[Maine-birds] Highlights from Machias Seal Island trip

I had the pleasure of guiding a trip to Machias Seal Island yesterday, 5/25, as part of the Downeast Spring birding festival.  We left Cutler Harbor at 7:30 AM in thick fog aboard Captain Andy Patterson's charter boat, the Barbara Frost. The island was alive with nesting razorbill, common, murre, and Atlantic puffin.  We enjoyed getting up close and personal with these birds from the many blinds. I was really taken by the alcids' orange-yellow mouth linings, which were strikingly vivid among the duller hues.  Arctic terns have also returned to the island this year, but unfortunately this colony has not successfully reared chicks in a few years.  We can always hope that this year is better.  

Ralph Eldridge, one of the light keepers, said that this spring has been a "non-starter" in terms of passerine stop-overs when compared to other years. We saw a handful of migrants along the fields, but nothing like Ralph's photos of warblers dripping from the light keeper's house that he has posted in the past. 

Andy stopped at a seal haul out on our return trip and we had nice views of both gray seals and harbor seals. 

Here's a list of our bird observations, and I've posted a few photo highlights at this link:

https://picasaweb.google.com/100797192867251514932/DowneastSpringBirdingFestivalTripToMachiasSealIslandMay252012?authkey=Gv1sRgCKvgmNSxhuCnrgE

I highly recommend a trip to MSI if you get the chance.  You won't be disappointed.

Cheers,

Chris Bartlett

Machias Seal Island, Washington, US-ME
May 25, 2012 7:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
10.0 mile(s)
Comments:     Part of Downeast Spring Birding Festival with Andy Patterson, Bold Coast Charters
20 species

Common Eider (Somateria mollissima)  13
Common Loon (Gavia immer)  8
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)  6
Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)  1 (sub-adult)
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)  X
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)  X
Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)  X
Common Murre (Uria aalge)  X
Razorbill (Alca torda)  X
Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle)  2
Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica)  X
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  1
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)  1
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  1
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)  2
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  1
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)  X

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