Aug. 23rd - 27th

RED-THROATED LOON first of season

PARASITIC JAEGERS

POMARINE JAEGERS

WHIMBREL

RED-TAILED HAWK

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK

NORTHERN HARRIER

COMMON NIGHTHAWK

MERLINS

RUDDY TURNSTONE

RED-NECKED PHALAROPES

Semipalmated sandpipers

MANX SHEARWATER

Double crested cormorant

Great cormorant

Sooty shearwater

Great shearwater

ATLANTIC PUFFIN

Common murre

Black guillemot

Razorbill

3 HUMMINGBIRDS

Northern Gannet

Common eider

Great blue heron

Bald eagle

Arctic tern

Bonaparte’s gull

Black legged kittiwake

Osprey

Belted kingfisher 

Bird activity on the bay has been excellent this past week. Aug 23rd and 24th saw some incredible feeding groups of shearwaters, alcids and gulls just off Black's harbour with numerous gannets joining in as fin whales lunged through schools of herring at the surface.

Shearwater group, can you spot all three species? Phalaropes in foreground.

Shearwaters

Northern gannet

Lunging fin whale and shearwaters. Herring jumping to escape a hungry fin whale that is lunging just feet below the surface

Sooty shearwater

Great shearwater

Lunging fin whale with shearwaters, photo is of the underside of whales tail

Manx shearwater (left) Sooty shearwater (right)

Great shearwater

POMARINE and PARASITIC JAEGERS were commonly seen amongst these groups, showing a significant increase in numbers. Groups of up to five jaegers were often seen at a time and pomarine jaegers have now come to out number the smaller parasitics. Having both species in close quarters too each other made from some excellent opportunities for comparisons. A special thanks to Chris Bartlett who sent me an excellent article about plumage and molt patterns in jaeger species. For those interested in the article it can be viewed by clicking HERE.

Pomarine jaeger, note double white wing flash on underside of wing

Pomarine jaeger

Jaegers. Parasitic on top, Pomarine on bottom

RED-NECKED PHALAROPES have really grown in numbers. I estimated one group, observed feeding off of Hospital island, at around 200 individuals.

Large group of Red-necked phalaropes

Many groups of migrant shorebirds have been seen. These are usually small groups of peeps that are difficult to identify to species. On Aug. 23rd I had a WHIMBREL that vocalized non-stop as it flew high over our boat. On the 27th I spotted a RUDDY TURNSTONE among a group of seals on Black Rock, near Campobello.

Aug. 25th saw my first RED-THROATED LOON of the fall season.

Red-throated loon

With the end of the summer comes the start of hawk migration, and that means that Todd Watts will be beginning his observations atop Greenlaw mountain. Be sure to contact Todd if your interested in learning more about hawks and witnessing this incredible phenomenon first hand! I have started to see the beginning of early raptor migration in the skies above Macmaster and Pendleton island. These islands serve as a corridor for birds to move across Passamaquoddy bay and I will be watching the skies closely in the limited time that we move through the area each day. 

On Aug. 23rd we observed a RED-TAILED HAWK that landed and remained perched on Pendleton island. The bird was very tolerant of our close approach.

Red-tailed Hawk on Pendleton island

Aug. 24th saw significant activity over Mac's island with a high flying OSPREY, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK and a NORTHERN HARRIER. 

Northern Harrier in the skies over Mac's island

A second NORTHERN HARRIER was seen perched atop a weir pole on spectacle island on the 25th.

Northern Harrier atop weir pole on spectacle island

Also on the 25th, two MERLINS were seen flying low over the treetops on Mac's island

COMMON NIGHTHAWKS have also been seen moving over Passamaquoddy bay. A group of 6 were seen on the 24th, 3 on the 26th and a single bird over Mac's island on the 27th.

Well that's it for now. I am off to PEI to spend some time with family, and lots of birding of course! I did manage to get some new underwater footage of a very curious Minke whale. This whale spent around 20 minutes checking out our boat and it was a real thrill having him come up next to us while I used the underwater camera. To check out the video click HERE


Cheers,

-Nick

Aug. 15th - 22nd

11 PARASITIC JAEGERS

2 POMARINE JAEGERS

Red-necked phalaropes

2 Least Sandpipers

5 Semipalmated sandpipers

MANX SHEARWATER

Great cormorant

Sooty shearwater

Great shearwater

ATLANTIC PUFFIN

Common murre

Black guillemot

Razorbill

2 HUMMINGBIRDS

Northern Gannet

Common eider

Great blue heron

Bald eagle
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK

Arctic tern

Bonaparte’s gull

Black legged kittiwake

Osprey

Feeding groups of shearwaters, alcids, and gulls remain active off of Black’s harbor, particularly during the flood tide when they form large mixed species flocks and feed amongst fin whales, porpoises, and seals.. Within these groups are the occasional PARASITIC JAEGER and POMARINE JAEGER, it is incredible to watch their aerial maneuvers as they harass the feeding birds. Small numbers of northern gannet can also be seen plunge diving into the schools of fish. Flocks of RED-NECKED PHALAROPES are commonly seen amongst floating rockweed and other debris, although fewer have been spotted in recent days. These flocks usually number somewhere from 5 to 20 birds. ATLANTIC PUFFINS remain abundant, although the number spotted varies greatly from day to day. Today, the 22^nd, I counted well over 50 puffins and they were certainly the dominant alcid in the area. Many small groups of shorebirds are spotted daily, these always pose the greatest identification challenge. Many of these groups are likely to be semipalmated and/or least sandpipers. However,  groups of larger unidentified shorebirds have been seen.

Manx shearwater feeding frenzy

Northern Gannet

Great shearwater

Northern gennet

Atlantic puffins

Below are the few jaeger images that I have managed to capture. These birds are fast flying, timid of boats and seem to show up out of nowhere so it's hard to get good images. The first two are POMARINE JAEGERS and the second two are PARASITIC JAEGERS. I hope to get better images of these species that highlight the differences more clearly. In general, the Pomarine is heavier built, with a double white wing flash on the underwing and the adults have long twisting tail feathers. Parasitic jaegers are smaller and more slender with a single white wing flash on the underwing and the adults have pointed and straight central tail feathers.

Immature Pomarine jaeger, note double white wing flash

Adult Pomarine Jaeger, note the long twisted tail feathers

Parasitic jaeger harassing tern, note pointed central tail feathers

Parasitic jaeger stealing fish from a tern, note single white wing flash

I have seen 2 HUMMINGBIRDS cruise past while we were far offshore as well as a small number of MONARCH BUTTERFLIES (they fly AND migrate so they qualify for this blog :) 

On the 16th of Aug. I had a sharp-shinned hawk fly over us as we went through little letete passage, the bird was quite high and appeared to be migrating, moving from north to south.

On the 17^th of August we took a group to the Roosevelt cottage on Campobello island. While we were waiting for the group to return I was able to bird around the grounds a bit and noticed a significant number of warblers; black-throated green, yellow, common yellowthroat, Magnolia, Chestnut-sided, black and white, Parula, Yellow-rumped, American redstart, wilson’s and even three CANADA WARBLER. Blue headed and red-eyed vireo were also present. The large number of adult and immature birds suggested a significant movement of song birds had occurred on the light north-westerly winds the night before.

Adult bald eagle

Great shearwater

Semipalmated sandpiper

Cheers!
-Nick

August 8th-12th

2nd LITTLE GULL of the season
First of season LONG-TAILED DUCK
First of season WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
COMMON NIGHTHAWK
PARASITIC JAEGER
First of season POMARINE JAEGER
NORTHERN HARRIER
RED-NECKED PHALAROPES
MANX SHEARWATER
GREAT CORMORANT
Great Shearwater
Sooty Shearwater
Atlantic Puffin
Common murre
Razorbill
Black guillemot
Northern Gannet
Arctic tern
Common tern
Common eider
Osprey
Bald eagle
Great blue heron
Wilson's storm petrel
Bonaparte's gull
Black-legged kittiwake

Bird activity continues to build out on the bay with a number of new species. Large groups of shearwaters, alcids and gulls continue to feed in the area off of Whitehorse Island, surrounded by feeding fin and minke whales.

Great Shearwaters

Sooty Shearwater

Great shearwtaer

Great shearwaters and herring gull. The flounder was caught by a seal and then stolen by the gull

The occasional PARASITIC JAEGER can be spotted harassing terns and other birds. On Aug. 8th, while watching finbacks in the fog I spotted the first adult POMARINE JAEGER of the season. On one of the days that I was not on the boat, Danielle reported seeing a small jaeger-like bird with a very long pointed tail. This could of possibly been a long-tailed jaeger but the sighting was so brief that it is impossible to know for sure, I will keep my eyes out for this bird in the future.

Whitehorse island continues to host many bald eagles that are constantly chasing after and being chased by the many island inhabitants. It also continues to be a popular area for roosting GREAT CORMORANTS.

Immature eagle and herring gull

Great cormorant and black-backed gull

Female common eiders have started to moult their flight feathers. Being unable to fly, the birds form large rafts of 50+ individuals to better protect themselves during this vulnerable time. The male eider ducks moult at the beginning of the summer, usually when the females are incubating.

Raft of moulting female eider ducks

There has been an increase in the number of RED-NECKED PHALAROPES seen on our trips. I counted many groups of between 5 to 30 individuals over the last few days. Some groups were very close to shore, just off of Casco island and Campobello. I have also been seeing small groups of other shorebirds, likely semipalmated sandpipers but I still have a hard time ID'ing these birds from a distance.

There was an adult male LONG-TAILED DUCK just off of Whitehorse Island on the 9th of Aug. This is the first of the season and the earliest I have seen this species show up in my three years on the bay.

Adult male long-tailed duck

On Aug. 10th I recorded a single COMMON NIGHTHAWK flying south over Passamaquoddy bay. 


I spotted another LITTLE GULL near Head Harbour passage on the 11th. This was a different individual from the one I reported on the last post, having a much more complete dark underwing pattern.

Lastly, I had my first of season WHITE-WINGED SCOTER on Aug. 12th, another early sighting for this species. Looking forward to seeing what else shows up!

I would like to end with a non-bird related video that I took on the 12th. Trying to get underwater footage of whales has been a project of mine this year and finally it worked out when a curious minke approached and swam right under me, within a few feet. The video is shot in 1080p HD so be sure to watch the high quality version if you have a good connection! To view the video click HERE.
Cheers,
Nick

Aug. 7th

LITTLE GULL
JAEGER SP.
11 RED NECKED PHALAROPES
5+ GREAT CORMORANTS

It turned out to be a very active day out on the bay. On the evening trip we were treated to a feeding frenzy of birds and whales just off Whitehorse island. Hundreds of gulls, terns, shearwaters and a few gannets were feeding on herring as huge fin whales lunged out of the water all around us.

The highlight of the evening was a LITTLE GULL that was mixed it with the more common gull species. It was the small size of the bird that first drew my attention and after seeing the dark underwing I immediately called out to Todd Watts, who was also on the boat.  We both had good looks as it flew past our stern and after reviewing some photos we both agreed that it was a LITTLE GULL. It appears to be an immature bird entering it's second winter. The main features that set it apart from a bonaparte's gull are; smaller size, dark underwing, capped appearance of head pattern and white trailing edge of the wings.

Little gull, note dark underwing with capped appearance to head and white trailing edges of wings

Little gull, note uniformily pale gray mantle and white trailing edge to wing

Little gull head on, note dark underwing

Little gull, note white trailing edge of wings

Also of interest today were a number of GREAT CORMORANTS on Whitehorse island. I usually only see lone individuals but today I counted at least 5 in one group. A group of 10 RED NECKED PHALAROPES were seen on the afternoon trip, and a single one on the evening trip.
Cheers

-Nick

Aug. 2nd- Aug 4th


2 PARASITIC JAEGERS
JAEGER sp. (see photo)

First 3 RUDDY TURNSTONES of the season
PEREGRINE FALCON

First Black legged kittiwake juveniles

Arctic terns

Common terns

Common eider

MANX SHEARWATER

Sooty shearwater

Great shearwater

Wilson's Storm petrel

Atlantic puffins including first young of the year

Common murres

Razorbills

Northern Gannet

Bonaparte’s gull

Common loons

Great Blue Heron

Activity continues to build around head harbour passage with hundreds of terns being the most recent arrivals, mostly arctic terns with juveniles but also some common terns as well. Bonaparte's gulls and kittiwakes number in the several of hundreds if not more as they feed in the strong currents. I have also noticed young of the year bonaparte's and kittiwakes are beginning to show up. 

Bonaparte's gulls roosting on Casco island

Shearwaters and alcids remain abundant both offshore and inshore near head harbour passage. MANX shearwaters are still the dominant shearwater, with fewer numbers of great and sooty. Still lots of puffins around with fewer numbers of razorbills and murres. Northern gannets have also increased in numbers. 

Sooty shearwater with Manx shearwater in background

Great shearwater

Atlantic puffins

Over the last few days, large schools of herring off of black's harbour have attracted many gulls, terns, shearwaters and alcids in addition to several adult fin whales. These feeding groups make for exciting days out on the water. There were also small numbers of wilson's storm petrel among the birds and whales.


Breeding activity on Whtehorse island is coming to a close. In the last couple weeks nearly all of the kittiwake nests have disappeared? The ledges that once held nests are now empty with a few remains of nesting material. The kittiwakes are now roosting on ledges around the island and on some tours they are completely absent. I don't think that any kittiwake chicks successfully fledged from whitehorse this year, and find it very strange that the nests disappeared in such a short period of time. Bald eagles are still hanging around to snatch up any late fledgling gulls...

Juvenile bald eagle with prey

On August 4th I spotted two PARASITIC JAEGERS harassing feeding groups of terns off of black's harbour, both were dark morph adults.  The image below is a composite image made of five separate exposures showing a parasitic jaeger stealing a fish from a young arctic tern.

Parasitic jaeger stealing from Arctic tern

The first young of the year ATLANTIC PUFFIN was seen on Aug. 4th 

Juvenile Puffin

Also on Aug. 4th...a PEREGRINE falcon was perched atop the power tower on Macmaster Island

Also of interest is an increase in the number of great blue herons feeding around the islands, this species was fairly absent up until now.

I will leave you with a photo of a jaeger species that I photographed on Aug. 4th. The bird was a long way off. I could notice the distinctive jaeger flight but was unable to ID through the binoculars. I am curious if anyone can ID this bird with certainty and what features they are looking at. I am leaning more towards a light morph parasitic then a pomarine but it is hard to judge size at such a distance.

Jaeger sp.

Cheers!
-Nick