BIRDQUEST2004

I never really need to be prodded to go birding. Some people even go so far as to say I am obsessed, so when I went to North Carolina for 3 days of pelagics I decided to try for a few birds that had evaded me in the past. Namely Acadian Flycatcher (life bird), Chuck-will’s-widow (heard but not seen) and Yellow-breasted Chat, one of the hardest birds to photograph because I’ve never been able to photograph one.

Finishing my pelagic trips, Wednesday, I devoted Thursday and Friday to Chats and Flycatchers but the Chats had other ideas. Try as I might, at suggested spots, seeing 4 Chats they always saw me first, as always no photo.

The Chuck-will’s-was easy, to see. On the pelagic trip, fellow passenger and photographer Doug, told me I should go to the Buxton Lighthouse. I thought I’d try it one night and arriving there just before dark, everything was quiet, nothing, nada, ziltch, butkiss was moving or making a peep. Then I heard a chuck-will’s calling and the chorus began, there must have been 20 birds calling in that small area. Walking the area of the parking lot, there was enough light that I thought I’d play a tape of a Chuck-will’s call. Not really expecting much I wasn’t ready for the reaction, I no sooner hit the play button that I was straiffed by a low flying bird. It barely missed me by inches, my first look at this bird. Lifer ABA Bird #684 was in the books.

I went to Pea Island, which was loaded with birds, a little something for everyone:

American Avocet

Black-bellied Plover

Great Black-backed Gull

Laughing Gull

Least Tern

Semi-palmed Sandpiper

Snowy Egret

Moving on to Aligator River NWR, Warblers were the target. 12 species of warbler nest in this area.

Prothonotary Warbler

Prairie Warbler

Female Needham’s Skimmer

Eastern Pondhawk

I continued my trip home, stopping at Northwest River Park, near the town of Chesapeake, Virginia. I had been told this was a great place to find an Acadian Flycatcher. This park did not disappoint, I rented a bike and peddled a mile out to a spot where I might find, this so far elusive flycatcher. I heard a couple of the Acadians calling but could not see them. They were not the only birds I heard under that canopy. Worm-eating, Ovenbird, Summer Tanagers and a rather obliging Louisiana Waterthrush.

Louisiana Waterthrush

Down by the water’s edge a Prothonotary put on quite a show for me as it was feeding in the trees.

Prothonotary Warbler

It was getting pretty dark and I decided to come back the next morning and try again. Bright and early I arrived at the park, which seemed alive with song. I again rented a bike (4$) and started peddling to the same spot as the night before. I didn’t even get 100 yards when I heard the all to familiar call of an Acadian Flycatcher calling from just above my head. Could I be that lucky. Yup, Acadian Flycatcher, ABA Bird Photo #685 was in the books.

Acadian Flycatcher

Thanks to Park Co-ordinator, Kevin Kaul and the staff, lovely park. This will be a stop for me on future trips, lots of birds, a campsite what else could you ask for. At Kevin’s suggestion I tried another park north in Norfolk but can’t remember the name (I’ll fill in this name later when I get home from work), another lovely Virginia Park. While I didn’t find or get any responses to my King Rail, it was a nice park to visit and add it to my places to bird watch on future trips.

Heading North-east over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel, I briefly stopped at Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR and nice little gem on my way north. Finding a Bobwhite, a surprise and a female Blue Grosebeak.

Bobwhite Quail

Blue Grosbeak

I should have started heading for home but decided to try one more stop before heading home. Chincoteageue NWR was where Rick Poulin and I had seen a Black-tailed Godwit in 2013. It would have been a shame to not stop there. Glad I did, it did not disappoint.

Common Tern

Piping Plover

Ruddy Turnstone

Black Skimmer

Willet

Clapper Rail

Common Yellowthroat

I’ve always wanted comparison images of the Common Crow and Fish Crow, these birds look similar but are easiest identified by their calls. Close attention to the Fish Crow bill and leg length can help if they are not calling,

The sun was going down as I left Chincoteague, it was almost 8:3opm. Knowing full well the drive ahead, I arriving home at 9:30am a bit tired but extremely happy about this trip.

Ciao for now, enjoy June

When my friend Chris Feeney told me about his plans to go out with Brian Patteson, for a series of pelagic trips, I just couldn’t pass up the chance.

Expectations were high when I left Ottawa for the 15 hour drive to Hatteras Landing Marina. I needed a few birds as lifers, found only out in the Atlantic’s continental shelf, which takes two hours of full cruising speed to reach.

I had been out with Brian before and knew what I was getting into. Brian has been running pelagic trips since 1985 and as of 2008 is running up to 52 trips per years with the Stormy Petrel II. Seabirding limits the number of passengers to 25, which is less than 2/3 of the boats capacity. It is a very stable boat, to which I can attest, was needed on the days I chose for my pelagic’s.

While Brian is piloting the Stormy Petrel II, Kate Sutherland, a great spotter and leader, for the past 13 years takes care of the chumming and everything else for the passenger’s comfort, to ensure they have a wonderful experience. Their are also numerous spotters that make sure no one misses any bird.

It not always possible to get decent photos, especially when seas are high but by the end of the 3rd day, I was getting my sea legs which made it a bit easier.

I managed 3 life birds on my 3 pelagic trip’s:

Audubon Shearwater – ABA Bird Photo #641

Fea’s Petrel – ABA Bird Photo #642
Lousy photo but until I get something better it will have to do……..A photo is what it is.

Band-rumped Storm-Petrel – ABA Bird Photo #643

I improved on many of my seabird images but success rates on a rocking boat are rather low.

Black-capped Petrel

South Polar Skua

This bird came so close, people were trying to feed it by hand….

Sooty Shearwater

Wilson’s Storm Petrel

Cory’s Shearwater

I even got lucky enough to get this photo of a shearwater actually shearing the water, hence the name.

You never know what’s going to fly by the boat to take a look see….

Pomarine Jaeger

A great birding experience anywhere is always enhanced, when accompanied by good friends, Thanks Chris, for the company.

To new friends Theresia, Doug, John, Scott and Family, all the spotters, Kate and of course Brian Patteson whose love of seabirding makes these trips possible. It was a joy to spend 3 days on board the Stormy Petrel II with people who share a love and passion for birds.

If you think you are going to be seasick, take over the counter medications, wear a patch, use the wristbands, anything at all to alleviate the symptoms. You will really enjoy the experience!

If Brian says it going to be rough, YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT WILL BE!

It is a great experience for any birder, I’ll be back in 2015, looking for that repeat on the Fea’s Petrel, possibly seeing a Trinidade Petrel, Bermuda Petrel or a European Storm-Petrel, all of which were seen on the first trip of this year. Let’s not forget Tropicbirds while we’re at it.

Seabirding Pelagic Trip’s Website is: http://www.patteson.com/ Check it out and maybe next year I’ll see you on the Stormy Petrel II.

Ciao for now