New England Seabirds


 

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GO STORM BIRDING ON THE DAY OF THE STORM!

With few exceptions, your best bet for finding storm birds is going the day of the storm. After the winds shift from the east to the NW, there is very little chance of finding much for storm blown birds along the NH seacoast. The NW winds push the birds away from the coast, and while there might be some residual storm birds early the next morning, it is far better to be there the day of the storm. Not only that, but the residual high seas and strong sun from the cleared skies make it extremely difficult to see anything offshore the day after a big storm. Of course, birding during storms can be very difficult due to high winds and heavy rain.....and
especially poor visibility, but sometimes the shelter of your car will keep you protected from Pulpit Rocks or Little Boar's Head. The shelter at Ragged Neck in Rye can also be a very good spot.
 
The big exception to this rule is one of the best "day after" storm-birding spots around which is "First Encounter" Beach in Eastham
on Cape Cod. This can be an extraordinary storm birding spot when the winds shift to the NW the day after a big storm as birds trapped within Cape Cod bay attempt to escape from the "bowl" formed by the cape.
 
GO STORM BIRDING ON E OR SE WINDS.

Because of the shape of the NH seacoast and location of offshore ledges, NE winds and NNE winds  are not as effective for blowing pelagic birds toward our shoreline. Although these types of storms can still produce a few pelagics they are not nearly as good as E to SE winds which force pelagic birds directly toward our coastline. Alan Delorey used some data he collected from several days of storm-birding and wrote an article illustrating this effect several years ago for New Hampshire Bird Records.
 
GET OUT AT DAWN.

Often it seems that pelagic birds are displaced by the storms winds during the night and are close to shore when daybreak hits. Soon after dawn, they seem to re-orient and move further away from shore. Often the first 1/2 hour of daylight is most exciting.
 
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE  PELAGICS GO TO MA.

Sad for me to say this, but New Hampshire has a difficult time when it comes to pelagic birds. Andrew's Point in Rockport is excellent on NE winds the day of the storm.