See Life Paulagics ran a rescheduled NYSOA / NYSYBC pelagic trip out of
Freeport on Sunday. Our course took us out a few miles, then west towards
Sandy Hook (but still within NYSARC defined NY pelagic boundaries), offshore
in a southeastward direction to about 25 miles out, and back into port.
Highlights included hundreds of RAZORBILLS and unidentified alcids, 2 COMMON
MURRES that were unfortunately quick flybys, a 2nd/3rd cycle GLAUCOUS GULL
that followed the boat for a half an hour, a prob. 2nd cycle ICELAND GULL
that followed the boat for several hours, multiple LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULLS, and 6 HARLEQUIN DUCKS at the jetty on the west side of Jones Inlet.
The final tally for the day, which is a compilation of what the leaders saw,
is:
Brant 1
Harlequin Duck 6
Surf Scoter 40+
White-winged Scoter 7
Black Scoter 20
Surf/Black Scoter 28
Long-tailed Duck 4
Red-breasted Merganser 7
Red-throated Loon 33
Common Loon 50+
Northern Gannet 250 (primarily adults)
Bonaparte's Gull 25
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 925
Iceland Gull 4
Lesser Black-backed Gull 8
Glaucous Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 215
Common Murre 2
Razorbill 230
large alcid sp. 90
Fin Whale 1
Both Common Murres were seen in flight by at least two experienced
observers. Details to be submitted to NYSARC. The majority of Razorbills
and unidentified large alcids (most likely Razorbills as well) were seen in
one stretch about 3-4 miles offshore.
I'd like to thank NYSOA and the New York State Young Birders Club for
co-sponsoring this trip. If you aren't a member of NYSOA or aren't familiar
with the NYSYBC, I recommend you visit their web sites for more information
on these excellent organizations:
http://www.nysoa.org/
http://www.nysyoungbirders.org/
I'd also like to especially thank the cadre of NYSYBC "chum monkeys". No,
this is not a derogatory term, and in fact the proper and consistent
delivery of chum is what kept our uncommon gulls right at the back of the
boat for stellar views and fantastic photographic opportunities. The
Gannets and the two Razorbills that flew in to check out the gull action
were a bonus. Our chummers were:
Hope Batcheller
Jacob Drucker
Lila Fried
Nathaniel Hernandez
I'd also like to thank my leaders Angus Wilson, Dick Veit, Andy Guthrie,
Doug Gochfeld, and Tom Reed for a great job of finding the birds and helping
us get as many people as possible on them.
Thanks to all for participating and we hope to see you aboard next trip.
-PAG
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*Paul A. Guris
See Life Paulagics
PO Box 161
Green Lane, PA 18054
215-234-6805
[email protected]
[email protected]*
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NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html
2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html
3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/
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