Met up with my friend Jen Leitao and her friend Karen in Boothbay Harbor. We boarded the Harbor Princess as soon as it opened to ensure a good seat on top -- on the life preserver box. We were joined by two Connecticut birders who came up just for the boat ride -- that is coincidence enough. One of the is a dramaturg (like P Carl), so I have to have them meet. Very few people know (according to Carl) two dramaturgs (a very esoteric profession) - but Two Birders who are also Dramaturgs -- that is even rarer, one might say a lifer.
We started out of the harbor on calm seas headed for Eastern Egg Rock - an island managed by The Puffin Project. It is home to the world's first re-established seabird colony. It is near to shore and fairly southern and that makes it one of the most visited puffin islands. The seas there can be challenging, but again, we were lucky to have calm water.
The island is a nesting sight for Arctic, Common & Roseate Terns, Black Guillemot, Laughing Gulls, Leach's Storm-petrels (hard to see even when they are there) and of course, Atlantic Puffins.
Roseate Tern
Laughing Gull
Black Guillemot
Arctic Tern
Atlantic Puffins
Common Tern
Next was a trip to the deep water sites - First Murray Hole - on the way...
Common Murre
Not much at Murray Hole, so we just passed through without Chumming. The leader said the number of Wilson's Storm-petrel was a good sign. These Wilson's Storm-petrels were peppered all along the rest of the trip.
Next Stop - The Kettle along the way we had 12 Red-necked Phalarope flyby - a lifer for me (unfortunately no photo)! -- after a mile long Chum slick with no results we headed for Mistaken Ground for another try.
Great Black-backed Gull
Immature Northern Gannett
Gray seals kept popping up on the route along with Harbor Porpoises.
A good trip with a quiet ending -- will probably do it again next year. There is one scheduled in October, but I'm already booked for that week. Highly recommended -- through Freeport Wild Bird Supply - they have lots of tours -- check them out. https://www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com/tours-events-and-workshops
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