The Fall version of the NECWA (New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance) Seabirds and Whales trip out of Plymouth Harbor was well attended. Over one hundred people were on board and among them were 40+ birders. The weather was overcast with light NW winds, temps in the 60s, and clearing skies as we came back into Plymouth Bay. Seas were relatively calm.
The boat covered portions of SW Stellwagen Bank and waters off of Truro and Provincetown. Bird and whale numbers were modest, but one of the real highlites was seeing a pod of Common Dolphins along side the boat. This species is more often seen further out to sea. Five Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) were spotted as well, a nice count.
Complete list:
Common Loon 16
Cory's Shearwater 11
Great Shearwater 22
Manx Shearwater 9
Wilson's Storm-Petrel 11
Northern Gannet 95 All seemed to be migrating. Mix of adults and immatures.
Double-crested Cormorant 10
Greater Yellowlegs 1 Flyover near Race Point
Sanderling 10
Red-necked Phalarope 10
phalarope sp. 42 Distant; One flock of 30.
Laughing Gull 150 Race Point waters
Herring Gull (American) 60
Great Black-backed Gull 450 Majority @ Race Point Beach
Roseate Tern 2
Common Tern 400
Pomarine Jaeger 1
jaeger sp. 4
Peregrine Falcon 1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Also:
Humpback Whale - 12-15
Minke Whale - 2
Common Dolphin - approx. 20-25
Ocean Sunfish - 5
Vin Zollo
The South Shore Bird Club (SSBC) was founded in 1946 and the first members set out to explore the birds and birding habitats of the South Shore of Massachusetts. We concentrate on field trips for both members and non members. Most trips involve car-pooling with occasional canoe trips or beach hikes. Non-members are always welcome.
