The Zeiss Pelagic

15 Wharf Street,Boothbay Harbor ME 04538

02 June, 2023

Description

The early season "mini-pelagic" will have the opportunity to visit breeding seabirds at Eastern Egg Rock in addition to heading offshore to search for whales and more pelagic birds. Sponsored by Zeiss Sport Optics, we are pleased to offer this opportunity at a can’t miss price! The trip will be lead and narrated by Derek, but this one-of-a-kind outing will also feature special guests, including Rich Moncrief, Nature and Observation Manager for Zeiss. Rich will be bringing a wide range of Zeiss products for everyone to try out, and offering a special discount if you just can’t put them down. As get underway, we’ll keep an eye out for lingering Great Cormorants in the inshore waters as we make our way to the famous seabird island that is Eastern Egg Rock. Here, the Puffin Project and seabird restoration was born, the results of which now include a thriving colony of Atlantic Puffins, Common Terns, Arctic Terns, Roseate Terns, and plenty of Black Guillemots. A few Razorbills are often seen, and as of 2020, a Common Murre or two are sometimes around. We’ll be sure to spend some time sorting through the terns, learning how to identify “Arties” among the thousands of Commons and learning how to pick out the endangered Roseate Tern, even from a distance. After a little time here, we’ll take a turn for deeper waters where pelagic species will be sought. We’ll set up a chum slick at a favorable time and place, hoping to bring birds close to the boat for photographs. Early June is a very lightly birded time of year in these waters, and our partnership with Cap’n Fish’s is helping us learn what might be out here. Newly-arrived Wilson’s Storm-Petrels and tarrying Northern Fulmars seem to be the most likely, along with lots of Northern Gannets on most trips. Great Shearwaters and perhaps Sooty Shearwaters might just be showing up on their wintering grounds, while there is always the hope for Leach's Storm-Petrels and Manx Shearwaters, both of which will be returning to local breeding islands. Migrant Pomarine and Parasitic Jaegers and Red-necked Phalaropes are also possible, but of course, we’ll be hoping for the unexpected. We’ll be looking for whales, too, with Fin, Humpback, and especially Minke all possible. Expect Harbor Porpoise, and Gray and Harbor Seals as well. We have run an early June trip with Cap’n Fish’s Cruises each of the past two years. Those trip reports can be found at these links: 2021 and 2022. Details about an “after party” to celebrate a day on the water, the tremendous recovery of the Atlantic Puffin, life birds, and maybe our new pair of Zeiss Binoculars will be coming soon! We are limiting the number of participants on the boat to maximize viewing opportunities, so sign up soon and don’t miss out on this special offshore journey!