Lewes Pelagic

Had this trip planned for a long time coming. Thought I was gonna get this as a birthday or christmas gift from the missus at some point. Nope never happened, got a pair of socks instead! So when the alert came out that only a couple of spots for the Lewes pelagic were left I seized the opportunity by its neck and signed up. Friday evening I packed my stuff, drove to Delaware and boarded the boat by 10pm . The sea was fairly choppy that night which made taking a piss fun but trying to sleep or not puke not so much. By 5am we reached a sea depth of around 6000ft past the continental shelf and it was time to get cracking with the knacking. The light wasn't great at the crack of dawn, but the first birds we spotted were Wilson's Storm Petrel, Leach's Storm Petrel and later Band-rumped Storm Petrels. We dipped on White-faced Storm Petrel on this trip. Cory's Shearwaters were the second most common bird on the trip and easily seen as were Audubon's Shearwaters. Bonus bird was a single Greater Shearwater, which only provided short views. When Paul yelled Jaeger, Jaeger I knew it might be time for another lifer and sure enough, Long-tailed Jaeger. Good views for everybody. Oohs and aahs were soon heard on board when someone spotted the spray of a whale. A beautiful fin whale breached the water and gave great views, a real crowd pleaser. Now forget about that petty dolphin shit - this was a real Cetacean spectacle.

OK, it's already Wednesday and I can't wait to head out to Blue Mash this weekend. Warblers are moving through, they better make stop at the Mash!

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Yellow-throated Vireo - but not Philly Vireo...

Three quarters into walking the trail, I ran into Karl, who showed us crystal clear pictures of a Philadelphia Vireo on his camera screen. I tried 45 more minutes to relocate the bird but in vain. Clearly plenty of vireos were moving through the area though, and I got a consolation prize in the shape of a bright Yellow-throated Vireo, patch bird number 144. The fresh buck kill from last weekend was entirely reduced to bones and skull - nice job done by the Turkey and Black Vultures that feasted on the carcass. The outing ended up pretty disappointingly in terms of warblers, only Common Yellowthroats, two Prairie Warblers and a potential Magnolia Warbler were about. A vocal Yellow-billed Cuckoo posed for photographs. Next week I will embark on my first-ever pelagics boat trip, if the weather cooperates. I will report as soon as I get back off the boat.

Patcher #143 - Greater Yellowlegs

Birdy Sunday morning at the Mash! I had to get my act together pretty quickly because the oppressive heat moved in rapidly and by 9am I was covered in sweat and the birds stopped singing altogether. The action started right from the get-go though when I exited the car and found American Redstart and a  Scarlet Tanager that was undergoing molt into winter plumage. On the loop I added one Magnolia Warbler and then moved on the mudflats where I spent way too much time. Amidst the Lesser Yellowlegs I picked out one Greater Yellowlegs. Apparently all my Yellowlegs in the past here were Lesser so this was a welcome patch bird. Metallic 'chip' notes alerted me to the presence of a Blue Grosbeak. Great Egrets are still hanging out with the one in the photo close on the small pond. Since my interest in Turtles was sparked last week, I kept an eye out for various Terps as well. I found this obliging Northern Red- bellied Cooter on the small pond. Walking along the trail I stepped over 2 grizzly looking deer carcasses. One of them was still pretty fresh, probably from the previous night. Whatever killed it I hope it's gone.
Here are the stats: Total: 143 Year: 107 or 75%

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Semipalmated Plover - Patcher #141

This Sunday morning felt more like fall than summer, something I don't mind at all. The mudflats did not disappoint and shorebird migration sure seems under way now. Undoubtedly best bird of the day was a Semipalmated Plover, patch bird number 141! Other waders included several Pec Sandpipers, a handful of Least Sandpipers, Solitary Sandpipers, Spotted Sandpipers, a Lesser Yellowlegs, 5 Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons,  and the always present Killdeer. This was also the second time I have seen Blue Grosbeak here this year. I am no expert on turtles but this Eastern Box Turtle crossed my path and it's my first time I notice them here, although they are probably abundant here. Well here it comes for the statisticians then:

Total: 141 species
Year: 102 species or 72%

And again we have successfully reduced beautiful and charismatic creatures to sheer numbers! Way to go!

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