Hi all,
Andy Aldrich, Kevin Couture, Fletcher Missud and I joined a group of
15 other people (plus Captain Fynn and naturalist Zach) on Tuesday's
(7/12) Puffin & Pelagic Boat Trip with Old Quarry Ocean Adventures out
of Stonington, ME.
We left the dock around 1pm, motoring south to Seal Island NWR,
arriving by 3pm. Keenan Yakola joined us on the "Nigh Duck" and
together 22 of us circled the island. We observed many of the nesting
species, including Atlantic Puffin, Black Guillemot, Razorbill, Common
and Arctic Terns, Herring, Great Black-backed, and Laughing Gulls, and
Double-crested and Great Cormorants. We also saw 2 Common Murres, 4
Short-billed Dowitchers, and some Spotted Sandpipers. After we dropped
off Keenan shortly after 4pm, we idled around the northern side of the
island, scanning constantly for the Red-billed Tropicbird. (Zach told
us that the bird has been coming out from his/her island hideaway
around 4:30pm.)
With a ~2 hour ride back to Stonington, and an advertised 6pm end
time, it was becoming clear that we would either miss the bird, or
we'd miss our return time. (Though we were willing to be late getting
back, the boat was needed for an evening trip). Around 4:22pm, the
Captain gave a 2-minute warning, letting us know he was preparing to
motor off. The 4 of us York County birders were in the back row of the
boat scanning the water, island and sky with fervor.
It was, as you might say, the bottom of the 9th. Two outs, two
strikes.... and the pitch... "I think I see the bird" I yelled out.
Kevin, who was putting the lens cap back on his camera thought I was
trying to trick the captain into staying a few more minutes, but then
Andy exclaimed, "The bird's over the island!"
For two minutes we watched the Red-billed Tropicbird flying back and
forth over Seal Island, and then the bird flew out toward the boat and
landed on the water. The Captain carefully steered us closer to the
bird, and we enjoyed just a couple of minutes more with the
long-tailed, tropical vagrant.
At 4:30pm (and a collective 500+ pictures later), our Seal Island
visit came to a close and we motored back to Stonington. En route, we
noticed few birds aside from terns carrying fish, a couple of Northern
Gannets, and handfuls of other island nesting species. No shearwaters,
jaegers, phalaropes, or storm-petrels were observed.
Our ride ended when we arrived back at the dock at 6:15pm.
See photos from Seal Island here:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30666759
My advice for participants of this trip:
1. Go out on a sunny day! (In Zach's experience, this is critical for
seeing the tropicbird.)
2. Encourage the Old Quarry folks to plan for more time at Seal
Island, or perhaps a later trip time of 2-7, instead of 1-6. We cut it
very close!
3. Bring ear protection. (The motor is loud!)
4. Don't give up!
Best,
Josh
JoshFecteau.com | Inspiring Nature Connection in New England
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