[Maine-birds] Wilkinson Basin Trip Report - 8/14/24

Survey of birds encountered during UNH research trip aboard UNH Research
Vessel Gulf Challenger.  Boat did not stop or steer toward birds.  We
were guests on boat doing water research.  Jane, now retired, along to
help spot birds.  Only birds counted at CO2 buoy spot and out to
Wilkinson's Basin survey spot and during return route.  Birds between
the harbor and out to the Isles of Shoals not counted.

This was a rare (for me) summer trip aboard the Gulf Challenger offshore
so the species list is quite a bit different from winter trips.  Some
expected summer visitors were seen including 3 species of Shearwaters
(Great, Manx, and Cory's).  Although none of them particularly rare,
they can all be notoriously irregular and have been somewhat hard to
come by in recent years.  Not many migrants, but a couple of odd ones
included a Least Sandpiper at Wilkinson's Basin and a Wilson's Snipe
over Jeffrey's Ledge.  The latter noteworthy for both location and the
early date.

Weather - Sunny and nice offshore.  Sun glare a problem as usual with
sun.  Winds light out of NW in morning.  Light out of NE in afternoon.
Seas - Less than 2'.
Time - 9:45 AM to 3:51 PM
Count of birds encountered past Isles of Shoals only.  Inshore birds and
birds near Isles of Shoals not counted. Decent weather allowed for count
from bow on outbound and return. eBird checklists submitted and eBird
trip list with documentation photos at this link:

https://ebird.org/tripreport/267151

Wilson's Snipe    1
Least Sandpiper    1
jaeger sp.    1
Laughing Gull    11
Herring Gull    22
Great Black-backed Gull    25
Common Tern    5
Wilson's Storm-Petrel    255
Cory's Shearwater    8
Great Shearwater    2
Manx Shearwater    4
shearwater sp.    2
Northern Gannet    2
Double-crested Cormorant    27
passerine sp.    1

Marine Mammals
------------------------
Fin Whale - 4
Humpback Whale - At least 2 or 3 breaches of something large were
noted.  Presumably Humpback(s).
Harbor Porpoise - 1

Mola mola (Ocean Sunfish) - At least 3
Blue Shark - At least 1

Steve Mirick
Bradford, MA

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