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Upcoming pelagic trip scheduled to go from New Jersey, USA in 2006

September 15/16, 2006  pelagic trip from Barnegat Light, New Jersey cancelled due to bad weather

Pelagics in the Sea of Japan on May 10 & 12, 2006 (as part of our '06 Japan Spring Birding Tour)

A summary of our Nov 14, 2005 pelagic trip from Valparaiso, Chile (as part of our '05 Chile Tour)

A summary of the Sep 17, 2005 pelagic trip from Monterey, California USA (as part of our '05 annual Sep West Coast USA Birding Tour)

A summary of our Sep 11, 2005 pelagic trip from Barnegat Light, New Jersey, USA

Kelp Gulls: subspecies & expansion?

Lesser Black-backed Gulls in eastern North America 

A Drastic Decline of Albatrosses & Penguins in the Falklands

Dec 7 '03 Pelagic Trip from Barnegat Light New Jersey cancelled 
due to bad weather

Albatrosses & Other Seabirds during FONT tours in Chile

Oceanic Birds during 2 pelagic trips off Chile in November 2003

A narrative summary of our Sept 7/8, 2003 pelagic trip from Barnegat Light, New Jersey, USA
(largely based on input by trip participant, Jared Sparks)

What was seen during our May 31, 2003 pelagic trip from Lewes, Delaware, USA

What was seen during our May 25/26, 2003 Hudson Canyon pelagic trip from Barnegat Light, New Jersey, USA

Sightings during Dec 7 2002 Pelagic Trip from Barnegat Light, New Jersey, USA

Sightings during May 2002 Hudson Canyon pelagic trips from Point Pleasant, New Jersey, USA

Sightings during June 2002 Pelagic Trip from Lewes, Delaware, USA

Sightings during Japan pelagic trip May 18, 2002 on East China Sea between Okinawa & Amami.

Caribbean Seabirds & Cetaceans, including Great Skua, Tropicbirds, and Fraser's Dolphin.

Sightings during Pelagic Trip Dec 1, 2001 from Brielle, New Jersey, USA

Pelagic Birding Trip off Chile, South America, Nov 2001 

Sightings during Pelagic Trip from Barnegat Light, New Jersey, USA, Sept 3/4, 2001 with White-faced Storm-Petrel & much more

Sightings during Pelagic Trip off Cape May, New Jersey, USA, Sept 2, 2001

Sightings during Pelagic Trip at the Hudson Canyon off New Jersey, USA,  May 25/26, 2001

Pelagic birds off Delaware & Maryland in 2000 (an article from the "Delmarva Ornithologist" of the DOS, the Delmarva Ornithological Society)

From FONT Pelagic Bulletin - May 15, 2006
Pelagics in the Sea of Japan off western Honshu (as part of our annual Japan spring birding tour)

During the May 2006 FONT birding tour in Japan (our 26th tour there; our 10th in the spring), there were, on May 10th, thousands of Streaked Shearwaters seen from the ferry (an hour-and-a-half ride) to Hegura Island in the Sea of Japan. Also in flocks, there were hundreds, as many as a thousand, Red-necked Phalaropes.

The water of the sea was smooth. And, as it was like glass, the alcids sitting on the water were relatively easy to spot. Most were Rhinoceros Auklets. There were also Japanese Murrelets, which are endemic to Japan, endangered, and attractive black-and-white birds with a nice Japanese name, "Kanmuri-umisuzume". It's pronounced as it looks.

The alcids breed on rocky islets by which the ferry closely passes. On the slopes of those small islands, thousands of Black-tailed Gulls were at their nesting sites. Many were seen flying close to the boat.

The ocean off the Chilean coast can have not just high numbers of birds, but also a good variety of species. During our trip in 2005, there was an excellent variety, even though, as noted, some of the numbers, that given day, were down.

Seabirds come to that area of the Pacific Ocean, off Chile, from various places far away. Some of the Albatrosses (including the Salvin's and the Buller's) come from New Zealand, on the opposite side of the Southern Pacific. Other birds also come from there, including the rare Westland Petrel.

During our tour this year, the bird that was the highlight of our Chile Valparaiso pelagic came from New Zealand, where the species breeds. It was the Northern Royal Albatross. We've previously seen the Southern Royal Albatross during our trips over the years (at least once, maybe twice), but this was the first time for the Northern. What an exciting bird our Northern Royal Albatross was to see. It's big, very big. Its wingspan is as much as 138 inches. That's 11-feet, 6-inches, meaning that each wing is as much as 5-feet, 9-inches, the height of many people.

We saw the Northern Royal Albatross well, with those long wings in flight, and also as it was resting near us on the water. When the bird would take off from the water to fly, each time we watched its feet patter along the surface for 2 or 3 seconds, before the bird would become airborne. Our Northern Royal Albatross on Nov. 14, '05 was an immature bird.

When it was resting on the water near us, next to the Salvin's Albatross, the Northern Royal dwarfed that species, which is no small bird itself. The wingspan of the Salvin's Albatross is as much as 98-inches, or about 8-feet, or 4-feet per wing. We saw a few Salvin's Albatrosses, during our trip. And, there was yet another Southern Albatross, the Black-Browed.

During our Chile Pelagic Trips, since 1990, we've seen 9 species of Albatrosses:
Northern Royal
Southern Royal
Black-browed
Salvin's
Shy (or White-capped)
Chatham
Buller's
Gray-headed,  
and Waved.

Other seabirds during our Nov. 14, 2005 pelagic, from Valparaiso, Chile were:
the Westland Black Petrel (as noted, from New Zealand), the White-chinned, and Cape Petrels (the latter known as the Pintado), the DeFilippi's Petrel (a pterodroma very similar to the Cook's Petrel), the Southern Giant-Petrel (one followed us nearly all the way back to shore), the Southern Fulmar, the Pink-footed and Sooty Shearwaters, the Humboldt Penguin, Peruvian Booby and Peruvian Pelican, Guanay and Red-legged Cormorants.

Gulls included the Kelp, and this year many Franklin's Gulls. It's interesting how Franklin's Gulls can be on the ocean off the Chilean coast, revising their life-style in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, of course, they breed far from the sea, in the interior of the United States and Canada. A Sabine's Gull was also with the seabirds around our boat off the Chilean coast, where we also saw an astonishing 6 species of Terns Common, Arctic, South American, Trudeau's, Elegant, and Inca.
It was a good day at sea.

Other pelagic species during the Sept 17, 2005 Monterey pelagic, that was part of the FONT West Coast Tour, included Black-footed Albatross, Northern Fulmar, Short-tailed Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Pink-footed Shearwater, Buller's Shearwater, and 3 Storm-Petrels Ashy, Black, and Least. Also 3 alcids Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, and Rhinoceros Auklet, as well as Parasitic and Pomarine Jaegers, and South Polar Skua.

This time, there were no albatrosses (Laysan is nearly always seen, and both Black-footed and Short-tailed have also been), but there were a number of SEABIRDS. 
The most common, this time, was the BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE. They occurred all-day. In all, there were thousands. Other GULLS included SLATY-BACKED, GLAUCOUS-WINGED, BLACK-TAILED, and VEGA. 
POMARINE JAEGERS were with us throughout the day. 
In one area, there was a nice number of SHEARWATERS, mostly STREAKED, but also SHORT-TAILED. Other OCEANIC BIRDS were NORTHERN FULMAR, FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, PACIFIC LOON, and both PELAGIC and TEMMINCK'S CORMORANTS. 
ALCIDS seen were RHINOCEROS AUKLET and ANCIENT MURRELET

Such birding at sea is always with the unexpected. It's fun, and particularly pleasant, whether the ocean be either calm or rough, on such a large ferry in the western Pacific.

From FONT Pelagic Bulletin - November 22, 2004
An account of a pelagic trip (from Valparaiso) as part of our Nov '04 Chile Tour 

This time, we probably saw MORE SEABIRDS during the trip than we have during any other. The vast majority of them, SOOTY SHEARWATERS.

As we left shore, there were swarms of birds ahead of us on the horizon. We headed in that direction, and soon we were among them, in masses of SOOTY SHEARWATERS all around us. Mostly they were in their swift flight. The experience was incredible. As we plowed through, there were also large flocks of PHALAROPES sitting on the water and flying (mostly RED, some RED-NECKED). Big flocks flew by FRANKLIN'S GULLS. As we continued, and the numbers of SOOTY SHEARWATERS around us began to decrease, those of PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS increased. There were thousands of them.

Our estimates were "a hundred thousand" or more SOOTY SHEARWATERS,
5,000 or more PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS,
2,000 or more FRANKLIN'S GULLS,
and 3,000 PHALAROPES (about 10 to 1, RED to RED-NECKED).

And, there were other SEABIRDS, particularly as we "chummed" by tossing out from the boat fish-parts and fish oil.
We were surrounded, as we did that, by ALBATROSSES, GIANT-PETRELS, PINTADOS (or CAPE PETRELS), WHITE-CHINNED PETRELS, STORM-PETRELS, BOOBIES ,FULMARS, GULLS, TERNS and PELICANS.
A single PERUVIAN DIVING-PETREL flew by.
The ALBATROSSES (or MOLLYMAWKS) were BLACK-BROWED (10) and the SALVIN'S (6).
There were 12 CAPE PETRELS, 3 SOUTHERN FULMARS, 6 SOUTHERN GIANT-PETRELS, and 50 WHITE-CHINNED.
Attracted to the chum slick were over 30 WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS. Numbers by the boat of PERUVIAN BOOBIES and PERUVIAN (or CHILEAN) PELICANS were also about 30 each. There were about 20 SOUTH AMERICAN TERNS and 10 INCA TERNS. KELP GULLS were about 200 around us.
With all the birds, it was odd not to get a species less common for Chile, as we often have in the past. These would those such as the Westland Petrel, another species of albatross, a skua, or Little Shearwater.

With the ocean swells as they were, we could not go further west to a "belt" where we might have gotten the pterodromas, the Masatierra (or DeFilippi's) Petrel or the Juan Fernandez Petrel.

But even so, it was a tremendous trip (those 4 hours or so) that morning with the masses of oceanic birds. Quite an experience, for sure!

From FONT Pelagic Bulletin - May 25, 2004
A narrative summary of our May 22/23, 2004 pelagic trip from Barnegat Light, New Jersey, USA   

During our annual late-May offshore pelagic birding trip, May 22/23, 2004, from Barnegat Light, New Jersey to the Hudson Canyon, seabirds were not as numerous as they have been during this trip in the past. In 2003, when we saw a tremendous number and variety of birds, the offshore water temperature was as low as 49.2 degrees (with not only numerous birds but with species such as Dovekie and Puffin). Normally, the Hudson Canyon water temperature during our late-May trips has been in the mid-fifties. This year, it tottered about 55.5 degrees F.

But still, with nice weather and good conditions, it was for us an enjoyable day at sea, with a fine variety of bird species.

There were 4 species of shearwaters (Great, Sooty, Cory's, and Manx) along with Northern Fulmar, Wilson's and Leach's Storm-Petrels, Pomarine Jaeger, and Arctic Tern (in addition to offshore Common and Royal Terns, and gulls).

The most common shearwater was the Sooty. There were about 30. That visitor from the South Atlantic was seen at the Hudson Canyon as well as closer to shore.

Only 2 Greater Shearwaters were seen, at and near the Hudson Canyon. One sat on the water close to the boat, it being another visitor from the South Atlantic.

May 23rd seems to be an early-date for the Cory's Shearwater that we saw well at the canyon. That species comes from the eastern Atlantic.

Our 2 Manx Shearwaters each flew by the boat quickly, as that species tends to do. But, for most on the boat, the species was seen well. Both of the Manx were in the vicinity of the Hudson Canyon.

The Northern Fulmars were also in the vicinity of the canyon. There were collectively 4 of those tubenoses, that are more common further north in Atlantic. That species was seen well by everyone onboard.

The single Pomarine Jaeger and single Arctic Tern were both seen at the canyon.

Whenever we stopped to chum, Wilson's Storm-Petrels came to our slick, appearing as dancers with dangling feet at the water's surface. During the day, we estimated about 150 of these visitors from the far-southern Atlantic. The 3 Leach's Storm-Petrels were all seen flying at a distance (as that North Atlantic species tends to do). They were not seen by all onboard.

Some birds not normally thought of as oceanic were seen at the Hudson Canyon, when we were about 90 miles from both the New Jersey and New York shorelines. They included a Great Blue Heron, a Magnolia Warbler, an Eastern Kingbird, and a small flock of 4 seafaring Cedar Waxwings.

Among the enjoyable aspects of the trip were certainly the marine mammals and some other sea-life. There were in total about 20 Oceanic Sunfish. And 1 Blue Shark. DOLPHINS numbered between 2 and 3 hundred. Some came in close to the boat, while numerous others slightly further from us, were in groups leaping out of the water. They were all the colorfully-patterned Common Dolphin, in the book "Mammals of North America" by Kays & Wilson, called the "Short-beaked Common Dolphin", Delphinus delphis. In the Pacific, where this species also occurs, there is as well a "Long-beaked Common Dolphin". Whatever their beak size, the large group of hundreds of dolphins surrounding our boat in the Hudson Canyon was spectacular.

Also quite a sight at the canyon, was a Fin Whale. Blowing, arching, and surfacing, we all could see this large creature, which is the largest of creatures normally occurring in either New York or New Jersey offshore waters. Among the world's cetaceans, only the rare Blue Whale is larger.

So, again, off New Jersey & New York in late-May, we had a nice trip in oceanic waters onboard the 100-foot boat, the "Doris Mae IV".

We'll be going again, later this year, on the "Doris Mae IV" on our next-scheduled pelagic trip from Barnegat Light, the weekend after Labor Day. It will be another overnight pelagic Saturday/Sunday September 11/12. To be when the offshore waters are warm, and there's opportunities for species such as Audubon's Shearwater and Bridled Tern (if the water's warm enough), and 3 species of southbound jaegers and South Polar Skua, in addition to the bird that's most sought-after that time of year, the White-faced Storm-Petrel.

The cost for the trip is $119. And, again, as there will be sleeping at night, the number of participants will be limited to about 45.

We're hoping (as everyone is) that the already high cost of fuel won't get higher. But, even so, at this time, we're holding at the same price of $119 per person. Please contact us if you'd like to join this trip, which has been so good in the past.

Seabirds at Hudson Canyon in May during Recent Years

Registration Form for Upcoming Pelagic Trip

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2 storms with more snow than originally expected, are going through the region Dec 5 & 6. Strong winds are projected at sea on Sunday, December 7.

It's difficult to re-schedule for the next few weeks, with Christmas coming, and with many people participating on bird counts over the weekends.
But if it's possible to re-schedule for another winter bird pelagic (after Christmas), we'll advise.

At this time, pelagic trips (for seabirds & marine mammals) are scheduled in 2004, from Barnegat Light, NJ, on the 100-foot, fast boat, the "Doris Mae IV", as follows

Overnight trips:

Sat/Sun May 22/23 (that's the weekend before Memorial Day)

Sat/Sun Sep 11/12 (that's the weekend after Labor Day)

A full-day trip: 
Sat, Dec 4

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From FONT Pelagic Bulletin - September 10, 2003
A summary of the FONT Sep 7/8 '03 overnight pelagic trip from Barnegat Light, New Jersey

After the trip we received a most-enjoyable e-mail from one of the trip participants, Jared Sparks, of suburban Philadelphia, relating to our day on the ocean. Much of his narrative will be incorporated into the following account.

First, however, the highlight of the trip for many was when an Audubon's Shearwater flushed up in front of the boat, flew to the left side, in front of us, and lit on the water. By it, in the water, was what seemed at first to be large seal or even a small whale. But it was, instead, a massive LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE. It's big head was above the water's surface, as it was getting some air.

Leatherbacks can dive deeply, down to 4500 feet beneath the surface. Their favorite food are jellyfish. Their breeding grounds are beaches in places such as Florida, Caribbean islands, and the northern coast of South America. They wander widely. Its said as far north as the Arctic. Certainly as far as offshore waters off Ireland. They don't breed on the other side of the Atlantic.

The Leatherback is the world's largest turtle. It can attain a length of over 6 feet, and a weight of as much as 1,200 pounds. The known record for the largest Leatherback is 2,016 pounds. The Leatherback Turtle that we saw by our boat was HUGE.

The night of our departure was still and calm. There was hardly even a breeze. Hurricane Fabian had moved north, well offshore, just over a day previously. But that evening the waves were gone. The surface of the ocean was about as smooth as it could be.

Overhead, in the clear sky, there was a beautiful Moon, and near it, a bright Mars. Not quite as bright as it was a couple weeks earlier when MARS was the closest it would be to us in many thousands of years, but still it shone in the sky, as we headed out of the Barnegat Inlet past the lit-lighthouse.

Now, let's take up with a paraphrased version of Jared's narrative. I summarize at the end, and any interim comment will be in parentheses.

It is fine, lying on the deck in the moonlight, being rocked in the cradle of the deep as Doris Mae loafs to the abyss. Before sleep, a couple of us pick out in the warm 1000 pm sky a half-dozen constellations - those of the summer sky.

Brighter evening stars, however, that occur during winter nights, began to appear through our trip. After our sleep, the heavens at 0530 were not a summer sky, but rather, with the sword of Orion and with Sirius, the brightest of our night-time stars.

We look east, with our eyes widened for an expected light. But it's still pitch-black there. With anticipation, though, it's time to get up, and go below for coffee.

The boat, the "Doris Mae" is 18 miles east of "the Tip", an underwater amphitheater, above 3,060 feet of water. The four diesels are silent, as the vessel sits on the sea. The lights of our boat are on, as the light of the new day begins to appear in the east.

On the boat, there are two odors. Inside, fresh coffee and outside, a subtle stink of rotting, ground-up fish known to us as bird chum.

The chumming begins, and nearby, several birders stand under a lamp that makes the near water the stage of a theater. The players will come. And so they do. They come with drama, as the night gives up the dark tatters of itself, They move rapidly, streaming in and out, flitting, verifying and finally feeding, some in the light from the boat, storm-petrels! (Over 50 WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS, visitors from the southern reaches of the Antarctic).
A good day of birding and of being at sea begins.

The AUDUBON'S SHEARWATER was seen later in the morning, at 940 EDT. It was at N 39deg 40.94' and W 72deg 28.91'. At 87 land-miles east-southeast of Barnegat Light, above 360 feet of water, adjacent to the Continental Shelf-edge feature that anglers call "The Tip."

The little Audubon's shearwater, that flew quickly towards us, came so close to the big Leatherback Turtle, that I and surely others had both creatures in one binocular field of view.
(Jared relates "What a view, Armas, the the two of them!")
The Leatherback, up for air, was a lot of turtle. The head was at least the volume of a football. It had at least a four foot length of carapace awash, with more below the surface ....

There can be strong bird-attractors offshore. For example, schools of fish, or floating whales, and other vessels such as commercial fishing boats that are either working, sitting, or moving. From our boat, we can see trawlers and scallop draggers 3.5 miles away.
Approaching the trawler from New Bedford Mass, called "Linda", got us some birds, particularly a couple LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS, together with Wilson's.
Earlier, our stopping by the scalloper "Endurance" got us our first close views of CORY'S SHEARWATERS (visitors from the eastern Atlantic).

The two-bird Leach's sighting that I (Jared) got in on was as one chased the other from the shrimper and across our bow. Their flight, through the nearby Wilson's, was less stodgy than that of the Wilson's, with wings swept-back at wrist, and wings more slender, looking longer. Their rumps appeared darker.

(At another time, during our trip, a large cruise ship came by us, a "Celebrity Cruise" apparently heading south from New York City. By it, and then by us, dolphins appeared. There were about 50 OFFSHORE BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHINS. By the bow of the ship, they were seen breaching completely out of the water. By the bow of our boat, we could look down on them swimming along with us beneath the surface.)

I (again referring to Jared) have been amazed at times when birds I'll call non-swimmers show up out there. far-out at sea. But consider this

The day's GREAT BLUE HERON appeared 75.4 miles east-southeast of Barnegat Light, flying high in the sky, a bit east of northward. As it was, the heron might well have made landfall in another 67 miles, at the ocean beach of Moriches Bay, Long Island, after only 2 more hours of flight. The morning's moderate SE wind, a fair tailwind for the heron, would have helped get the bird enroute to Long Island.
The heron came north to us. Birds heading south at "The Tip" from anywhere off Long Island would have had to buck that wind. But at flying speeds of 30 mph or better, it would have been no more than a 3 hours' flight-time to us.
Birds, if headed south from "The Tip", when we were there, continuing to dry land at Cape May, let's say, would have to go 160 miles to make landfall, if they were to, by the end of the day, as the wind in mid-afternoon backed to the NE, and strengthened, becoming a tailwind.
Lately, when looking at a map and figuring such speeds and distances, I get a bit less amazed when birds that are "non-swimmers" appear at a boat of birders way offshore ....

(In addition to the Great Blue Heron, other offshore landbirds during our trip included a TREE SWALLOW and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, both more than 80 miles offshore. Also a bird that appeared to be a CLAPPER RAIL was seen in flight about 30 miles out to sea.)

During our pelagic venture, our furthest point from the parking lot was 105 miles east (that was at daybreak, where we awakened a few miles eastward of a tuna fleet).
Our miles traveled from the dock back to the dock were 244.
Our time underway was 19 hours and 6 minutes.
The maximum speed of our boat, the "Doris Mae IV", was 28.4 mph (during speed surges as the 100-foot, 100,000-pound vessel surfs down a swell - then, of course, it slows some as she climbs the back of the next one.

Thank you, Jared, for taking the time to write about the trip that you so enjoyed.

Thanks are also in order for our spotters during to the trip Nikolas Haass, Rick Wiltraut, Fred Lesser, and Alan Brady.

And to all those involved with the "Doris Mae", thanks for another fine trip (and another great complimentary breakfast spread "that's part of the package").

The biggest thanks from us at FONT, however, are to the participants for joining us, some for the first time, many for yet another time. We appreciate it.

The tally of sightings during the Sep 7/8 '03 overnight pelagic trip from Barnegat Light NJ:

Wilson's Storm-Petrels, 140
Leach's Storm-Petrels, 2
Cory's Shearwaters, 40
Audubon's Shearwater, 1
Red-necked Phalaropes, 3
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 (closer to shore)
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Common Tern
Black Tern

Offshore Bottle-nosed Dolphin, 50
Leatherback Sea Turtle, 1 (huge, close to boat)

offshore landbirds:
Great Blue Heron
Clapper Rail
Tree Swallow
Common Yellowthroat

From FONT Pelagic Bulletin - May 27, 2003

*What was seen during our May 25/26, 2003 Hudson Canyon pelagic trip from Barnegat Light, New Jersey

During our Memorial Day Pelagic Trip from Barnegat Light NJ for 2003, there was some very good seabirding!

Fortunately for us, the weather did not affect us as it could have. Onshore, in New Jersey and the Delaware Valley in Philadelphia, there was from 1.5 to 3 inches of rain through the night and on Monday morning. Offshore, we had very little rain, and the affect of the weather was minimal.
Except for one thing the ocean water temperature was as low as 49.2 degrees. (Normally during our Memorial Day NJ pelagic trips the water temperatures are in the mid-fifties).
Our wind was from the southeast, and not strong. Nor were there big swells.

We had a good day at sea, and the affect of that low water temperature was this:
3 DOVEKIES, a PUFFIN, another ALCID (possibly RAZORBILL), about 150 FULMARS, and 6 SOUTH POLAR SKUAS. Not just the SKUAS but all 3 species of JAEGERS, and numerous SHEARWATERS and STORM-PETRELS, flocks of ARCTIC TERNS and PHALAROPES (both RED and RED-NECKED) and a lot of GANNETS.
Under the overcast sky and over the ocean water, these were the birds we saw.
In the water, there were GRAY GRAMPUS, and HUMPBACK and FINBACK WHALES.

During our entire time in offshore waters, there were PELAGIC BIRDS in view. Yes, we were in the North Atlantic, off New Jersey!!
(In waters designated by various people as both those of New Jersey and New York.)

When the boat stopped at 4am on the east side of the Hudson Canyon and as we begn to chum, immediately there were birds!!

FULMARS and GREATER SHEARWATERS began to surround the boat. So, we turned on the bright fishing lights, and then we watched those birds for about an hour before daybreak, as they gobbled up our chum. The birds were in so very close!
At it became light, we were surrounded by birds. At one point, 88 FULMARS were counted on the water (about half of the total we would see).

Some of the 150 Fulmars seen during the FONT May 26, 2003 pelagic trip 
from Barnegat Light, NJ. 
And, in the middle, 1 of the about 250 Greater Shearwaters 
that were to be seen during the day.
These birds on the water close to the boat just after daybreak.
(Photo by Alan Brady.)       

Numbers of WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS steadily increased. A flock of ARCTIC TERNS flew about above the fulmars and shearwaters. The FULMARS gave their calls. The ARCTIC TERNS scolded. Our first POMARINE JAEGER of the day came in, and it was as close as the fulmars and shearwaters (both GREATER and SOOTY).
We could nearly touch that jaeger, a beautiful adult.

Further out, a PUFFIN was seen. It flew to the right, and then left. And then again to the right, and then again to the left, until it lit on the water and disappeared.

Our early morning had been a spectacle. But we had to move, along our chum slick, and across the canyon. As we did, we saw our first DOVEKIE (yes, DOVEKIE). It was on the water, close to the boat. Everyone on the boat could see it well as it stayed on the surface. It was an adult in breeding plumage, that is with an all-black head. It was the first (and best seen) of 3 DOVEKIES we saw in that area. The others not in complete breeding plumage.

Our first DOVEKIE of the day was our first ever off New Jersey in May. And for many of us onboard, that first bird we saw so well was also our first DOVEKIE ever seen in breeding plumage!

Imagine during ONE trip, DOVEKIE and WILSON'S STORM-PETREL (birds respectively of the High Arctic and the Antarctic). Or a trip off New Jersey, with both SOOTY SHEARWATER and DOVEKIE. Has that ever happened previously?

Shortly after the DOVEKIES, someone said "What's this bird flying at us with red on its wings?) It came in close to the stern of the boat. It was a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, 90 miles offshore. It continued flying north toward Long Island (we hope).
Anyway, has there ever been sightings, within moments, of DOVEKIE and YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO?

WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS were not our only storm-petrels. Five times, LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS were seen flying by.
(A "lifer" for some. For many people on the trip, there were "lifers" during the day.)

When a HUMPBACK WHALE breached in the water right in front of the boat, we stopped (of course!). Above the whale, there were shearwaters. Beneath the water's surface, there were many mackerel. Lots of fish, lots of birds, and the whale. And, there we saw our first 2 SOUTH POLAR SKUAS. One, then both, on the water, close to the boat. Then both flight, close to us.

Later, a FIN WHALE (the 2nd largest creature on earth) breached largely out of the water in front of us. It surfaced a few times.
But on the surface of the water nearby, there was something else nice to see, a flock of PHALAROPES (actually a mixed flock of mostly RED but also RED-NECKED). Once again, birds were in close to us. We had wonderful looks of both phalarope species, both males and females, both in full breeding plumage.

Throughout the day, POMARINE JAEGERS kept appearing, often coming in close to us. When we were chumming, again, at the stern, as the whale was somewhere underwater in front of the boat, and the flock of phalaropes still close in on the side of the boat, there appeared behind us, with a POMARINE JAEGER, or two, a duo of LONG-TAILED JAEGERS. In close they came, an adult (with its long tail), and a sub-adult.

And throughout the day, SOUTH POLAR SKUAS kept appearing. Our final tally was 6, all seen close to us in flight or on the water.

As we headed westward toward shore, the numbers of GANNETS increased, as did those of COMMON TERNS. SOOTY SHEARWATERS continued.
GULLS were few for us offshore. Only a half-dozen or so each of HERRING and GREAT BLACK-BACKED, over 60 miles out, where we had another exciting moment. Near a fishing boat, a large bird in the distance, white and black, caught the eye of some of us. It did not seem to fly like a gull, nor like a gannet. But it kept flying away. Whatever, it got away.
But, really, how could we not be happy with what we did see, and saw well.

BIRDS & MARINE MAMMALS during our May 25/26, 2003 
pelagic trip from Barnegat Light, New Jersey:

Northern Fulmar, 150
Greater Shearwater, 240
Sooty Shearwater, 180
Wilson's Storm-Petrel, 900
Leach's Storm-Petrel, 5
Northern Gannet, 75
Pomarine Jaeger, 14
Parasitic Jaeger, 1
Long-tailed Jaeger, 2
South Polar Skua, 6
Arctic Tern, 15
Common Tern, 30
Herring Gull, 5
Great Black-backed Gull, 6
Red Phalarope, 20
Red-necked Phalarope, 5
Dovekie, 3
Atlantic Puffin, 1
alcid sp., 1

Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 1 (90 miles offshore)
Barn Swallow, 1 (60 miles offshore)

Gray Grampus/Risso's Dolphin, 1
Humpback Whale, 1
Finback Whale, 1

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From FONT Pelagic Bulletin - December 20, 2002

*Birds seen during Dec 7, 2002 Hudson Canyon pelagic trip from 
Barnegat Light, New Jersey

During the FONT (Focus On Nature Tours) annual early Dec birding pelagic trip from New Jersey, on December 7, 2003:

10 Dovekies, 2 Atlantic Puffins, and 10 Razorbills were among the oceanic birds seen. Dovekie and Puffin were cooperative, sitting on the water near the boat. They were seen well.

Such a trip to the Hudson Canyon has been conducted each year since 1992.

Dovekies were seen on consecutive years 1993-98. Since then, the species was not seen again until this year. And, now, as noted, in 2002, a nice number of 10 birds were seen.

Also seen during this year's trip were Red Phalaropes (possibly as many as 200), Greater Shearwater, Manx Shearwater (only 1 seen quickly by some as a "fly-by"), Glaucous, Iceland, and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, in addition to the more-common Gannets and Kittiwakes.

Marine mammals were some Common Dolphins riding for a while by the bow.

The trip this year was from Barnegat Light, New Jersey, onboard the large, fast boat, the "Doris Mae IV".
Our thanks to all who played a part with the trip.
One of the primary leaders, just hours before the trip, was diagnosed with pneumonia, and was unable to be there, so there's a special thanks to others who pitched in, and to the captain, for enabling people to have the best views possible of the birds.

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From FONT Pelagic Bulletin - June 19, 2002
*Summary of sightings from May 2002 Hudson Canyon pelagic
   trips from New Jersey
*June 2002 Pelagic Trip from Delaware

   
Two photographs of a South Polar Skua,
during FONT pelagic trip
at the Hudson Canyon in May 2002
(Photos by Rick Wiltraut.)

Summary of sightings from May 2002 Hudson Canyon pelagic trips from Point Pleasant, New Jersey, on the boat the "Sea Devil":

On May 26/27, 2002 at the Hudson Canyon, from Point Pleasant, NJ:
Common Loon, 4
Northern Fulmar, 13
Manx Shearwater, 22 (that's a good high number. Some seen very well, in flight and resting on the water).
Greater Shearwater, 6
Sooty Shearwater, 145
Cory's Shearwater, 6
Wilson's Storm-Petrel, 220
Leach's Storm-Petrel, 1
Northern Gannet, 6
Pomarine Jaeger, 1
Parasitic Jaeger, 1
Long-tailed Jaeger, 1 (seen well, close to the boat)
jaeger sp., 3
Great Black-backed Gull, 4 (about 50 miles offshore)
Common Tern, 4
"commic tern", 6
Black Tern, 1

Also, offshore: 
Purple Martin, Barn Swallow, Killdeer, warbler sp.
Sunfish (3), Blue Shark (2), Loggerhead Sea Turtle (1)

On May 18/19, 2002 at the Hudson Canyon, from Point Pleasant, NJ:
Common Loon, 24
Northern Fulmar, 50
Greater Shearwater, 1
Manx Shearwater, 1
Sooty Shearwater, 30
Wilson's Storm-Petrel, 300
Northern Gannet, 8
Pomarine Jaeger, 6
South Polar Skua, 4 (seen well, close to the boat)
Black Tern, 3

Also, offshore: Greater Scaup, Ruddy Turnstone, Common Dolphin

Our pelagic trip from Lewes, Delaware, on June 1, 2002 was onboard the "Skipjack":

During the trip, the following were seen offshore:
Common Loon, 1
Cory's Shearwater, 3
Greater Shearwater, 3
Sooty Shearwater, 83
Manx Shearwater, 1
Wilson's Storm-Petrel, 112
Pomarine Jaeger, 2
Great Black-backed Gull, 2
Herring Gull, 1
Common Tern, 6
Royal Tern, 6

Double-crested Cormorant
Chimney Swift
Yellow Warbler
Brown-headed Cowbird

Finback Whale, 2
Loggerhead Sea Turtle, 2  

The June 1 trip was to both Delaware & Maryland waters. Our thanks to our leader, Bob Rufe, for compiling the above stats from the trip.

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FONT actually conducted 2 pelagic trips on May 18, 2002, at opposite ends of the world:
on the Atlantic Ocean off New Jersey (to the Hudson Canyon from Point Pleasant NJ, USA), 
and on the Pacific Ocean off Japan (in conjunction with our Southern Japan birding tour). The Japanese pelagic trip was onboard a ferry, going north between the islands of Okinawa and Amami.

Birds seen were numerous shearwaters (Streaked, Short-tailed, and Flesh-footed), Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel, Brown Booby, and a flock of Whiskered Terns migrating offshore.

Cetaceans were Pacific White-sided Dolphins, and there were many flying fish.

Tour information & complete bird-lists relating to FONT Japanese tours.

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During the FONT Lesser Antilles March 2002 birding tour, there was, once again, on March 9, a pelagic trip off the coast of the West Indian island of Dominica, where the water gets deep (over 1000 feet) very closely offshore.

Previously, during this pelagic trip, we've seen very interesting cetaceans, including Sperm and Dwarf Sperm Whales, and Fraser's and Spotted Dolphins. This time, we again saw Fraser's Dolphins (about 50 together) and Pantropical Spotted Dolphins (about a hundred at once). Sperm Whales were in the area, but we did not see them, or hear them (with the hydrophone).
But we did see a wonderful assortment of seabirds. During this trip previously, also in March, we saw Pomarine Jaegers. This time we saw about 25 Pomarines, as well as one Great Skua.

Various times at the surface of the sea, there were schools of fish. They appeared to be small tuna. Jaegers were feeding on them. Boobies were diving into the water. Frigatebirds were overhead in a swarm. Some were coming to the water grabbing fish. Others were harassing jaegers.
During the trip we saw groups of both Brown and Red-footed Boobies.

At another time, as we were cruising off the beautiful coastline, with the forested hills of Dominica as a backdrop with puffy clouds and rainbows, a White-tailed Tropicbird flew in above us, with its long tail against a blue sky.

A few days earlier, during the tour, when we were atop a high sea-cliff on the island of Saint Lucia, there were about 50 Red-billed Tropicbirds gracefully flying about, calling as they flew.

Our fine day at sea on March 9, 2002 ended with the sun setting over the Caribbean Sea, where we had seen the boobies, jaegers, skua, frigatebirds, tropicbirds, and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (2 of only 4 gulls seen, the others Laughing). As the red solar ball dipped below the horizon, we could see the quick "green flash".

We'll be doing the Lesser Antilles Birding Tour again during the late Winter of 2003. Seabirds are just part of the tour. There are also some wonderful landbirds, ranging from parrots and colorful hummingbirds to endemics, rarities, and other specialties such as two tremblers and the White-breasted Thrasher.

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From FONT Pelagic Bulletin - Dec. 5, 2001
Pelagic Birding Trip from Brielle, New Jersey, Dec 1, 2001.

Pelagic Birding Trip from Brielle, New Jersey, Dec 1, 2001.

On Saturday, December 1st, FONT conducted its 9th annual all-day birding pelagic trip in December onboard the "Atlantis" from Brielle, New Jersey. It was certainly the warmest weather that we've ever had for a December pelagic. Onshore, the temperature reached a record 72 degrees F. Offshore, the air temperature was a bit cooler, but the heavy clothing was not necessary this year! The water temperature ranged from 55 to 57 degrees F.

We may have had the most CHUM ever! Chumming all-day, during the entire trip, meant that birds were with us all the time. And it may have been our most potent chum ever! Fulmars and other seabirds, we're sure, could smell what we were offering them from many, many miles away.

Gulls and Gannets were with the boat throughout the trip. The first Fulmar appeared 24 miles offshore, and we had that species with us all day until nearly dark. Our tally of Fulmars for the day was 52.

Northern Fulmar,
photographed during FONT's Dec 1, 2001 pelagic trip,
from Brielle, New Jersey.
(Courtesy of participants, Judy & Karl Lukens)

A large number of Kittiwakes were with us throughout. Their tally was over 1,200. Most of the day, adults were with us. Late in the day, juveniles became more evident.

A large number of Red Phalaropes were seen. Flocks tallied up to between 4 and 5 hundred.

During this trip, we hope for Great Skua (We've seen it in the past.) We've also seen, on occasion, Pomarine Jaegers. This time our count of Jaegers was 19 Pomarines and 1 Parasitic.

2 Manx Shearwaters were seen during the trip.

During this trip, we hope for Dovekie (We've seen it in the past). This time, maybe the surface of the water was not smooth enough, but 3 species of ALCIDS were seen Razorbill, Atlantic Puffin, and Thick-billed Murre.
All of these were seen sitting on the water. The Puffin only quickly. But the Razorbill and Murre were seen longer, and probably by everyone onboard.

What we did not see were fishing boats offshore. Often, during December trips, we find large groups of birds around such boats. This time, we did succeed in finding large groups of birds on the water - minus the boats.

Under the water, and leaping above it, were two large groups of Common, or Saddleback, Dolphins. Our estimated count of them was 180.

It was a good day at sea! Every day there is different. We look forward to going again. Our 2002 schedule of FONT East Coast pelagic trips will be out SOON. Within a few days, in our web-site, at www.focusonnature.com
Lots of other pelagic trip and tour information is in that web-site now. There are accounts of what we've seen since 1992.

Our thanks to all who joined us in 2001. We're glad to have had you with us. We hope you enjoyed your trips.

My thanks to all who enabled the trips to happen, from those in the FONT office, to our top-notch leaders and spotters, and the captains and crews on the boats. We endeavor to have leaders who enthusiastically share, adept captains who maneuver for the best views, and also, as we did, this past week out of Brielle, crews who don't mind dispersing potent chum all day long!

The Dec 1, 2001 Brielle, New Jersey tally of birds & marine mammals:
Common Loon, 4
Red-throated Loon, 2
Northern Fulmar, 52 (including 9 gray-morphs)
Manx Shearwater, 2
Northern Gannet, 134
Red/Grey Phalarope, 451
Pomarine Jaeger, 19
Parasitic Jaeger, 1
jaeger sp., 5
Laughing Gull, 3
Bonaparte's Gull, 128
Herring Gull, xxx
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4
Great Black-backed Gull, xxx
Black-legged Kittiwake, 1259
Thick-billed Murre, 1
Razorbill, 3
Atlantic Puffin, 1
Common Dolphin, 180

Nearly all of these in both New Jersey & New York waters. Only a few single-staters.

Coordinates for the rarer birds:
Manx Shearwater    39º 52.584 - 73º 06.040
Thick-billed Murre    39º 58.270 - 73º 22.582
Atlantic Puffin    39º 57.546 - 73º 18.888

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From FONT Pelagic Bulletin - Nov. 17, 2001
Pelagic Birding Trip off Chile, South America, Nov 2001 

Pelagic Birding Trip off Chile, South America, Nov 2001 

On our boat, it was indicated that the capacity was 80 passengers. There was excellent viewing from the sides and front of the boat. We certainly did not have 80 people onboard, but those with us were treated to hordes of birds around the boat, during virtually the entire trip. Again, we had plenty of chum to attract the birds close to us.

There were pelicans, petrels, penguins, and phalaropes. And more, much more.

Terns, during the trip, included South American and Arctic, the latter from North America. Gulls included Kelp and Franklin's. The latter, particularly numerous, migrants from interior North America.

Also migrants from the Northern Hemisphere were the flocks of Red (or Gray) Phalaropes.

From FONT Pelagic Bulletin - Sept. 6, 2001
Summaries of pelagic trips from New Jersey:
Sept 3/4, 2001, at the Hudson Canyon, from Barnegat Light, with White-faced Storm-Petrel & much more.
Sept 2, 2001 from Cape May. 
May 25/26, 2001 at the Hudson Canyon, from Barnegat Light.


Pelagic trip from New Jersey, Sept 3/4, 2001 with White-faced Storm-Petrel & much more

The evening of September 3, we departed from Barnegat Light, New Jersey on an overnight pelagic trip onboard the boat the "Doris Mae".

We slept well. The seas were calm and would be during our entire outing the next day. We arrived at our intended destination, the Hudson Canyon, about 85 miles offshore, when it was still dark.

A chum-slick was put onto the water. It became large, attracting early in the morning a large number of birds. There were many Wilson's Storm-Petrels (maybe a thousand - 1500 during the entire trip). Also Cory's, Greater, and Audubon's Shearwaters (15 of the latter for the day.)

Some jaegers flew in. All the species were seen closely.

And, then, there was the "soft-spoken" call "there's a WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL". It was not as close at first as we would have liked, but the light-colored bird, with its dangling feet, could certainly be seen.

As it had appeared, it disappeared. So we traveled along the long slick and lo and behold, we found it again, rather off by itself from the Wilson's Storm-Petrels. Our boat got close to the bird, as it continued to move low over the water, We (actually our adept captain) stayed with it for 20 minutes as it continuously flew, in its odd way. The bird was moving, as we were, at a speed of 12 knots, but its wings were hardly moving at all. Its long legs were hitting the water one bounce after another, bringing to mind to some of us, a bird on a pogo stick and to others an avian kangaroo. We wondered if it had come in that manner all the way from the Azores!

The White-faced Storm-Petrel was so close to our boat as we accompanied it. Photos are below. 

But our day at sea was far from over when we veered away from the White-faced Storm-Petrel.

During the trip, nearly a dozen Pomarine Jaegers were seen - closely - adults, sub-adults, and birds of the year.

And a Long-tailed Jaeger was seen. It, too, close to us, and as we did with the White-faced Storm-Petrel, and as we did with the White-faced Storm-Petrel, we traveled with it as it flew - for quite a while. Our speed with Long-tailed Jaeger next to us was up to 20 knots. Again, an adept captain. As with the White-faced Storm-Petrel, a nice bird was put on video.

In addition to the birds there were some other oceanic creatures that we enjoyed:

A large Manta Ray, early in the morning right by the boat. It stayed with us for a while, as remoras stayed with it.

Also large, a swordfish was seen closely. Its huge fins were above the water. Sometimes that big fish comes to the surface after some doing some fishing of its own in the deep. Swordfish attain a length of 15 feet and a weight of 1300 pounds.

We learned on the radio from a nearby fishing boat that the largest of all the world's fish, a Whale Shark was seen in the area. We unfortunately did not see it.

(There's a photograph of this massive creature in our web-site in the Marine Life Photo Gallery. That picture was taken during one of our offshore Puerto Rico boat-trips.)

Even larger than the Whale Shark is the Fin Whale (the second largest creature in the world).
7 were seen during our trip, including one that remained still for a while just beneath the surface of the water only yards (less than 50) from our boat. Later, 4 Fin Whales were close to the boat, with 2 swimming underneath it.

Other marine mammals included:
a Humpback Whale,
a group of 8 Gray Grampus, or Risso's Dolphins (again, seen closely)and a larger group of about 70 Offshore Bottle-nosed Dolphins. They were swimming by the boat, rapidly at the bow. We could look down on them - the adults with their young. (The adults always putting themselves between their youngsters and boat).

And then it was time for us to go back to shore. In about 4 hours, we were back at the dock. It had been a fine trip.

Most of the sightings were about 80-90 miles offshore from the New Jersey coast, but the closest land to us, when we were at the Hudson Canyon, was actually Long Island, New York.

The tally of the Sept 3/4, 2001 pelagic trip from Barnegat Light, NJ:

Cory's Shearwater, 32
Greater Sherwater, 23
Audubon's Shearwater, 15
Wilson's Storm-Petrel, 1500
WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL, 1
Red-necked Phalarope, 1
Pomarine Jaeger (about 10)
Long-tailed Jaeger, 1
Herring Gull (not at the Hudson Canyon)
Great Black-backed Gull (not at the Hudson Canyon)
Common Tern, 6
Arctic Tern, 2
a few terns too distant to ID
Fin Whale, 7
Humpback Whale, 1
Risso's Dolphin (Gray Grampus), 8
Offshore Bottle-nosed Dolphin, 70
Manta Ray, 6
2 Remoras with the Rays
Swordfish, 1

Not as large a fish, but certainly the most colorful of the day were the Dolphin (fish) or Mahi-mahi. At times, skipjacks and tuna were seen jumping at the water's surface.

Birds seen during pelagic trip off Cape May, NJ, September 2, 2001: 

During the FONT all-day pelagic trip, on Sept 2, out of Cape May, New Jersey, a Bridled Tern was seen, as were Pomarine Jaeger, Cory's Shearwaters, and Wilson's Storm-Petrels.

Birds seen at the Hudson Canyon during pelagic trip off New Jersey  May 25/26, 2001:

Common Loon, Northern Fulmar (39), Cory's Shearwater, Greater Shearwater (32), Sooty Shearwater, Wilson's Storm-Petrel (950), Leach's Storm-Petrel (5), Northern Gannet, Red-necked Phalarope, Red Phalarope (32), Pomarine Jaeger (49), Parasitic Jaeger, Long-tailed Jaeger, South Polar Skua, Lesser Black-backed & other Gulls, Black-legged Kittiwake, Common Tern, and Atlantic Puffin (2).

Other marine-life included: Common Dolphin, Loggerhead Turtle, and Mola-mola.

From the 2001 issue (volume 33) of the "Delmarva Ornithologist",
edited by Gene Hess, (a publication of the DOS, the Delmarva Ornithological Society), 
the following are excerpts from an article by Andrew Ednie (who has been a leader on a number of our Delaware pelagic trips):
(Gene Hess has led Delaware land-birding tours for FONT.)   

Pelagics, the final frontier. No form of birding presents so many obstacles, from arranging transportation, to the right weather conditions, to the hazards of motion sickness. Whenever you're out on the open ocean, you never can tell what to expect. The probability of finding a new state record (for Delaware) when traveling into oceanic waters has been better (recently) than when birding on dry land. Our knowledge of pelagic species occurrence is limited. Except for the unusual one-day trip offshore, which represents  just a small snapshot of what normally occurs, there is little continuity. It is almost impossible to follow-up a rarity report with further observations. 

The year 2000 was exceptional for birding Delaware's pelagic waters. It was even more special with the publication of the book "Birds of Delaware". In it, the Delaware-Maryland border was defined as 38 degrees 27'4" N. 

There were 6 pelagic trips to Delaware waters in 2000. That's twice as many as in any other year and an 18% increase in total records for Delaware. Trips scheduled for the first week in March , the first and second week of June, and the first week of September were all dates previously undocumented. One new species was added to the Delaware state-list, plus there were records for such infrequently recorded species as Northern Fulmar, Manx and Audubon's Shearwaters, Leach's Storm-Petrel, South Polar Skua, and Atlantic Puffin. The number of pelagic birds observed was impressive. A highlight was the record number of Bridled Terns that appeared on the two September 3 trips. A full list of the oceanic species seen will follow in this article.      

Two deep water canyons are found off Delaware and Maryland. The northernmost is the Wilmington Canyon, about 90 miles east of South Bethany Beach DE. The southern canyon is the Baltimore, about 65 miles east of Ocean City MD. At the canyons, there is a deep drop at the Continental Shelf. This drop causes an up welling of nutrients from the ocean floor. Nutrients increase food supplies, producing feeding areas for deep water pelagic species: fish, bird, and marine mammal.

In 2000, most of the pelagic trips concentrated their time close to the 30 fathom line . There are several colorful terms for the unique geographical features found along that line. To the south, the closest is the 19 Fathom Seamount, about 40 miles east of South Bethany, DE. Beyond that, the 30 fathom line goes north, and then back south for 5 miles. That long contour line is known as the Elephant's Trunk, due to its unusual shape. The Elephant's Trunk begins about 45-50 miles east of Indian River (DE) and runs south to 45 miles east of Fenwick Island (DE). South of the Elephant's Trunk, east of Ocean City, in Maryland waters, there is a bowl-shaped bulge in the 30 fathom line, known as the Tea Cup. This is an area of extensive trawler fishing and sport fishing for tuna in the summer. While a good number of pelagic birds can be further out at the deep water canyons (Wilmington & Baltimore), boat captains say that there can be large concentrations of birds at the closer features just mentioned.    

PELAGIC TRIPS TO DELAWARE WATERS in 2000:

March 6, on the "Miss Chris" from Cape May, NJ, southeast to the north tip of the Elephants Trunk
Partly cloudy, mild, wind SW at 5-10 mph. Air temp: 40-55 degrees F.
Highlights: Atlantic Puffin, Northern Fulmars, Kittiwake, and multiple Razorbills at the north tip of "Elephant's Trunk".

May 30, FONT trip on the "Morning Star" from Cape May NJ, through the mouth of the Delaware Bay to just north of the "Elephant's Trunk".
Clear to mostly cloudy. Rough seas. Air temp: 55-75 degrees F.
Large number of Sooty Shearwaters at the mouth of the Delaware Bay. 

June 3, FONT trip on the "Skipjack" from Lewes, Delaware. SE to the "Teacup", north along the "Elephant's Trunk".
Clear, calm, winds S at 5-10 mph. Seas 2 to 4 ft. Air temp: 60-70 degrees F.
Water temp: 52-56 degrees F.
Highlights: South Polar Skua, Atlantic Puffin, and many shearwaters with trawlers at the "Teacup". The puffin along the "Elephant's Trunk".

June 10, FONT trip on the "Skipjack" from Lewes, DE, southeast to the "Teacup", north along the "Elephant's Trunk".
Clear to partly cloudy, wind W at 10-15 mph. Seas 4 to 8 ft. Air temp: 60-68 degrees F. Water temp: 54-58 degrees F.
Highlights: multiple jaegers among trawlers at the "Teacup". Manx Shearwater near the 19 Fathom Seamount.

Sept 3, FONT trip on the "Morning Star" from Cape May NJ, southeast to the north tip of the "Elephant's Trunk", east to Wilmington Canyon.
Hazy, fog, calm, wind SE 5-10 mph. Seas 2-4 ft. Air temp: 72-80 degrees F. Water temp: 75-80 degrees F.  Large mats of sargassum.
Largest number of Bridled Terns recorded in mid-Atlantic region. Audubon's Shearwaters.

Sept 3, FONT trip on the "Skipjack" from Lewes, Delaware, SE to 19 Fathom Seamount, the "Teacup", east to the 40 fathom line. Same conditions as above Sept 3 trip. 
Highlights: Long-tailed Jaeger, a Delaware state record. South Polar Skua at 19 Fathom Seamount. Long-tailed and Pomarine Jaegers at the "Teacup". Two flocks of phalaropes. Multiple Bridled Terns.

NOTES REGARDING SOME OF THE OCEANIC BIRDS:

Manx Shearwater: A single bird flew past the boat on June 10. It was seen about 43 miles east of North Ocean City, Maryland, halfway between the Elephant's Trunk and the 19 Fathom Seamount (the latter site in Delaware waters). The bird appeared off the starboard, passed off the bow, and then flew away off portside. This shearwater is considered common off mid-Atlantic waters. It is not considered a "review bird" for Maryland, but there were (as of Jun 10, '00) only 6 documented records for Delaware (Hess, 2000). This bird was very close to Delaware waters, and the possibility that it passed into Delaware was quite real.

Audubon's Shearwater: Seen on the Sept 3 trip from Cape May.

Leach's Storm-Petrel: First spotted by the mate, then seen alongside the boat at 0730 on June 3. The longer wings and more bouncy flight pattern distinguished this species from the more common Wilson's Storm-Petrel.

Long-tailed Jaeger: The trip on Sept 3 onboard the "Skipjack" produced 2 sightings of this species, one in Maryland, the other in Delaware. They represented the 8th record in Maryland, and the first state record for Delaware. Both were juveniles, birds of the year. The Maryland bird was seen with 5 Pomarine Jaegers for good size comparison. It was found about 50 miles east of Ocean City, among trawlers fishing the 45 fathom line. The Delaware bird was seen at the 19 Fathom Seamount.

South Polar Skua: One was seen during the June 3 trip at the "Teacup", about 45 miles east of Ocean City, Maryland. The bird flew in off the sten to harass shearwaters (Greater and Sooty). The bird was within 25 feet of the boast, allowing numerous photographs for documentation. 
Another South Polar Skua was seen during the Sept 3 trip onboard the "Skipjack". The bird flew in to a flock of Cory's Shearwaters at the 19 Fathom Seamount. This bird also approached quite close to the boat, allowing photographic documentation. This was the 2nd state record for Delaware. Both birds were dark morph juveniles.

Bridled Tern: The first for 2000 was on June 3, 19 miles southeast of Cape Henlopen. Most records for this species (off Delmarva) have been in the late summer. This was the second June Delaware record.
The trips on Sept 3 were interesting because the water temperature was warm, reaching 80 degrees F., and thick mats of sargasso weed were found. There were many sightings of this species on the two Sept 3 trips. On the "Skipjack", 18 individuals were recorded: 13 in Delaware and 5 in Maryland. The first was seen at the 19 Fathom Seamount. One group of eight individuals was seen along the Delaware/Maryland border, just west of the "Elephant's Trunk". Almost all of the birds were adults. 

Atlantic Puffin: A total of 3 birds were observed on June 3 from the "Skipjack". One bird was in Delaware waters, while 2 were over the border in Maryland. All of the birds were thought to be sub-adults with pale faces and small bills (without much color on the bill).                   
     
COMPLETE LIST OF OCEANIC BIRDS SEEN OFFSHORE IN DELAWARE & MARYLAND  DURING 2000:

Common Loon:  Jun 3 (15 DE), Jun 10 (1 MD) Sep 3 from Cape May (2)
Northern Fulmar:  Mar 6 (4 DE)
Cory's Shearwater:  May 30 (1 DE), Jun 3 (4 DE, 5 MD), Jun 10 (2 DE, 7 MD), Sep 3 from Cape May (11), Sep 3 from Lewes (14 DE, 9 MD)
Greater Shearwater:  Jun 3 (45 DE, 74 MD), Jun 10 (4 DE, 204 MD), Sep 3 from Cape May (15), Sep 3 from Lewes (15 MD)
Sooty Shearwater:  May 30 (7 DE), Jun 3 (161 DE, 269 MD), Jun 10 (7 DE, 158 MD)
Manx Shearwater:  Jun 10 (1 DE)
Audubon's Shearwater:  Sep 3 from Cape May (2)
Wilson's Storm-Petrel:  Jun 3 (150 DE, 250 MD), Jun 10 (44 DE, 33 MD), Sep 3 from Cape May (59), Sep 3 from Lewes (74 DE, 46 MD)
Leach's Storm-Petrel:  Jun 3 (1 DE)
Northern Gannet:  Jun 3 (9 DE), Jun 10 (5 DE, 1 MD)
Brown Pelican:  Jun 3 (4 DE)
Red-necked Phalarope:  Sep 3 from Lewes (7 DE, 4 MD)   
South Polar Skua:  Jun 3 (1 MD),  Sep 3 from Lewes (1 DE)
Pomarine Jaeger:  Jun 3 (2 DE), Jun 10 (5 MD), Sep 3 from Lewes (1 DE, 5 MD)
Parasitic Jaeger:  Jun 10 (3 MD)
Long-tailed Jaeger:  Sep 3 from Lewes (1 DE, 1 MD)
Black-legged Kittiwake:  Mar 6 (1 DE)
Royal Tern:  Jun 10 (8 DE)
Common Tern:  Jun 3 (6 MD), Jun 10 (16 DE, 3 MD)
Bridled Tern:  Jun 3 (1 DE), Sep 3 from Cape May (23), Sep 3 from Lewes (13 DE, 5 MD)
Black Tern:  Sep 3 from Lewes (4 DE)
Atlantic Puffin:  Mar 6 (2 DE), Jun 3 (1 DE, 2 MD)

MARINE MAMMALS:

Bottlenose Dolphin:  Jun 3 (18 DE), Sep 3 from Lewes (6 DE)
Common Dolphin:  Sep 3 from Lewes (30 MD)

OTHER MARINE LIFE:

Loggerhead Sea Turtle:  Jun 3 (2 DE, 1 MD), Sep 3 from Lewes (1 DE, 1 MD)
Leatherback Sea Turtle: Jun 3 (1 DE), Sep 3 from Lewes (1 DE)
Mola mola:  Sep 3 from Lewes (1 DE)
Yellowfin Tuna:  Sep 3 from Lewes (MD)

BUTTERFLY:

Cloudless Sulphur:  Sep 3 from Lewes (1 MD) 


Our thanks to the various boat captains & crews, our pelagic trip leaders, and of course to the trip participants for traveling with us. 

Birds & other Marine-life during previous FONT trips from New Jersey (1992-1999).

Birds & other Marine-life during previous FONT trips from New Jersey (2000-2002).

Also Photo Galleries of Oceanic Birds & Other Marine Life.

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