New England Seabirds - Pelagic trips to Stellwagen Bank, Jeffreys Ledge and the continental shelf sponsored by clubs and individuals.

CRESLI Trips 2008

The Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island is a non-profit research and education organization. Our mission is: “To promote and foster understanding and stewardship of coastal ecosystems through research and education .” Part of our work is to observe and document the whale and sea bird populations of NY and New England and to take people to see these animals in the wild. Since 2002 we have been offering incredible and successful multi-day offshore pelagic bird and whale observation trips.

Our trips have been 100% successful and we have encountered thousands of pelagic birds over the years ( go to http://www.cresli.org/cresli/aug_07_GSC.html to see our list from last year’s shortened trip, including 5,816 Great Shearwater ; 780 Sooty Shearwater; 36 Manx Shearwater; 5Manx/Audubon's Shearwater; 630 Wilson's Storm-Petrel); over 500 humpback in the 7 trips thus far and have photo-identified over 140 different individuals (~1/3 of the known Gulf of Maine stock, in just 7 trips!). We’ve also encountered fin, minke, sei, and right whales; common, white-sided, dolphins, pilot whales

We are planning two trips to the Great South Chanel in 2008, one in July and one in August. The July trip will be 34 hours long; the August trip, our typical 51 hour trip.

(1) Our July trip will leave at 8:00 PM on July 20, 2008, and head to the Great South Channel (GSC). We should reach the whale grounds around day break, spend the next 15 hours amongst the whales and birds of the GSC. After sunset, we’ll head back to Montauk and should return by 6:00 AM on July 22, 2008.

(2) Our August trip will leave at 7:00 PM on August 10, 2008 and head to Martha’s Vineyard (MV) to pick up (and drop off) passengers. We expect to arrive at Oak Bluffs in Martha’s Vineyard at approximately 12:30 AM on 8/11; we leave MV at 1:00 AM and proceed to the GSC. We should reach the whale grounds around day break, spend the next 24 hours amongst the whales and birds of the GSC. The following morning, we will have the option of either remaining on the whale grounds, or returning early to Martha’s Vineyard for land-based birding, hiking, or other activities. The vessel will ultimately depart Martha’s Vineyard at 4:30 PM on 8/12 and return to Montauk at 10:30 PM on 8/12/08.

We at CRESLI hope that you will join us on our trips. Remember that members do get discounted fares. Reservations can be made at http://www.cresli.org/cresli/reservations/offshore_res.html

Arthur H. Kopelman, Ph. D.
President
Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island
president@cresli.org
www.cresli.org

Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats Whales and Bird Trips

Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats Education Center and the Newburyport Whale
Watch are again sponsoring a series of Monday trips on the Prince of
Whales to look for seabirds and marine mammals.

Seabirds and Whales on The Prince

Dates:
June 23, 2008
July 7, 2008
July 28, 2008
August 4, 2008
August 25, 2008

Cost:
Adults $47.00
Children $37.00

This is a series of programs focusing first on seabirds, but also on
marine mammals. Onboard The Prince of Whales, we will look for
concentrations of birds such as storm-petrels, shearwaters, gannets,
jaegers, and terns. Bill Gette or David Larson from the Joppa Flats
Education Center will join Prince of Whales marine mammal naturalists on
board to help spot and narrate bird sightings.

Each program will run from 10:00 am to at least 3:00 pm. Seniors receive
a $5 discount. Children ages 4 to 12 are eligible for the children's
rate.

To register for these marine birding trips, please call the Newburyport
Whale Watch at 1-800-848-1111.

Instructions and Directions: Meet on the boardwalk off Merrimack Street
in downtown Newburyport. Wear rubber-soled shoes, a hat, and sunglasses.
Bring warm clothing, sunscreen, and your camera with plenty of film. The
Prince of Whales has a well-stocked galley. No alcohol may be brought on
board.

A portion of the proceeds from these programs benefits the Joppa Flats
Education Center of the Massachusetts Audubon Society in Newburyport.

--
David M. Larson, Ph.D.
Education Coordinator
Joppa Flats Education Center
Mass Audubon
Newburyport, MA
978-462-9998

MAINE TRIPS AND TOURS, 2008 Travel with DEREK LOVITCH and the WILD BIRD CENTER OF YARMOUTH

More information on these, and other events, can be found at: www.yarmouthbirds.com/ travels.asp. Also, look for some of our other summer programs, from free Saturday morning birdwalks every Saturday and free quarterly birdwalks along Portlands Eastern Promenade to a fundraiser for the Libby Hill Forest in Gray.
1) Terns of Casco Bay Saturday, June 21: 7:00 to 10:00am.

Join us aboard the Lucky Catch for a 3-hour cruise to view breeding seabirds and other Portland Harbor denizens. Our tour will take us past historic forts and lighthouses en route to Outer Green Island where we will observe a large, active colony of over 700 pairs of Common Terns. Well also look for the endangered Roseate Terns that breed among them. Were likely to encounter Common Eiders, Black Guillemots, and others that breed around the island, as well as on the journey to and fro. If tide and time permit, we will check Casco Bay for Bald Eagles, Osprey, and hauled-out Harbor Seals. Last summer, our trip enjoyed a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a nest of Peregrine Falcons. In 2006, a Bridled Tern was observed!

2) Portland 1/2-Day Pelagic
Saturday, July 12: 5:30am to 11:30am.

Join the Wild Bird Center and See Life Paulagics as we team up to offer a repeat of our successful half-day pelagic excursion from Portland this summer! Spend a half-day aboard the Odyssey whale watch boat with expert guiding as we explore the waters off of Southern Maine. Some of our target species will include Common, Arctic, and Roseate Terns; Manx, Sooty, and Greater Shearwaters; and much more. The 2007 trip produced non-stop activity and an Atlantic Puffin. For reservations, contact See Life Paulagics at info@paulagics.com, or by calling 215-234-6805.

3) Surf & Turf: Terns and Sparrows of Southcoastal Maine.
Sunday, July 13: 6:00am to 12:00pm.

This is of the turf based half of our Surf and Turf Weekend, and well begin by cleaning up species that may have been missed on the = day pelagic: Common, Arctic, and Roseate Terns. Plus, we should also expect Least Terns and Piping Plovers. Our other targets for the day will be Saltmarsh and Nelsons Sharp-tailed Sparrows in Scarborough Marsh, the core zone of overlap between these two species. Depending on our success with terns and the sparrows, we will then be flexible in our plans, possibly visiting other locations for feeding terns, migrant and breeding shorebirds, additional marshes for the sparrows, chasing rarities, or perhaps visiting one of the areas other unique locations, such as the Kennebunk Plains (Grasshopper Sparrow, Upland Sandpiper, etc).

4) Portland Full-Day (12 hour!) Pelagic
Saturday, September 13, 2008: 6:00am to 6:00pm.

Join the Wild Bird Center and See Life Paulagics as we team up to a full, 12-hour day aboard the Odyssey whale watch boat with expert guiding as we explore the waters off of Southern Maine. Some of our targets for this trip include: Manx, Corys, Sooty, and Greater Shearwaters; jaegers; phalaropes; Northern Fulmar; and hopefully skuas! For reservations, contact See Life Paulagics at info@paulagics.com, or by calling 215-234-6805.

5) Monhegan Island Migration
Saturday, September 26th to Tuesday, September 29th.
Cost - $25 per person, per day.

Join Derek on Monhegan during the height of migration for 1-3 days searching the island for regular visitors, rarities, and vagrants. This is a casual outing, with boat and hotel reservations, as well as meals, on your own. Although we are likely to eat meals together, we'll have more flexibility on rooming and eating arrangements this way. Also, you can come and go as you please, based on whatever boat and departure times and locations suit you best.

Last years trip was highlighted by Yellow-billed Cuckoos, a Summer Tanager and a Lark Sparrow, a fantastic raptor show, and the largest quantity of White-crowned Sparrows any of us had ever seen in Maine. Last years trip was highlighted by Yellow-billed Cuckoos, a Summer Tanager and a Lark Sparrow, a fantastic raptor show, and the largest quantity of White-crowned Sparrows any of us had ever seen in Maine. Read about least years fantastic trip here: http://outdoors.mainetoday.com/naturewatching/fieldnotes/016683.html

Jeannette and Derek Lovitch
Wild Bird Center of Yarmouth
500 Route One, Suit 9
Yarmouth, ME 04096
207-846-8002
wildbirdcenter@yarmouthbirds.com

June

June 21, 2008 7:00 AM - 10:00 AM Terns of Casco Bay Saturday Wild Bird Center of Yarmouth

Join us aboard the Lucky Catch for a 3-hour cruise to view breeding seabirds and other Portland Harbor denizens. Our tour will take us past historic forts and lighthouses en route to Outer Green Island where we will observe a large, active colony of over 700 pairs of Common Terns. We'll also look for the endangered Roseate Terns that breed among them. Were likely to encounter Common Eiders, Black Guillemots, and others that breed around the island, as well as on the journey to and fro. If tide and time permit, we will check Casco Bay for Bald Eagles, Osprey, and hauled-out Harbor Seals. Last summer, our trip enjoyed a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a nest of Peregrine Falcons. In 2006, a Bridled Tern was observed! For more information www.yarmouthbirds.com/ travels.asp.

June 23 Mass Audubon Joppa Flats Seabird and Whale Watching Trips
This is a series of programs focusing first on seabirds, but also on marine mammals. Onboard The Prince of Whales, we will look for
concentrations of birds such as storm-petrels, shearwaters, gannets, jaegers, and terns. Bill Gette or David Larson from the Joppa Flats
Education Center will join Prince of Whales marine mammal naturalists on board to help spot and narrate bird sightings. Each program will run from 10:00 am to at least 3:00 pm. Seniors receive a $5 discount. Children ages 4 to 12 are eligible for the children's rate.

To register for these marine birding trips, please call the Newburyport
Whale Watch at 1-800-848-1111. More Information

June 28 Saturday Dedicated Pelagic Birding on the Helen H. out of Hyannis to Hydrographer Canyon

Join the BBC for an all-day (4 a.m. to 9 p.m.) trip to the deeper, warmer waters south of Nantucket Shoals, to the edge of the Continental Shelf. We will search for White-faced Storm-Petrel and other target birds including Band-rumped Storm-Petrel, several species of shearwaters (including Audubon's), jaegers, and gulls, and possibly South Polar and Great Skua and Bridled Tern. One of the highlights last year was a Little/Macaronesian Shearwater. For more information see BBC Pelagic Trips.

EXTREME PELAGIC' BOAT TRIP - 28 JUNE 2008

Join the BROOKLINE BIRD CLUB on 28 June 2008 for an extensive all day
PELAGIC BOAT TRIP out of HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS to the deep, warm, blue
waters of the CONTINENTAL SHELF in the vicinity of VEATCH and
HYDROGRAPHER CANYONS. These waters are truly the last frontier in
Massachusetts and New England ornithology.

Last season I made a list of possible rarities to find on our trips,
then we set out with the goal of finding a new state record in these
largely unexplored waters. Well we did it, nailing the first New
England and third North American record for MACARONESIAN (LITTLE)
SHEARWATER (Puffinus baroli)! The bird dog Captain Joe of the fast,
100 foot, comfortable 'Helen H' skillfully followed this bird for an
extended period of time, allowing observers good views, and some dozen
photographers on board the ability to obtain excellent documentation.
The 2008 Macaronesian Shearwater event was an excellent start, but there
is more out there waiting for us!

We have never run a June trip before, but June is a very exciting time
to get out there, and may be our best chance for Pterodroma petrels such
as Black-capped, Bermuda, Fea's, and Herald (Trinadade). Other
mega-rarity real possibilities include Cape Verde Shearwater, Bulwer's
Petrel, European Storm-Petrel, or either tropicbird. We are closer to
the breeding grounds of many of these seabirds than is Hatteras, and
there is no reason that they could not also occur here if only we could
get out there more often to find them.

I should mention the more ho-hum possibilities such as Audubon's
Shearwater, Leach's and Band-rumped Storm-Petrel, Great and South Polar
Skua, and Long-tailed Jaeger. However, there are no guarantees, in
life, or on pelagic boat trips.

The marine mammal show can be spectacular (chance for Sperm Whales,
beaked whales, Grampus, etc.) along with other fascinating marine life
(sea turtles-we've had Leatherback and Loggerhead; Mola mola, Hammerhead
and other sharks, flying fish, and giant Manta Rays).

This is a rare opportunity that may not last forever, to explore seas
seldom surveyed by birders, armed with a knowledge of the possibilities
and the skill to achieve them. We still need about 25 more people to
make this trip happen. It would be a shame if we are forced to cancel.
I urge those interested in pelagic birds and mammals, and those seeking
a chance to find and observe the truly rare, to join us on this exciting
cruise.

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