Tag Archives: Cap'n Fish's Cruises

The 2023 Zeiss Pelagic Trip Report

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A southerly, and rather confiding, Common Murre was one of the unexpected highlights of the Zeiss Pelagic.

On June 2nd, we ran our now-annual spring mini-pelagic with our partners Cap’n Fish’s Cruises out of Boothbay Harbor. But this wasn’t any old pelagic. Instead, it was not only a way to poke your feet into the proverbial and literal pelagic birding waters, but this was also a chance to try out a new pair of Zeiss optics. And all for a very, very special price.

Thanks to our store’s partnership with Zeiss Optics, our biannual “Zeiss Day” occurred offshore this spring. With Zeiss’s sponsorship, we were able to offer this unique trip at a special price, with extra spotters to help people see birds, and of course, with chumming.

And the weather could not be any better! In fact, we were all excited to head offshore to beat the heat on this day. Barely a puff of breeze resulted in remarkably calm seas, with the only waves caused by our boat. Thanks to the weather gods for this day offshore!

Evan Obercian, Dan Nickerson, and Jeannette helped spot birds, Noah Gibb handled the checklists, and Robby Lambert – chummer emeritus – stood at the ready as the boat’s naturalist, Kelsey, and I scanned from the wheelhouse. Our captain was amazing, and together we laid out a plan for the day. Throughout the day, Rich and Bill from Zeiss handed out binoculars to try and lots of optical questions were answered. It was a great way to test-drive a new pair of excellent binoculars, especially noting how important size and weight is when trying to hold binoculars steady on the open ocean, even without much in the way of waves.

Robby at his office.

Motoring out of Boothbay Harbor and across Muscongus Bay, we familiarized ourselves with the common denizens of Maine’s summer coast, such as Common Eiders, Black Guillemots, Common Terns, and Ospreys. Kelsey pointed out landmarks and gave a little history of the area.

Our first destination was Eastern Egg Rock, home to a thriving seabird colony thanks to the restoration efforts of Project Puffin. Leading pelagic trips in June is easy when at least some of our target birds are guaranteed!

The amazingly calm conditions and unusually warmth worked in our favor, as many of the island’s Atlantic Puffins and Black Guillemots were in the water instead of loafing on the rocks, allowing us to drift closely to many of them. One of the island’s ephemeral Razorbills was spotted near the boat, giving us long and good looks as well.

Razorbill.

Of course there were the terns, and for a change, both Roseate and Arctic were easy to isolate for all to see. With the help of my spotters, and a cooperative pair of Roseates on an obvious rock, everyone saw each species well, as well as many hundreds of Common Terns of course.  And a thousand or so Laughing Gulls, too.

Arctic Tern.

Roseate Tern.

Laughing Gull

Common Eider.

Satisfied with our views of the island’s denizens, we turned offshore and followed the Arctic Terns to deeper waters. It wasn’t too long before we started seeing scattered Wilson’s Storm-Petrels, but we slammed on the breaks when I spotted a Common Murre on the water up ahead. Captain Steve was able to circle the bird for all to see and photograph before we continued on; the murre was most obliging.  It also made for the hoped-for 4-alcid day, which is always a challenge this far south.

The lack of swell allowed us to make good progress and afforded us the chance to check three offshore hotspots. A good number of Wilson’s Storm-Petrels and a few Northern Gannets were at Murray Hole, but we motored through it.

We laid down a mile-long chum slick at The Kettle, but only a few of the many Wilson’s Storm-Petrels came in to check it out. I think it was simply too calm today – the scent wasn’t drifting, and birds – especially any shearwaters out here – were just not taking flight to forage; it’s just too inefficient without any wind for them to bother. But a fly-by from a southbound Ruby-throated Hummingbird nearly 20 miles offshore was unexpected!

We continued to tally Wilson’s when we set up a second chum slick at Mistaken Ground, but once again, little was interested, and only a few Wilson’s and gannets were to be seen.

Despite our extended time with the charter, it was soon time to head back to port, but we kept our eyes peeled throughout the trip. On the way back, we had a flock of 12 Red-necked Phalaropes buzz by and eventually land on the water, but we were going too fast and behind schedule to be able to turn around in time. Later, we passed not one, but two Basking Sharks, which was a real treat.

Harbor Porpoise and Harbor Seals were seen now and again, but overall, the offshore waters were quite slow – especially with gulls. The few gulls around didn’t even seem interested in our popcorn and suet, either.

Robby contemplates the meaning of life…and chum.

Our tally of Wilson’s Storm-Petrels was decent enough, but sadly, this would be our only tubenose of the day. Northern Gannets were in low numbers, as if often the case in early June, and whatever shearwaters may have already arrived may simply have been sitting on the water somewhere waiting for a breeze. I also felt terrible that not everyone saw the phalaropes.

Nonetheless – thanks to a perfect visit at Eastern Egg Rock and a random Common Murre floating offshore – I would call the day a smashing success! And for $40, few complaints were audible. The weather helped, too.

Rich talks optics.

Thanks to Zeiss for making this idea of mine come to fruition, and thanks to Cap’n Fish’s for letting us charter the boat to make this all happen. And most importantly, thanks to everyone who signed up and helped us explore the Gulf of Maine at this woefully under-birded time of year. Every day is different offshore, and you never know what you will or will not see. Excitingly, I am pleased to announce that Rich said, “let’s do this again next year!”  Hope to see you aboard!

Here’s the complete trip list, from dock to offshore and back. Thanks to Noah for compiling this!

  • Canada Goose: 13
  • Mallard: 2
  • Common Eider: 65
  • Surf Scoter: 1
  • Rock Pigeon: 3
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 1
  • RED-NECKED PHALAROPE: 12
  • Spotted Sandpiper; 3
  • COMMON MURRE: 1
  • RAZORBILL: 1
  • Black Guillemot: 114
  • Atlantic Puffin: 102
  • Laughing Gull: 1025
  • Ring-billed Gull: 2
  • Herring Gull: 38
  • Great Black-backed Gull: 11
  • Roseate Tern: 20
  • Common Tern: 504
  • Arctic Tern: 63
  • Common Loon: 8
  • Wilson’s Storm-Petrel: 350-400
  • Northern Gannet: 16
  • Double-crested Cormorant: 70
  • Osprey: 1
  • Bald Eagle: 2
  • Barn Swallow: 14
  • European Starling: 2
  • House Sparrow: 2
  • House Finch: 1
  • Savannah Sparrow: 2
  • Song Sparrow: 1
  • Yellow Warbler: 1

This Week’s Highlights, 5/26 to 6/2, 2023

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This first summer male Blue Grosbeak was present on Monhegan for at least a week, and unexpectedly, was flycatching for seaweed flies in shoreline rocks for most of the time, including the two days we looked at it with my Monhegan Spring Migration Weekend tour group.

With 5 days on Monhegan and one (half) day offshore, I enjoyed a lot of great birds this week. My observations of note over the past seven days included:

  • 1 Mourning Warbler, our property in Durham, 5/26 (Yard Bird #137!)
  • Monhegan Island with our Monhegan Spring Migration Weekend Tour group (full trip report and photos to come).

Daily:

  • Impressive numbers of Red Crossbills swirling around the island and tough to quantify, including many juveniles. High counts of largest flock(s) in the mid-20’s.  Three WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were present each day at least through the end of the weekend. Rare for the island, a pair of HOUSE FINCHES appeared on the 27th and continued through the end of our stay.  Here are my group’s other daily highlights.

5/26:

  • 11 Bay-breasted Warblers (FOY)
  • 1 Cape May Warbler (FOY)
  • 1 female Evening Grosbeak
  • 1 Black-billed Cuckoo
  • 1 continuing ORCHARD ORIOLE
  • 1 Philadelphia Vireo (FOY)

5/27:

  • 1 continuing male DICKCISSEL
  • 1 continuing female/imm male SUMMER TANAGER
  • 1 female ORCHARD ORIOLE
  • 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher (FOY)

5/28:

  • 9 GLOSSY IBIS – circled the island early in the morning but did not land. My 225th Island Bird!
  • 1 probable immature male PURPLE MARTIN
  • 1 continuing 1st-year male BLUE GROSBEAK
  • 1 immature BROAD-WINGED HAWK
  • 1 continuing male DICKCISSEL

5/29:

  • 1 pair ORCHARD ORIOLES
  • 1 continuing SNOWY EGRET – Jeannette and I finally caught up with it for my 226th Island Bird!
  • 1 continuing 1st year male BLUE GROSBEAK
  • 5/30 (With Jeannette):
  • 1 continuing male ORCHARD ORIOLE
  • 1 Field Sparrow
  • Did not try to catch up with continuing rarities, although two quick checks did not turn up the Dickcissel or the Blue Grosbeak.
  • The Zeiss Pelagic with Cap’n Fish’s Cruises out of Boothbay Harbor, 6/2. This special mini-pelagic, sponsored by Zeiss Optics visited Eastern Egg Rock before heading 20 miles offshore. Trip report to come, but for now, the highlights:

1 Razorbill at Eastern Egg Rock

1 COMMON MURRE (between Eastern Egg Rock and Murray Hole)

350-400 total Wilson’s Storm-Petrels (FOY)

12 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES

  • TOURS AND EVENTS:

I’ll see you next week at the Rangely Birding Festival! Most (but not all) tours are sold out, but everyone can join me for the free and open to the public Birds on Tap! Event at Parkside and Main (beverages not included)!

Boothbay Harbor Mini-Pelagic with Cap’n Fish’s Cruises, 6/7/2021

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Thanks to last fall’s wildly successful half-day pelagic with Cap’n Fish’s Cruises, we partnered up again to offer three outings in 2021.  On Monday, June 7th, the first of three departures took place.

June is an untraditional month for southern Maine pelagics, but our Boothbay Harbor departures, and a fast, steady boat allow us access to some prime areas. Few people had this in mind however on Monday, when instead, most people were just excited to escape the stifling heat on land!

The seas had died down overnight, and the mere 2 foot swell was often barely noticeable. A cooling breeze over the 56-degree water made us welcome our layers, but not at all miss the sweltering mainland.

There are few guarantees in pelagic birding…well unless you visit a seabird island! So instead of just searching for needles in the offshore haystack, we first headed over to Eastern Egg Rock.  We sifted through many hundreds of Common Terns until everyone got good looks at Roseate (20+) and Arctic (20+) Terns. 75-100 Atlantic Puffins, 100+ Black Guillemots, 500+ Laughing Gulls, Common Eiders, a Spotted Sandpiper, Double-crested Cormorants, Herring Gulls, and Great Black-backed Gulls were all observed from the comfort of our limited-capacity boat.

A passerine on our way to Eastern Egg Rock may have been an oriole (awaiting photos to review), but that was our only non-seabird of the day.  Kelsey pointed out lighthouses, islands, and other landmarks as we motored from the harbor out past Monhegan Island.

We then traveled over 20 miles to waters over 500 feet deep, and a ledge where the bottom rose steeply to a depth of only 380. On the way out, it was quiet. Really, really quiet.  Uh-oh, is this was June pelagic birding is like around here too?

But traveling over fairly flat, often sandy or muddy bottom is not a good sample, and as we hit the deeper water and some topography, we began to see our first tubenoses of the day: Wilson’s Storm-Petrels, which have just arrived from their sub-Antarctic breeding areas.

With Ian chumming, petrels began to come in closer, and the first of our Northern Fulmars arrived to check things out. While we worked the ledge, and then double-backed on our chum slick, the birds kept appearing and Captain Mike did a great job keeping birds in the best lighting possible. 

Some of the highlights included the rather late fulmars and an unseasonable offshore Common Murre, but I think the real highlight was how well we saw just about everything!  Even two of our Red-necked Phalaropes were close enough to age and sex (they were adult female), and Ian’s chum brought fulmars and storm-petrels in close.  While we only had one Great Shearwater on this early date, it too made a close pass, affording good looks for everyone.

The total seabird count away from Eastern Egg Rock (see estimates from there above) was as follows (not including gulls and other nearshore species)

  • 103 Wilson’s Storm-Petrels
  • 13 Northern Gannets
  • 10+ Arctic Terns (out of sight of Eastern Egg)
  • 5 Unidentified phalaropes
  • 5 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES
  • 4 NORTHERN FULMARS
  • 1 Great Shearwater
  • 1 COMMON MURRE

It was not the diversity of later summer and fall, and certainly not the numbers (at least once we left the magic of Eastern Egg), but we had a nice selection of “good” birds, great looks at them, and we did all of this in less than four hours in offshore waters.  The convenience of a Boothbay departure, the accessibility of some rich feeding areas without heading too far, the speed and comfort of the boat (especially the grilled cheese sandwiches), and more resulted in another rewarding trip and a sure sign of the potential of these tours.

In fact, our next trip in July (no chumming on this one, unfortunately) with a similar itinerary of starting at Eastern Egg Rock is filling up fast. We’re also now accepting reservations for our October outing, which, based on last year’s results, we are already looking forward too!