont. Thanks also to Tony Vazanno for his weather forecasting skills which put us out there on a beautiful day.

Page Author: Emmalee Tarry