Subject: BBC Pelagic to Hydrographer Canyon; Sun., 19 Aug. 2007.
From: Rick Heil rsheil@comcast.net

SUNDAY, 19 AUGUST 2007:
BROOKLINE BIRD CLUB 'Extreme Pelagic' from HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS to HYDROGRAPHER CANYON
Weather: Partly to mostly cloudy, N-NE winds 5-10 mph turning SW 10 mph in the PM, 59-72 F.
Seas: 2-4 feet.
Visibility: Generally very good to excellent, although glare a problem at times.

Every trip to these waters is an adventure into the last true frontier of New England ornithology.

Nearly seventy participants plus the captain and crew of the "Helen H" departed Hyannis at 0400 hrs., crossing Nantucket Shoals (sea surface temperature as low as 52 F) en route to the warm deep waters around Hydrographer Canyon. We cruised down the center of the canyon and continued south well off the shelf edge into water about 8000 feet deep and 75 degrees before returning back north, re-crossing the continental shelf edge and the cold water Nantucket Shoals to Nantucket Sound, arriving back in port around 2130 hrs.

Greater Shearwater

Blue-winged Teal (4): Unexpected sighting over Southern Nantucket Shoals at 0850.
Common Eider (3): Nantucket Shoals.
Common Loon (7): Nantucket Shoals.
Cory's Shearwater (3): Surprisingly rare today; one definitive C. d. borealis.
Greater Shearwater (83): Most over colder Nantucket Shoals waters.
Manx Shearwater (12): Most over Nantucket Shoals. A few in warmer waters south of the shoals. One in the company of an Audubon's provided for an excellent side by side comparison on the water and in flight of these two similar species.

Puffinus sp. [Manx/Audubon's] (3+)
AUDUBON'S SHEARWATER (17): All in warmer seventy degree waters south of Nantucket Shoals, especially over Hydrographer Canyon. Majority apparently freshly plumaged juveniles, while others were adults with obvious signs of wing molt. New Massachusetts high count slightly eclipsing the previous record of fifteen.
Wilson's Storm-Petrel (415): Most numerous at the entrance to Hydrographer Canyon. Many adults still in active wing molt.

Audubon's Shearwater

WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL (1): Over Hydrographer Canyon at 39 55.8 N, 69 04.3 W. Unfortunately (for some) seen by only one observer (me) on a boat load of birders. Sparsely distributed but regular in these warm waters with recent records including: 2-8/27/01 and 3-8/26/06.
Northern Gannet (1-sub ad.): Nantucket Shoals.
Black-bellied Plover (1)
Solitary Sandpiper (1): South of Nantucket Shoals.
Red-necked Phalarope (140+): Several large mixed species flocks encountered on Nantucket Shoals.
Red Phalarope (75+)
phalarope sp. (5+)
Herring Gull (9+)
Great Black-backed Gull (6+)
Black Tern (3): Including two (one aged as juvenile) over Hydrographer Canyon along Sargassum weed lines.
Common Tern (17): Mostly ads., but several juvs. Shoals to Hydro.
Sterna sp. (3+)
LONG-TAILED JAEGER (1 juvenile): Nantucket Shoals; intermediate morph.
jaeger sp. (2): One sub-adult on Nantucket shoals subject of much discussion, with some in Long-tailed camp, others Parasitic. Photos to be reviewed. One other jaeger distant over Hydrographer.
Tree Swallow (1 juv.): South of Nantucket Shoals.
Cedar Waxwing (1 ad.): Nantucket Shoals.
passerine sp. (3)

Cory's Shearwater
.................................................................
Fin Whale (3+): Distant tall narrow spouts were believed emanating from this species. Entrance to Hydrographer Canyon.
Gray Grampus (90+): Virtually all in the vicinity of Hydrographer Canyon.
Long-finned Pilot Whale (20): Hydrographer Canyon.
SPERM WHALE (5+): All in the very deep waters (4000-8000 feet) at the center and mouth of Hydrographer Canyon. We noted obvious forward blows and motored over, obtaining killer looks at resting individuals breathing at the surface right beside the boat. Scar marks from the tentacles of Giant Squid were seen and photographed on one individual. Eventually, a sounding dive provided a nice display of the tail flukes.

Sperm Whale - Giving the boat a close inspection and then diving.

BEAKED WHALE sp. (2): Quickly showed three times at the surface before disappearing. Possibly Cuvier's Beaked Whale or Mesoplodon sp.
Atlantic White-sided Dolphin (8+)
Common (Saddleback) Dolphin (5+)
Bottlenosed Dolphin (55+)
dolphin sp. (20+)
Harbor Seal (1): Nantucket Shoals.
bat sp. (1): S. of Nantucket Shoals.
...................................................................
Blue Shark (3)
shark sp. (2)
flying fish sp.: Several noted in warm waters.
tuna sp.: Several large individuals in full breach.
Ocean Sunfish, Mola mola (1): Surprisingly rare today.
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Atlantic Leatherback (2): One carcass floating over N. Nantucket Shoals, one very much alive providing excellent views right beside the boat over Hydrographer Canyon.
....................................................................
Monarch Butterfly (6+): Several south to Hydro.
moth sp. (100's): All day.

Many thanks to Ida Giriunas for doing the real work in organizing these trips and to all of the participants who make them possible by signing up. Thanks also to Marshall Iliff for his insightful commentary and expertise during the cruise. The next trip is scheduled for Saturday, 25 August, in just six days.

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

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