The Seacoast Chapter of NH Audubon sponsored an all day pelagic bird
trip yesterday aboard the "Granite State" out of Rye Harbor, NH. The
weather was challenging as a combination of seas and wind, caused us to
alter our route a bit and prevented us from chasing a few birds. Skies
were overcast with some fog early, but the fog lifted to give partial
sun. Winds were 15 to 20 knots out of the S or SW, but they died down a
bit around noon, only to pick up later in the afternoon. Seas were 3
feet or so, but choppy. Higher as we got out toward ledge.
We traveled southeast from Rye harbor to an area known as the "Outer
Flag" where there has been a lot of whale activity and where most of the
offshore tuna boats were working. We then worked north to Old Scantum
and then meandered out to the southern part of Jeffrey's Ledge. Rather
than following Jeffrey's Ledge, however, we worked inside the ledge to
avoid seas and winds. We worked north to the Maine state line before
circling back to the Outer Flag. We finished by touring the southern
islands of the Isles of Shoals before heading back to Rye harbor.
Birds were scattered, with Cory's Shearwater being the most common
pelagic species with scattered small groups spread out across the area
and one big group on the water. Whale activity was limited to the Outer
Flag vicinity and this was generally the area where we had the most
shearwaters. The jaegers were from scattered locations with the largest
group of 3 together.
Some photo pages from Ben Griffith and Jim Sparrell:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bgriffith/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/89302424@N02/
Thanks to Kyle Wilmarth for organizing this trip and to Captain Pete
Reynolds for working the birds for the benefit of all on the boat.
Numbers below are my estimates and totals counted by Zeke Cornell as
well as a few tricky ID's helped out by Ben Griffith photos. eBird
checklists to be submitted for birds seen offshore in NH and
Massachusetts waters.
Birds
--------
Blue-winged Teal - 1 migrating offshore, but inside of Isles of Shoals.
Common Eider - Just groups around Isles of Shoals and inside Rye
Harbor. Huge flock near Lunging Island.
White-winged Scoter - Single group of 8 migrating offshore beyond Isles
of Shoals.
Common Loon - 1 on water beyond Isles of Shoals.
CORY'S SHEARWATER - 147. Including nice flock of 54 working an area of
Tuna activity. (12 in MA waters). 4th highest daily count for NH
waters. Remarkable that this species has been the most common
shearwater over the last few years.
Great Shearwater - Only 5. Surprisingly low.
Northern Gannet - 18. Mostly around Isles of Shoals. Including 3
ADULTS SITTING ON SQUARE ROCK AGAIN!
Double-crested Cormorant - Including one well offshore.
Great Cormorant - At least 7 on Square Rock
Black-bellied Plover - 1 photographed on Lunging Island.
AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER - 4 distant birds together on Lunging Island
(NH). Likely a family group but too distant to age. This continues a
trend of summer/fall sightings on Lunging and nearby islands suggesting
likely breeding; however, this species has not yet been confirmed as
nesting in NH.
Whimbrel - 1 flying to Star Island.
Peep sp. - 1 offshore migrating.
Red-necked Phalarope - 21 total in small flocks.
Bonaparte's Gull - 2 offshore.
Laughing Gull - 1 inside Rye harbor.
Ring-billed Gull - 1 unusual sighting offshore beyond Isles of Shoals.
Herring Gull - I only wrote down 9 offshore where Great Black-backs
dominate. More inshore.
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1 juvenile photographed inside Isles of Shoals.
Great Black-backed Gull - 234. Mostly around fishing boats.
CASPIAN TERN - 15 (!!). As we pulled up to the dock in Rye harbor, I
was paying tribute to my wonderful wife (13 year anniversary), and I was
interrupted by a flock of 6 Caspian Terns migrated south past the
breakwaters! This was followed by a flock of 7!! And then a group of
2!! Later Jane and I had 2 more flocks of 2 each for 19 for the day!
Jason continued from Ragged Neck and ended the day with 27 migrating
Caspian Terns!!!
Tern sp. - 1 offshore
Forster's Tern - 1 seen by a few and ID'd by photos.
POMARINE JAEGER - 8 (!) A very high total for these waters at this
date. As far as I can tell, 7 in NH waters represents a new single day
high total. Amazingly, there have been 13 jaegers in the last two
organized pelagic trips and ZERO Parasitic Jaegers.
Black Guillemot - 1 juvenile inside Rye harbor. Zero around Isles of
Shoals.
Belted Kingfisher - 1 inside Rye harbor.
Whales
-----------
Most of the whale activity was around the "Outer Flag" and "Old Scantum"
Humpback Whale - Roughly 9 including "Owl" (recently in the news from
being trapped in seine net), Tear, Spar, Spoon (with calf), and Jabiru.
Minke Whale - 2 or 3
Harbor Seal - 2
Fish
------
Bluefin Tuna - A few breaking the surface.
Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) - One small and interestingly colored
individual near White Island.
Insects
----------
Monarch - 1 offshore
Common Green Darner - 1 offshore
Black Saddlebags - 1 offshore
Steve Mirick (with help from Ben Griffith and Zeke Cornell)
Bradford, MA
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