Hi all,
We thought people might be interested in results of a cruise we recently
took from Baltimore to Bermuda, mainly looking for seabirds. While the
pelagic species seen were not, alas, in Maryland it does give birders an
idea of what is possible from a locally-based short cruise that would also
be fun for non-birding family members.
We departed Baltimore on the Norwegian Majesty in the afternoon of May 31st
and returned to Baltimore at dawn on June 7th. This gave us about two full
days and two half days at sea and about two and half days on Bermuda.
Leaving the Port of Baltimore, the ship cruised slowly along the Patapsco
River into the Chesapeake Bay. Large numbers of Double-crested Cormorants
and adult Herring Gulls were concentrated on Fort Carroll (just east of the
Key Bridge) suggesting breeding colonies at this site. Also, About 100
mainly adult Greater Black-backed Gulls were in the Patapsco River. We were
surprised to see a pair apparently at a nest on a small islet between the
Key Bridge and Fort Carroll. The presumed female appeared to be incubating
with the male standing nearby.
In all we recorded ten species of sea birds on the cruise. With the
exception of Wilsonıs Storm-Petrel, all were in low numbers as follows:
Black-capped Petrel: Two individuals seen very well on June 1st and two
unidentified Pterodromas were very likely of this species. These sightings
were about 160 miles east of the Virginia coast. Also, a single bird on June
6th when the ship was on the western edge of the Gulf Stream about 80 miles
east of the Virginia Capes.
Bermuda Petrel: A single Bermuda Petrel was watched flying very fast in a
northward direction at about 11:15 a.m. on June 6th. At that time we were
about 160 ENE of Cape Hatteras. The bird appeared quite distinct from
Black-capped Petrel, being smaller and relatively longer, slimmer winged.
Upperparts dark gray with darker cap. No sign of a white collar and no
obvious white seen on upper-tail coverts. Underparts were white and the
underwing white bordered with black. (We also saw three fledgling Bermuda
Petrels at nest sites on Nonsuch island; one was fully fledged and expected
to leave that night.)
Coryıs Shearwater: Two birds seen on June 1st at about the same time as the
Black-capped Petrels.
Greater Shearwater: About twenty birds seen during the trip, including ten
on June 2nd and six on June 6th. Most of the sightings on the first date
were within fifty miles of Bermuda. The sightings on the second date were
around 250 miles north-west of Cape Hatteras
Manx Shearwater: A single bird flew close across the bow of the ship
allowing good views. At the time the ship was about fifty miles north-west
of Bermuda.
Audubonıs Shearwater: Recorded on two dates including about ten birds on
June 6th. These birds were in the western edge of the Gulf Stream, off the
Virginia coast.
Wilsonıs Storm-Petrel: Recorded in generally small numbers on each day at
sea with the exception of June 6th when 60+ birds were seen. Most of these
birds were at the western edge of the Gulf Stream off the Virginia coast.
Leachıs Storm-Petrel: At least two birds [probably more] were seen mixed in
with the previous species on June 6th.
White-tailed Tropicbird: Only very small numbers seen at sea [less than ten
birds] but an abundant breeding bird on Bermuda. Particularly common on
Nonsuch and Castle Islands where in approximately six hours we estimated
about 170 birds seen in flight.
Long-tailed Jaeger: An immature bird seen heading north on June 6th about
500 miles North-West of Bermuda.
There are few land birds on Bermuda, the most interesting is a non-migratory
race of White-eyed Vireo which has a somewhat different song and differs in
some physical characteristics as well, being very short-winged and a
relatively weak flyer. Definitely a potential split.
Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
Colesville, MD |