For the past two days, the winds have been out of the north-north east. Overnight the wind shifted to the north east and it was time to get down to Race Point. I arrive at Race Point proper at 5:30 and started scoping. Manx Shearwaters started to pour by the Race. I have not counted a lot of birds lately because I don’t do eBird anymore, however, I decided today to count a few species and Manx was one of them.
For the first hour, it was quiet. I mean quiet equaling no other birders were around. There were plenty of birds, mostly tubenose and gulls. Tern numbers have drastically dropped in the past week.
One thing that I find fascinating is that if you scope over the rips at predawn or dawn, you can see jaegers going by fairly easily. Today was no exception with five birds, adult or near-adult, passing by from west to east following the shearwaters and gulls - all at dawn. No chasing. The first nice surprise of the day was a storm petrel that was flying up the beach in the surf. I got some photos that I will look at later but I don’t think they’re going to be diagnostic.
I finally was able to observe the first summer Sabine’s Gull that has been hanging around since early summer. It was sitting on the water off the Point with Laughing Gulls. After a short bit, it took off heading east and I was able to take some flight shots. I will try and post some later.
Eventually the area filled with about nine other birdwatchers. Blair was there as was Peter and Kate. Also there was Ted Bradford and his crew. The birding was really good. To bird Race Point, I need a spotting scope. Folks like to be on the shoreline and get lots of great pics. I tend to stay in my truck elevated above the waves. This enables me to spot more species - particularly storm petrels. The consequence is poor photos. Regardless, it is all good.
So here is a list of species observed and some numbers associated with them from today’s efforts out at race point.
- Northern Fulmar - 38 - all light morph
- Manx Shearwater - 538 - exact
- Great Shearwater- 125
- Cory’s Shearwater- 35
- Sooty Shearwater- 1
- Leach’s Storm Petrel - 6
- Wilson’s Storm Petrel- 1 - seen by Flood and me Distinctly different from Leach’s in shape, flight, and carpal bar not extending to the wrist
- Storm Petrel sp. - 3
- Red-necked Phalarope - 33
- Phalarope sp. - 13
- Parasitic Jaeger - 13
- Sabine’s Gull - 1 - 1st Summer
- Black-legged Kittiwake - 1 - 1st winter
- Razorbill- 1 - FoF
- American Kestrel - 1 - heading off breach heading NE
Well. That’s it for now. Hopefully doing it again with Keelin tomorrow.
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