After a slow start to our 2014 season we are now running regular trips, three times daily, at 10AM, 130PM and 5PM.
2014 has brought quite a few surprises to the Bay of Fundy and nearby areas so far, including a TUFTED PUFFIN that has been sighted numerous times around Machias Seal Island as well as a YELLOW-NOSED ALBATROSS and a FEA'S PETREL sighted in the Gulf of Maine by the Seven Sea's Whale Watch Company. With rarities such as these showing up in the North Atlantic we could be in for an interesting season!
Bird activity in the West Isles of the Bay of Fundy (Deer and Campobello Island areas) has been fairly low so far, with most of the usual species present in low numbers. Tropical Storm Arthur seemed to blow many birds well offshore and bird activity was very low in the days after but is now returning to normal.
Groups of several hundred herring and black-backed gulls have been feeding in the tidal currents off Eastport and Southern Deer Island. Careful inspection of these groups often turns up the odd LAUGHING GULL. There has also been a few small groups of BONAPARTE'S GULLS beginning to show up in the area.
Alcid numbers have been fairly low overall. As usual, BLACK GUILLEMOTS are very common throughout the area but only small numbers of RAZORBILL and COMMON MURRE are being seen. Recent trips have sighted small numbers of ATLANTIC PUFFIN.
The nesting birds of Whitehorse Island are well into their breeding cycle. Herring and Black-backed gulls have chicks, and some are beginning to fledge. The BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES had a promising start to their nesting, with many new nests and pairs on the island. However, in mid-June we saw two COMMON RAVENS raid the nests and devour many of the eggs. It seems like many of the birds have relaid eggs but no hatched chicks have yet been seen. BALD EAGLES are a regular sight over the island and are a constant threat to any young birds. A few GREAT CORMORANTS are regularly seen roosting on the island and the DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS are nesting in their usual spot, although in smaller numbers then past years.
The first COMMON EIDERS broods are on the water, after Tropical Storm Arthur hit on Saturday I found a few dead chicks washed up on the shore around the St. Andrews harbour. However, it was amazing to watch a small group of eider chicks feed in a raft of rockweed in 120km/h winds, apparently unphased by the power of the storm.
Yesterday, July 8th, we saw the first RED-NECKED PHALAROPES of the season, a group of approx. 20.
Looking forward to the 2014 season and I hope that some of you come out to join us aboard the Quoddy Link! Be sure to check out the images below, taken on our recent trips.
Cheers,
-Nick
Below is a list of birds regularly being sighted on our recent trips:
Bald Eagle
Black-legged Kittiwake
Bonaparte's Gull
Herring Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Cormorant
Black Guillemot
Razorbill
Atlantic Puffin
Common Eider
Common Loon
Images from Recent Trips:
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| Atlantic Puffin |
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| Bald Eagle on Campobello Island |
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| Bald Eagle nest on Campobello Island |
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| Black Guillemot |
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| Black Guillemot in flight |
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| Black Guillemots in flight |
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| Bonaparte's Gull |
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| Common Eider brood |
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| Nesting double-crested cormorants on Whitehorse Island |
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| Mating double-crested cormorants on Whitehorse Island |
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| Blue mouth of breeding double-crested cormorant |
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| Great-black backed gull on Whitehorse |
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| Great Cormorant on Whitehorse Island |
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| Great Cormorant on Whitehorse Island |
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| Herring gulls on Whitehorse Island |
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| Herring gull chick on Whitehose Island |
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| Herring gull nesting on Whitehorse Island |
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| Black-legged Kittiwake |
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| Black-legged Kittiwake |
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| Black-legged Kittiwake nesting on Whitehorse |
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| Black-legged Kittiwake |
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| Black-legged Kittiwakes nesting on Whitehorse |
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| Black-legged Kittiwakes nesting on Whitehorse |
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| Black-legged Kittiwakes nesting on Whitehorse |
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| Black-legged Kittiwake nesting on Whitehorse |
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| Black-legged Kittiwake nesting on Whitehorse |
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| Razorbill in flight |
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| Razorbill in flight |
Welcome back Nick. Such wonderful shots of the birds in flight and the nesting sites. Looking forward to seeing many more through the summer. Quite an education on the types of birds.
ReplyDeleteHi Nick. Beautiful captures. I see that wicked rope and baling twine in the photos of the double-crested cormorants above. We really need to get out to people not to just throw this stuff around and the need for proper disposal of that stuff. Anyway, do I just go to the St. Andrews wharf and sign up for a bird outing on any given day. Thanks.
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