Despite a pessimistic weather forecast, Maine Audubon’s Annual Gulf of Maine Fall Pelagic Birding out of Bar Harbor yesterday was a definite success. We arrived at the dock dark and early to calm winds, and only a 3-5 foot swell.

Although the winds did pick up a bit during the trip, we were rain-free until the last hour or so of the trip, during which we were steaming in anyway. So, the weather more than cooperated – but the birds, and mammals, also cooperated quite well!

We traveled east to Machias Seal Island, and the Grand Manan Banks, about 60 miles from Bar Harbor. We spent a short time in New Brunswick waters, depending on whos maps you consult. Either way, at least a few birds were added to some folks’ provincial lists.

The birding was very good, including all three of the expected species of shearwaters (Greater, Sooty, and Manx). 25 Atlantic Puffins, including both adults and immatures set a new trip record. Many of these were very, very well seen. The tally of 23 or so Pomarine Jaegers was equally exceptional. Great looks were to be had of many different ages and color morphs. This was certainly one of the highlights of the day for me, since I am such a fan of jaegers!

Three Peregrine Falcons on Machias Seal Island (plus one near Bar Harbor) also put on an impressive show. One took off after a wayward passerine over the island, and easily snagged it – the exhausted songbird didn’t stand a chance. A rain of feathers fluttered down from the impact. Then, the other two Peregrines rose up from their perches to pursue the first bird’s quarry. An entertaining dogfight ensued. Meanwhile, a Merlin and two American Kestrels were involved in their own game of tag over the island, rounding out a fantastic falcon show.

A mid-sized landbird launched off of Machias Seal, and somehow evaded the falcons – and our attempts at identifying it. The only other passerine that was spotted, and identified, was an offshore Rusty Blackbird that seemed to briefly consider taking a break on the boat before turning west to head for land.

Despite being a dedicated birding trip, we of course thoroughly enjoyed the mammals. We encountered numerous small pods of Harbor Porpoise, scattered Harbor Seals, and a bunch of Gray Seals around Machias Seal Island (appropriately enough). 1 or 2 Humpback Whales, about 5 Fin Whales, and two Minke Whales were nice to see, but they were significantly overshadowed by our sighting of two RIGHT WHALES!

This was the best I did with trying to get a photo of this extremely rare behemoth:

This is one of the rarest animals in the world, with only about 300 thought to still survive in the North Atlantic. (8 were killed this summer in and near the Bay of Fundy by collisions with ships). This was truly a treat – a “life mammal” for many, including myself. We witnessed two great deep dives, where the impressive tail was in full view above the surface.

Lysle and Jan reading off the checklist:

Here’s the “unaudited” list provided by Lysle Brinker, one of the leaders of the trip (plus common stuff like Common Eider, Double-crested Cormorant, Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls):

Common Loon: ~10
Greater Shearwater: ~115
Sooty Shearwater: 4
Manx Shearwater: ~7
Leach's Storm-Petrel: 1 or 2
Unidentified Storm-Petrel: 1 or 2
Northern Gannet: ~60
Great Cormorant: 1 (near MDI)
Black Scoter: 9
Surf Scoter: 7
White-winged Scoter: 32
Green-winged Teal
Peregrine: ~4 (most at MSI)
Merlin: ~2
Am. Kestrel: 2 (MSI)
Red Phalarope: 2
Unid. Phalaropes: 38
Unid. Shorebirds: 3
Pomarine Jaeger: ~23 (w/ up to ~7-8 max. around boat; various ages including several adults sporting full spoon tails & ~2 juv.'s; +6 dark morph).
Unidentified Jaeger species: a few
Laughing Gull: 1
Bonaparte's Gull: 2
Lesser Black-backed Gull: 1 or 2 (3rd-winter types)
Ring-billed Gull: ~3
Black-legged Kittiwake: 3
Common Tern & Co-type: 3
Atlantic Puffin: ~25 (record high for this trip)
Razorbill: 5
Black Guillemot: ~8

Other Land Birds (offshore)
Rusty Blackbird
Unidentified Song/Landbirds: ~3

Mammals:
Northern Right Whale: 2 (southeast of MSI)
Fin Whale: ~5
Humpback Whale: 1 or 2
Minke Whale:: ~2
Harbor Porpoise: ~38
Gray Seal: ~15