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 "New Scantum" and then
traveling north over southern portions of "Jeffrey's Ledge" spending
time in "MA waters" and "NH waters". Most of birds noted were in NH
waters. Both on the way out, and again coming home, we spent some time
exploring between several islands among the Isles of Shoals in NH and ME.
Weather was a factor for much of the day as fog didn't fully lift until
late in the day. Also a bit slow for birds, but a decent variety,
highlighted by great views of Northern Fulmars, Sooty Shearwaters, and
Red-necked Phalaropes, and a not so great view of a Parasitic Jaeger.
The strangest bird was a Summer Tanager out on Smuttynose Island in
Maine! Also a nice show of whales with great views of both Humpback and
Fin Whales...and a great show of Basking Sharks and some other nice fish.
Hopefully a few photos will be posted by others on the trip.
Thanks to Jon Woolf for organizing the trip and to Captain Pete Reynolds
and crew for skillfully working the birds and whales we encountered.
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/NHAudubonTrip-060812.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~smirick/NHAudubonTrip-060812.kmz
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Fog for most of day. Only finally lifting late. Variable visibility.
At times up to 1 to 2 miles, but mostly less than 200 yards.
Seas 1.5 to 2.5 feet
Winds - Moderate S winds 10-20 knots.
Total list for all waters (eBird reports from various locations have
been submitted)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Eider. Several broods around the islands.
Common Loon - 8. Several well offshore. All immature birds.
NORTHERN FULMAR - 2. Nice views of bird on water right next to boat.
SOOTY SHEARWATER - 6. Nice views of birds flying and in water. One
bird flew over and lunged under the water for bait fish and stayed under
for about 15 seconds!
Wilson's Storm-Petrel - 3. Only 3 for the day, and all in one area, not
with other birds.
Northern Gannet - 36. Most birds were 1 year olds. One full adult...as
usual sitting on Square Rock going out and on the return.
Double-crested Cormorant. Breeding rookery on Lunging Island.
Great Cormorant - 1. Immature bird on Square Rock
Spotted Sandpiper - 3. On White Island and among islands.
Ruddy Turnstone - 4. All on Seavey and Lunging Islands.
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE - 5. Great views of two pairs of two and a single
bird. Males and females seen in breeding plumage.
Laughing Gull - 1 adult offshore toward Scantum area.
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Roseate Tern - Only a couple seen around Seavey Island.
Common Tern - Around White/Seavey Islands, but not large number.
PARASITIC JAEGER - 1. Adult/3rd year bird. Unfortunately distant views
only of bird on water, but then flying away from boat. Some diagnostic
photos.
Black Guillemot - 13. Nice show of guillemots. All around the Isles of
Shoals. Most around Smuttynose. One seen flying by boat with Rock
Gunnel (fish) in mouth.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 near Smuttynose Island
Tree Swallow - Around Lunging Island
Barn Swallow - Around Star Island
Common Yellowthroat - 1 offshore migrant in fog between mainland and Rye.
Magnolia Warbler - 1 offshore migrant in fog between mainland and Rye.
Yellow Warbler - 1 singing on Smuttynose Island.
Savannah Sparrow - 1 singing on Smuttynose Island.
SUMMER TANAGER 1 - Male (age not certain) seen at Isles of Shoals in
Maine. First seen flying between Appledore and Smuttynose. Then
watched at length from a distance flying and feeding in rocks on
Smuttynose.
Common Grackle - 1 in Gosport Harbor.
passerine sp. - 1 offshore migrant past Isles of Shoals.
Harbor Seal - A couple
Gray Seal - 1
Minke Whale - 4
Humpback Whale - 2 (Pinball and calf) - Pinball has been returning to
these waters since at least 1986! Some of you who went on this trip 2
years ago might recall seeing this whale.
Fin Whale - 4 or 5
Spiny Dogfish (shark) - 1 feeding among some flocks of bait fish.
Basking Shark - 7. Nice show. Some good views.
Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) - 1. Great views from very close.
Herring & Mackerel - Large numbers of "boiling" schools of young fish.
Some all mackerel. Some herring. Unfortunately only a couple were
attended by feeding pelagic birds and/or marine mammals.
Steve Mirick
Bradford, MA
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