Survey of birds encountered during UNH research trip aboard UNH Research
Vessel Gulf Challenger. Boat did not stop or steer toward birds. Jane
and I were guests on boat that was collecting and testing water samples
at various depths in the ocean. The boat traveled directly (not
stopping at CO2 buoy) out to a deep water area on the western edge of
Wilkinson's Basin. It then followed the reverse route back and stopped
at the CO2 buoy located north of Duck Island in Maine.
The birds were pretty disappointing, but perhaps not terribly unexpected
given the date. April is an in-between month for birds offshore. Most
alcids are presumed to have headed north to breeding grounds and summer
tubenoses have yet to arrive from the southern hemisphere. In April
2023 we did a very similar trip and had better results with more alcids
and Fulmar; however, this was a different year. Recent reports from
fishing trips (L. McKillop) have suggested a similar pattern.
Weather and seas - Light N winds 0-10 knots shifting to SE and
increasing late in the afternoon. Seas 0' to 2'. Sun glare terrible as
usual. Able to ride on the bow for most of the trip.
Time - 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
eBird checklists submitted and eBird trip list with documentation photos
at this link:
Total list of birds offshore (east of Isles of Shoals)
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Black Guillemot 2
Razorbill 1
Common Murre 2
large alcid sp. 2
Bonaparte's Gull 8
LAUGHING GULL 3. First of year and perhaps a tad early.
American Herring Gull 142. Seemingly high number and some movement
suggested migrating birds.
Great Black-backed Gull 44
COMMON TERN 4. A group of four early migrants were seen foraging
together well offshore outside of Jeffrey's Ledge.
Common Loon 5. Two migrating. The rest on the water.
Northern Gannet 3
Double-crested Cormorant 2. Migrating.
passerine sp. 1. Surprisingly (given the weather) only a single
migrant offshore. This one may have been a blackbird of some sort.
Marine Mammals
------------------------
Large Whale - One large whale that fluked. Either a RIGHT WHALE or
possibly a Humpback. Jane thought the tail looked all black suggesting
Right Whale, but ? Two more large whales were noted, but no details seen.
Atlantic White-sided Dolphin - 5 together at Wilkinson's Basin stop.
Photos.
Dolphin sp. - At least a couple of other dolphins seen, but not seen
well enough to ID.
Harbor Porpoise - Small number.
