August 2010 Pelagic
Marshall Iliff's report:
The Brookline Bird Club (BBC) overnight pelagic trip this year was historic for several reasons and was a truly PHENOMENAL trip. Despite predictions of a significant storm swell, we had pretty good conditions. Saturday 28 August was had a 10-15 mph N wind, which created some chop but really wasn't uncomfortable. We spent most of the day going south so had the wind and waves at our stern, making for a nice ride. On Sunday morning the wind slacked off a bit and conditions were fairly calm by late morning and very calm by afternoon. A bit of storm swell, with 20 sec period or so, was evident on Sunday but not at all uncomfortable.
Totals are as follows (thanks to Rick Heil for his diligence in keeping half-hourly (!) totals throughout the two days, and to Steve Mirick for his help in compiling the totals). The totals are listed as day 1,day 2 and the total for the two days. Below the totals, I discuss the significance of some of the reports.
Common Loon...8,1 = 9
Cory's Shearwater...9,6 = 15 (surprisingly few; all those seen well were C. d. borealis)
Great Shearwater...29,11 = 40 (surprisingly few)
Manx Shearwater...3,2 = 5
AUDUBON'S SHEARWATER...3,2 = 5 (a few very good looks; most were over the deep-water canyons, but one was well offshore from there south-southwest of Welker Canyon)
Shearwater sp. ...0,1 = 1
Wilson's Storm-Petrel...908,348 = 1256
WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL...5,17 = 22 (!!! AMAZING total. See notes above)
(Photo: Jason Forbes)
Leach's Storm-Petrel...43,40 = 83 (nice total; some great looks)
BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL...10,0 = 10 (A high total; see notes above)
(Photo: Luke Seitz)
Northern Gannet...19,15 = 34
Semipalmated Plover...1,0 = 1 (seen by a few on the bow over Nantucket
Shoals)
Sanderling...3,0 = 3 (several birds; flying low)
Whimbrel...1,0 = 1 (flyby over Nantucket Shoals; only seen by a few)
HUDSONIAN GODWIT...48,0 = 48 (amazing flock flying south at about 150-300m high; count in the field was 48 but photos show at least 50, maybe 51 (one bird looks smaller and possibly different. We have seen the phenomenon of Hudsonian Godwits in active migration on three successive years, which is truly amazing given that it is a rare species globally. This was our first morning flock, with the others in the afternoons or evenings)
Ruddy Turnstone...0,2 = 2 (flying low to water; over Nantucket Shoals)
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER...1,0 = 1 (flyby over Nantucket Shoals; only seen by a few)
Semipalmated Sandpiper...1,0 = 1
Solitary Sandpiper...1,0 = 1 (one calling flyover heard by Willie Hutcheson at 9:00 pm at night)
Red-necked Phalarop...5,43 = 48
Red Phalarope...0,27 = 27 (all birds in same area seen in direct comparison with Red-neckeds)
Peep sp. ...7,0 = 7
GREAT SKUA...1,0 = 1 (spanking adult, well-seen and photographed by many)
(Photo: Luke Seitz)
SKUA SP. ...0,1 = 1 (debate continues among leaders; some think Great Skua based on color of some back feathers, others favor South Polar based on body color, back pattern, and primary molt.)
Pomarine Jaeger...0,1 = 1 (one subadult over Hydrographer Canyon)
Parasitic Jaeger...1,1 = 2 (both juveniles over Nantucket Shoals)
LONG-TAILED JAEGER...1,1 = 2 (both juveniles over Nantucket Shoals)
Jaeger sp. ...0,1 = 1
Laughing Gull...1,5 = 6
Herring Gull...20,10= 30
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL...0,2 = 2 (one adult and one third-summer on Nantucket Shoals; our first for these summer trips)
Great Black-backed Gull...12,4 = 16
Black Tern...2,5 = 7 (all rather far inshore)
Least Tern...1,0 = 1 (juvenile, near Hydrographer Canyon; getting late for this species)
Common Tern...42,89 = 131
Tern sp. ...0,16 = 16
Tree Swallow...3,0 = 3
Baltimore Oriole...1,0 = 1 (rescued off Welker Canyon (Seen flying with 3 species of storm-petrel!), and rescued).
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER...1,0 = 1 (amazing distant flyby heading north over Nantucket Shoals; the photo review confirmed tentative field impressions that flight style matched this species; the photos showed the diagnostic white secondaries. Our first offshore sighting for this species!)
PURPLE FINCH...0,1 = 1 (Another puzzle resolved by expert photography; photos shows the notched tail, patterned face, and streaked body, which matched he highly undulating flight style in supporting the ID as Purple Finch Some seen on Long Island this same weekend suggest an early, small-scale movement was afoot.)
Passerine sp...3,1 = 4
OTHER FAUNA:
Fin Whale...5,17 = 23
Whale sp...0,4 = 4
Minke Whale...0,1 = 1
Risso's Dolphin...12,0 = 12
ATLANTIC SPOTTED DOLPHIN...60,0 = 60
Bottlenosed Dolphin...8,0 = 8
dolphin sp...15,0 = 15
Atlantic Manta...9,2 = 11 (some questions remain as to how many species we may have seen and may occur)
Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) ...1,0 = 1
shark sp...1,3 = 4
Pilotfish...0,4 = 4 (around Atlantic Manta)
White Suckerfish...0,2 = 2 (on Atlantic Manta)
Yellowfin Tuna...1 caught,0 = 1
PORBEAGLE SHARK...1,0 = 1
Mahi Mahi...0,1 = 1
HIGHLIGHTS:
WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL - We had a total of 22 (!!); I would wager that this species is virtually certain to be found on future two-day trips, and birders nationwide should get this trip on their radar screen if they want to see White-faced Storm-Petrel.
For many decades it has been known or suspected that White-faced is regular from mid-August to mid-September (probably regular to early October) in the deepwater canyons off New England (north to Cape Cod) and, to a lesser extent, the mid-Atlantic south to northern North Carolina. Targeted trips off New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and North Carolina have been having some success in finding the species in the last 10-15 years, with most trips
scoring 30-50% of the time. The recent BBC deepwater pelagic trips have demonstrated even higher success, with the 2006 trip finding three, one (leader only) on one of the two August 2007 trips, but none on the August 2008 trip. Our suspicion was always that finding White-faced over Massachusetts canyons in late August was just a matter of effort, so in 2009
an overnight trip was conducted, and that trip had a total of SIX (!) White-faced, with three on each day. To our knowledge, the August 2009 trip was the most successful trip ever for the species, so this year's trip really set a new standard. On our first day we had FIVE White-faced in a relatively small area of Hydrographer Canyon. After that we went to deep waters, where we had none. The next morning we traveled west from Welker Canyon to Hydrographer Canyon. We cut a transect right along the edge of the Continental Shelf, where water depth was 2500 ft and water temperature was about 76-77 F. Along this transect we had no fewer than SEVENTEEN White-faced Storm-Petrels, for total of 22 (!) for the trip. Of those, only a couple were in Welker Canyon, three were in Hydrographer, and the remaining 12 were concentrated in a small canyon (we dubbed it 'No Name Canyon' but it is apparently Dogbody Canyon). Interestingly, all appeared to be juveniles, except for one which was photographed by several people on board. This total is UNPRECEDENTED for the western Atlantic, and strongly suggests that this is the center of their abundance in the western Atlantic.
BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL - Over deep water, we had a prolonged chumming effort that brought in a number of these birds. Estimates varied from 6 to 10, and many of the birds were very well photographed. This may give some promise in the future to sorting out which species of Band-rumped Storm-Petrel occurs here. The only certain record for the western Atlantic pertains to a band recovery of a Grant's Storm-Petrel, but this species has yet to be formally described! Regardless, our success with Band-rumpeds both this year (6-10) and last (8) suggests that focused searches in deep water off Massachusetts will continue to succeed with this fascinating species (or species complex!).
GREAT SKUA - We had a great view of an adult or near adult on Nantucket Shoals on our way out. Rick Heil spotted it distantly on the water, and when we looped back around the bird performed beautifully. Fantastic!
SKUA SP. - A second bird, seen over Nantucket Shoals on the return trip, was briefly seen and the final ID remains up in the air. The identification rests essentially on the photos, although a couple people thought it looked cold blackish-brown in the field.
AUDUBON'S SHEARWATER - We had several, and almost all were right over the deep canyons and continental shelf. This has proven a consistent area and this species has not been missed on recent trips in August.
SHOREBIRDS - In addition to both phalaropes, we had the following shorebirds offshore: Baird's (!) and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plover, Whimbrel (not far off Nantucket), Ruddy Turnstone, Solitary Sandpiper (calling bird heard by Willie Hutcheson at 9:15 pm far offshore), Sanderling, and HUDOSNIAN GODWIT (50+ birds seen and photographed on southbound migration about 100-200m up as we passed over the Nantucket
Shoals; this is amazingly the third year in a row we have seen large flocks in active migration over these waters).
LANDBIRDS - We had several amazing landbirds. A Baltimore Oriole far offshore (seen flying with storm-petrels!), was somewhat expected. It landed on the boat, was nursed back to health, and released. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was somewhat more surprising, and though it was seen incredibly distantly, photo review confirmed the ID based on the white patches in the wing which were impossible to see in the field. On the second day, a PURPLE
FINCH, also confirming an ID that would not have been made in the field, was our surprise of the day. A few other passerines were poorly seen on Saturday and not IDed to species; one of them may have been a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.
It was a great trip. Thanks again to the Brookline Bird Club (BBC), Ida for all her efforts organizing, Captain Joe for his superlative captaining, and everything else. We can't wait until next year!
The Brookline Bird Club (BBC) overnight pelagic trip this year was historic for several reasons and was a truly PHENOMENAL trip. Despite predictions of a significant storm swell, we had pretty good conditions. Saturday 28 August was had a 10-15 mph N wind, which created some chop but really wasn't uncomfortable. We spent most of the day going south so had the wind and waves at our stern, making for a nice ride. On Sunday morning the wind slacked off a bit and conditions were fairly calm by late morning and very calm by afternoon. A bit of storm swell, with 20 sec period or so, was evident on Sunday but not at all uncomfortable.
Totals are as follows (thanks to Rick Heil for his diligence in keeping half-hourly (!) totals throughout the two days, and to Steve Mirick for his help in compiling the totals). The totals are listed as day 1,day 2 and the total for the two days. Below the totals, I discuss the significance of some of the reports.
Common Loon...8,1 = 9
Cory's Shearwater...9,6 = 15 (surprisingly few; all those seen well were C. d. borealis)
Great Shearwater...29,11 = 40 (surprisingly few)
Manx Shearwater...3,2 = 5
AUDUBON'S SHEARWATER...3,2 = 5 (a few very good looks; most were over the deep-water canyons, but one was well offshore from there south-southwest of Welker Canyon)
Shearwater sp. ...0,1 = 1
Wilson's Storm-Petrel...908,348 = 1256
WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL...5,17 = 22 (!!! AMAZING total. See notes above)
(Photo: Jason Forbes)
Leach's Storm-Petrel...43,40 = 83 (nice total; some great looks)
BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL...10,0 = 10 (A high total; see notes above)
(Photo: Luke Seitz)
Northern Gannet...19,15 = 34
Semipalmated Plover...1,0 = 1 (seen by a few on the bow over Nantucket
Shoals)
Sanderling...3,0 = 3 (several birds; flying low)
Whimbrel...1,0 = 1 (flyby over Nantucket Shoals; only seen by a few)
HUDSONIAN GODWIT...48,0 = 48 (amazing flock flying south at about 150-300m high; count in the field was 48 but photos show at least 50, maybe 51 (one bird looks smaller and possibly different. We have seen the phenomenon of Hudsonian Godwits in active migration on three successive years, which is truly amazing given that it is a rare species globally. This was our first morning flock, with the others in the afternoons or evenings)
Ruddy Turnstone...0,2 = 2 (flying low to water; over Nantucket Shoals)
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER...1,0 = 1 (flyby over Nantucket Shoals; only seen by a few)
Semipalmated Sandpiper...1,0 = 1
Solitary Sandpiper...1,0 = 1 (one calling flyover heard by Willie Hutcheson at 9:00 pm at night)
Red-necked Phalarop...5,43 = 48
Red Phalarope...0,27 = 27 (all birds in same area seen in direct comparison with Red-neckeds)
Peep sp. ...7,0 = 7
GREAT SKUA...1,0 = 1 (spanking adult, well-seen and photographed by many)
(Photo: Luke Seitz)
SKUA SP. ...0,1 = 1 (debate continues among leaders; some think Great Skua based on color of some back feathers, others favor South Polar based on body color, back pattern, and primary molt.)
Pomarine Jaeger...0,1 = 1 (one subadult over Hydrographer Canyon)
Parasitic Jaeger...1,1 = 2 (both juveniles over Nantucket Shoals)
LONG-TAILED JAEGER...1,1 = 2 (both juveniles over Nantucket Shoals)
Jaeger sp. ...0,1 = 1
Laughing Gull...1,5 = 6
Herring Gull...20,10= 30
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL...0,2 = 2 (one adult and one third-summer on Nantucket Shoals; our first for these summer trips)
Great Black-backed Gull...12,4 = 16
Black Tern...2,5 = 7 (all rather far inshore)
Least Tern...1,0 = 1 (juvenile, near Hydrographer Canyon; getting late for this species)
Common Tern...42,89 = 131
Tern sp. ...0,16 = 16
Tree Swallow...3,0 = 3
Baltimore Oriole...1,0 = 1 (rescued off Welker Canyon (Seen flying with 3 species of storm-petrel!), and rescued).
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER...1,0 = 1 (amazing distant flyby heading north over Nantucket Shoals; the photo review confirmed tentative field impressions that flight style matched this species; the photos showed the diagnostic white secondaries. Our first offshore sighting for this species!)
PURPLE FINCH...0,1 = 1 (Another puzzle resolved by expert photography; photos shows the notched tail, patterned face, and streaked body, which matched he highly undulating flight style in supporting the ID as Purple Finch Some seen on Long Island this same weekend suggest an early, small-scale movement was afoot.)
Passerine sp...3,1 = 4
OTHER FAUNA:
Fin Whale...5,17 = 23
Whale sp...0,4 = 4
Minke Whale...0,1 = 1
Risso's Dolphin...12,0 = 12
ATLANTIC SPOTTED DOLPHIN...60,0 = 60
Bottlenosed Dolphin...8,0 = 8
dolphin sp...15,0 = 15
Atlantic Manta...9,2 = 11 (some questions remain as to how many species we may have seen and may occur)
Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) ...1,0 = 1
shark sp...1,3 = 4
Pilotfish...0,4 = 4 (around Atlantic Manta)
White Suckerfish...0,2 = 2 (on Atlantic Manta)
Yellowfin Tuna...1 caught,0 = 1
PORBEAGLE SHARK...1,0 = 1
Mahi Mahi...0,1 = 1
HIGHLIGHTS:
WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL - We had a total of 22 (!!); I would wager that this species is virtually certain to be found on future two-day trips, and birders nationwide should get this trip on their radar screen if they want to see White-faced Storm-Petrel.
For many decades it has been known or suspected that White-faced is regular from mid-August to mid-September (probably regular to early October) in the deepwater canyons off New England (north to Cape Cod) and, to a lesser extent, the mid-Atlantic south to northern North Carolina. Targeted trips off New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and North Carolina have been having some success in finding the species in the last 10-15 years, with most trips
scoring 30-50% of the time. The recent BBC deepwater pelagic trips have demonstrated even higher success, with the 2006 trip finding three, one (leader only) on one of the two August 2007 trips, but none on the August 2008 trip. Our suspicion was always that finding White-faced over Massachusetts canyons in late August was just a matter of effort, so in 2009
an overnight trip was conducted, and that trip had a total of SIX (!) White-faced, with three on each day. To our knowledge, the August 2009 trip was the most successful trip ever for the species, so this year's trip really set a new standard. On our first day we had FIVE White-faced in a relatively small area of Hydrographer Canyon. After that we went to deep waters, where we had none. The next morning we traveled west from Welker Canyon to Hydrographer Canyon. We cut a transect right along the edge of the Continental Shelf, where water depth was 2500 ft and water temperature was about 76-77 F. Along this transect we had no fewer than SEVENTEEN White-faced Storm-Petrels, for total of 22 (!) for the trip. Of those, only a couple were in Welker Canyon, three were in Hydrographer, and the remaining 12 were concentrated in a small canyon (we dubbed it 'No Name Canyon' but it is apparently Dogbody Canyon). Interestingly, all appeared to be juveniles, except for one which was photographed by several people on board. This total is UNPRECEDENTED for the western Atlantic, and strongly suggests that this is the center of their abundance in the western Atlantic.
BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL - Over deep water, we had a prolonged chumming effort that brought in a number of these birds. Estimates varied from 6 to 10, and many of the birds were very well photographed. This may give some promise in the future to sorting out which species of Band-rumped Storm-Petrel occurs here. The only certain record for the western Atlantic pertains to a band recovery of a Grant's Storm-Petrel, but this species has yet to be formally described! Regardless, our success with Band-rumpeds both this year (6-10) and last (8) suggests that focused searches in deep water off Massachusetts will continue to succeed with this fascinating species (or species complex!).
GREAT SKUA - We had a great view of an adult or near adult on Nantucket Shoals on our way out. Rick Heil spotted it distantly on the water, and when we looped back around the bird performed beautifully. Fantastic!
SKUA SP. - A second bird, seen over Nantucket Shoals on the return trip, was briefly seen and the final ID remains up in the air. The identification rests essentially on the photos, although a couple people thought it looked cold blackish-brown in the field.
AUDUBON'S SHEARWATER - We had several, and almost all were right over the deep canyons and continental shelf. This has proven a consistent area and this species has not been missed on recent trips in August.
SHOREBIRDS - In addition to both phalaropes, we had the following shorebirds offshore: Baird's (!) and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plover, Whimbrel (not far off Nantucket), Ruddy Turnstone, Solitary Sandpiper (calling bird heard by Willie Hutcheson at 9:15 pm far offshore), Sanderling, and HUDOSNIAN GODWIT (50+ birds seen and photographed on southbound migration about 100-200m up as we passed over the Nantucket
Shoals; this is amazingly the third year in a row we have seen large flocks in active migration over these waters).
LANDBIRDS - We had several amazing landbirds. A Baltimore Oriole far offshore (seen flying with storm-petrels!), was somewhat expected. It landed on the boat, was nursed back to health, and released. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was somewhat more surprising, and though it was seen incredibly distantly, photo review confirmed the ID based on the white patches in the wing which were impossible to see in the field. On the second day, a PURPLE
FINCH, also confirming an ID that would not have been made in the field, was our surprise of the day. A few other passerines were poorly seen on Saturday and not IDed to species; one of them may have been a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.
It was a great trip. Thanks again to the Brookline Bird Club (BBC), Ida for all her efforts organizing, Captain Joe for his superlative captaining, and everything else. We can't wait until next year!
Photo: Steve Mirick
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