New England Seabirds

 28 JUNE 2008:
BBC EXTREME PELAGIC from HYANNIS, MA to the CONTINENTAL SHELF at
ATLANTIS CANYON (0400-2215 hrs.)
Weather: Variably sunny and cloudy, periods of haze and fog (mostly
over cooler shallow waters), S-SSW winds 5-12 mph, 64-72 F.
Water Temperature: 60-72 F (warmest over portions of Atlantis Canyon).
Seas: 3-6 feet.
Visibility: Down to zero in dense fog over cooler shallow water
(including Nantucket Shoals) but mostly unlimited (although hazy) in
warmer shelf and canyon waters.
 
Roughly 75 participants plus organizer Ida Giriunas and leaders Rick Heil, Steve Mirick, Blair Nikula, and Peter Trimble joined Capt. Joe Huckemeyer and the crew of the 100' 'Helen H' for an 18+ hour
Brookline Bird Club 'Extreme Pelagic' to Atlantis Canyon and the Continental Shelf about 100-110 miles south of Muskeget Island. We departed Hyannis at 0400 and via Muskeget Channel proceeded on route to Atlantis Canyon where we had learned in advance we would find the warmest water reachable. I ran a Menhaden Oil drip for the entire cruise. We sailed to the deepest portion at the mouth of the canyon where we entered some 7000 foot deep water and chummed at several stops. The return route was across Nantucket Shoals to the east of Nantucket (but alas dense fog shrouded the shoals waters).

The largest concentrations of birds on the way out were near and well north of the entrance to Atlantis. On the return we encountered an extraordinary and amazing feeding frenzy of dolphins, whales and seabirds in the shipping lane south of Nantucket Shoals. We found no rarities on THIS trip, but witnessed the acrobatics of tremendously large, curious, and friendly pods of Common (Saddleback Dolphins, and enjoyed very high counts of shearwaters (most notably Cory's) and storm-petrels (most notably Leach's).
 
Cory's Shearwater (225): All individuals seen well were Atlantic
C.d.borealis except for one possible C.d.diomedea or 'Scopoli's'
Shearwater of the Mediterranean, seen early. Off New England Cory's
are most common in the warmer waters south of Cape Cod and the
islands, although numbers seem to fluctuate greatly from year to year.
Greater Shearwater (1170): Some showing wing molt, missing both
primaries and coverts.
Sooty Shearwater (28)
Manx Shearwater (15): Including several in deep water near and along
the shelf edge, well seen and carefully identified.
Wilson's Storm-Petrel (4500): Overwhelming majority (95%+) adults in
very heavy wing molt, remainder fresh crisp first-year birds.
Leach's Storm-Petrel (30): Good numbers; all in deeper waters.
Northern Gannet (1-2nd yr.)
Herring Gull (1 ad.)
Great Black-backed Gull (5 ads.)
Pomarine Jaeger (1-1st-summer): Well photographed.
jaeger sp. (1): briefly in the fog.
-

Pilot Whales are only expected to be seen offshore in summer. Notice the dorsal fin is wider than it is tall. Photographed by Christopher Ciccone (CNCiccone@comcast.net).  See his blog  http://www.picusblog.com/

Fin Whale (2-3) Minke Whale (3+) Humpback Whale (2-3) Balaenoptera sp. (3+) Long-finned Pilot Whale (12) Grampus (Risso's Dolphin) (5) 'beaked' whale, Mesoplodon sp. (2): Two individuals very likely of this genus surface briefly in deep water over Atlantis Canyon. It was the day of the dolphin.  Here a pod of Common Dolphins photographed by Christopher Ciccone (CNCiccone@comcast.net).  See his blog  http://www.picusblog.com/ Common (Saddleback) Dolphin (1100+): Staggering number! Including two disparate pods of 400+ that turned and charged the boat to come see us and ride the bow waves and wake. Many young dolphins were in the group. The second of the two largest groups was engaged in a feeding frenzy (along with hundreds of shearwaters) somewhat south of Nantucket Shoals. dolphin sp. (3): Three shy small appearing dolphins in deep canyon water eluded identification. Common Dolphin photographed by Scott Spangenberg on June 20,2008 trip. It is rather hard to get a dolphin jumping completely out of the water.  Great photo Scott. Leatherback Sea Turtle (1): Seen briefly and somewhat distantly at the surface. Blue Shark (6) flying fish, Cheilopogon sp. (6+): Seen in flight. Dolphin, Mahi mahi (2)-jumped. tuna sp. (1)-jumped. Ocean Sunfish, Mola mola (9) --------------------------------------------------------- Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis (1) Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerata (1) : Both dragonflies at Atlantis Canyon.

Richard S. Heil
S. Peabody, MA
rsheil AT comcast.net

Steve Mirick's map of June 28, 2008 BBC Extreme Pelagic to Atlantis Canyon
 

July 19, 2008 Continental Shelf Edge

BBC EXTREME PELAGIC from HYANNIS, MA to the CONTINENTAL SHELF at ATLANTIS CANYON (0400-2200 hrs.) Weather: Mostly sunny, but foggy over cooler shallow waters of Nantucket Shoals, SW-WSW winds 10-20 mph, 70-80 F Water Temperature: 68º-77ºF (warmest over portions of Atlantis Canyon). Seas: 4-6 feet, with a few waves perhaps to 8 feet. Visibility: Mostly unlimited (although slightly hazy) throughout warmer shelf and canyon waters, but down to near zero in dense fog on our return over Nantucket Shoals.

Sunrise by Scott Spangenberg

Roughly 75 participants plus organizer Ida Giriunas and leaders Rick Heil, Marshall Iliff, Steve Mirick, and Jeremiah Trimble joined Captain Joe Huckemeyer and the crew of the 100' 'Helen H' for the second in a series of three Brookline Bird Club 'Extreme Pelagic' trips, this one to Atlantis Canyon and the Continental Shelf about 100-110 miles south of Muskeget Island. We departed Hyannis at 0400 and via Muskeget Channel proceeded south on route to Atlantis Canyon where we had learned in advance we would again (still) find the warmest water reachable. Water temperature had warmed considerably since the June trip. Seas were slightly rough and we endured a bit of a sloppy ride out. However, once we reached the canyon and the shelf edge, we turned east and ran with the wind, making things much more comfortable, and the boat more stable for viewing. We again ran a Menhaden Oil drip for most of the cruise and chummed heartily at several spots in the warm deep water over the canyon in waters about> 2500 feet deep.

Unlike the June trip, overall numbers of seabirds were unimpressive, but we were rewarded this time with several exciting and rare, but not unexpected, warm and deep water species, including a new Massachusetts high count for Band-rumped Storm-Petrel, a stunning and very inquisitive Bridled Tern that circled the boat several times (our 5th since 2004), and two separate 1st-summer Long-tailed Jaegers that put on a great performance for the photographers on board.

Long-tailed Jaeger photographed by Scott Spangenberg on 7/19/2008.

Several possible/probable 'Scopoli's' Shearwaters (C. d. diomedea), the race of Cory's breeding inside the Mediterranean Sea, were observed and photographed. Final determination will await a careful analysis of the photographs.

The marine mammal show included several small groups of Grampus (or Risso's Dolphins) and Offshore Bottlenosed Dolphins, and one pod of Common (Saddleback) Dolphins that briefly came in and rode the bow waves.
 
Cory's Shearwater (11): borealis or presumed.
'Scopoli's' Shearwater, possible (4): Several Cory's types appearing more slender billed, and with white extending onto the underside of the primaries, may well be this subspecies, C.d.diomedea, breeding inside the Mediterreanean, and which some consider a separate species. We have previously documented this taxon in these waters, first in Aug. 2006.
 

Bird #1 Scopoli Shearwater photographed by Jeremiah Trimble

Bird #4 Scopoli Shearter photographed by Jeremiah Trimble.

Greater Shearwater (60)
Sooty Shearwater (1): Nantucket Shoals.
Manx Shearwater (1)
Wilson's Storm-Petrel (502)
Leach's Storm-Petrel (5+)
Leach's/Band-rumped Storm-Petrel (2+): Larger, long-winged
storm-petrels not well observed.
BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL (4): All in the vicinity of warm deep water
of Atlantis Canyon and shelf edge. The first near N39 53.809 W70
38.258, then two near N39 53.946 W70 31.210, and one near N39 54.3377
W70.27.189. This complex taxon may actually include several species
but we will save that for future seasons! We have had Band-rumps
twice before, two in Aug. 2004, and one in Aug. 2007, but four
individuals represents a Massachusetts high count.
Northern Gannet (1-sub adult): Nantucket Shoals.
Double-crested Cormorant (2): Flying just off Martha's Vineyard.
small shorebird sp. (1): Flying S, well south of Nantucket Shoals.
LONG-TAILED JAEGER (2): Both 1st-summer, well photographed; First one
at N40 41.508 W70 36.688, second near N39 54.3377 W70.27.189. This
is the default jaeger once well offshore here in late summer.
jaeger sp. (1)-distantly chasing storm-petrels behind tuna boat.
Herring Gull (3)-near M.V.
Great Black-backed Gull (5+)-Near M.V.
BRIDLED TERN (1): 1st-summer; In warm water in the vicinity of
Atlantis Canyon at N39 54.3377 W70.27.189. Put on a great show as
it circled the boat closely several times before wandering off. The
retained worn juvenile outer primaries of this 1st-summer Bridled
contrasted with the fresh new inner ones (same goes for secondaries)
and were obvious in the field and will show well in photos to be
posted soon. This is our 5th Bridled Tern in these waters since 2004.

large whale sp. (3): distant spouts.
Grampus (23): Sum of three pods all in warmer waters.
Common (Saddleback) Dolphin (25)
'Offshore' Bottlenosed Dolphin (19)
dolphin sp (3)
Gray Seal (5): Roosting on 'Skiffs Island' a small bar off
Chappaquiddick Island.
Blue Shark (1)
Atlantic Manta (1): 5-6 footer seen briefly by the First Mate, Matt.
flying fish sp. (6+)
Ocean Sunfish, Mola mola (3)
 
Richard S. Heil
S. Peabody, MA
rsheil AT comcast.net
 

Map of Trip by Steve Mirick

The next map by Steve Mirick shows the water temperatures experienced.

The sea surface temperature is from the day before on 7/18 when a good
satellite image was produced because of lack of cloud cover and haze and
should reflect a relatively accurate distribution of the water
temperature during the day of our trip.
 

Note from Steve Mirick about water temperatures south of the cape.

From what I've learned....generally speaking,
the shallower areas (at least where there are strong currents) produce
cold water due to the upwelling action which brings colder water from
below the surface. This is particularly true for areas such as the
Nantucket Shoals (just east of Nantucket) and George's Bank which
experience colder surface water temperatures as compared to other
areas. This is why these areas are also generally more foggy in humid
conditions as the cold surface water cools the moist air to below it's
dew point. Surface temperatures of shallow waters without the stronger
currents such as within Nantucket sound, however, can be warm due to sun
action.
 
The waters offshore at the ledge are also influenced by "warm-water
eddys". These are large circular columns of water which are formed from
meandering events within the gulf stream current. These eddys form like
eddy's in rivers and pinch off and drift northward to the edge of the
shelf. These warm water eddys can be productive for finding southern
species of fish as well as sargassum "sea weed", which is a free
floating algae which is found in the Sargasso Sea to the south. These
eddys can sometimes help attract southern species of birds such as
Audubon's Shearwater, Bridled Tern, etc.
 
Here is a larger scale image from Rutgers showing sea surface
temperatures over a larger area:
 
http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/show/?file=../regions/bigbight/sst_comp/noaa/2008/img/080718.200.comp.lnt.jpg
 
Steve Mirick
Bradford, MA
 

Organizer

All trips on this page were organized by Ida Giriunas (left) and sponsored by the Brookline Bird Club.  These trips require an enormous amount of effort on the part of everyone involved.  Many thanks to Ida, Steve Mirick, Rick Heil, and the captain and crew of the HelenH.