[Maine-birds] Pelagic Trip Report off NH - 9/9/13

Yesterday, the Seacoast Chapter of NH Audubon sponsored an all day
pelagic bird trip aboard the "Granite State" out of Rye Harbor, NH. We
traveled east from Rye, through and around the Isles of Shoals, and then
east to offshore waters known as "Old Scantum" and "New Scantum" and
then traveled north over Jeffrey's Ledge. Most of birds noted were in
NH waters. The pelagic bird drought at Jeffrey's Ledge and Stellwagon
Bank during the summer and fall of 2013 continues. Despite some
extensive searching, we failed to come into any concentrations of
birds. Fortunately, we DID find some nice whales and dolphins, and
managed to find a few birds of interest.

Thanks to Lauren Kras for organizing the trip and her masterful chumming
crew! And thanks to Captain Pete Reynolds and his crew for skillfully
working the birds and whales we encountered.

Here's a nautical chart of the course of the trip, as well as a couple
of photos by Melanie White of the close whale encounters!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40298884@N06/


8:15 AM - 5:00 PM
Partly sunny with unlimited visibility.
Seas 1.5 to 2.5 feet
Winds - Light W winds increasing and shifting to SW late in day.

Total list for all waters outside of Rye Harbor
-------------------------------------------------------------
Canada Goose Two on White Island
Surf Scoter One inside the Isles of Shoals
Black Scoter 3 Two birds that flew by boat near ledge. One more
near the Isles of Shoals
Manx Shearwater 2 Possibly one bird seen twice. Well offshore near
ledge. The only shearwater species for the day.
Wilson's Storm-Petrel 2 Possibly one bird seen twice. Tubenoses
extremely sparse offshore.
Northern Gannet 36 Largest group in vicinity of pod of Atlantic
White-sided Dolphins not too far past Isles of Shoals.
Double-crested Cormorant X
Great Cormorant 3+ on Square Rock at Isles of Shoals
American Golden-Plover 5 Migrating flock near ledge of 2 adults and
3 juveniles.
Ruddy Turnstone 1 on Square Rock at Isles of Shoals
Red-necked Phalarope 28 Several small flocks seen. Nice views and
comparison of adults and juveniles.
Bonaparte's Gull 4 Juveniles
Laughing Gull 1 Juvenile
Ring-billed Gull 2 Juveniles out on ledge.
Herring Gull X
Lesser Black-backed Gull 4 Two adults and two juveniles.
Great Black-backed Gull X
Common Tern 6
Black Guillemot 2 near backside of White Island.
Merlin 1 Migrating well offshore near ledge.
passerine sp. 3 Warbler type birds that did not approach boat.

Fin Whale - 1+
Humpback Whale - 5+ including sightings of Patches, Victim, Bat, and
Pinya. Stunning views of Patches, plus a distant view of a breach from
an unidentified Humpback.
Minke Whale - 5
Atlantic White-sided Dolphin - 110 with pod of 35 in morning and then
presumed different pod of 75 later in afternoon.
Harbor Porpoise - 11 with pod of 6 and pod of 5.

Harbor Seal - Pup on Seavey Island and more on Duck Island

Blue Shark - 1
Spiny Dogfish - Bucketloads being thrown back into waters from trawler
offshore while emptying net.


Steve Mirick
Bradford, MA

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