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Checklist S38890203

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Main Details

Location Race Point
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Additional Details

People

Owner Blair Nikula

Effort

Protocol:  Traveling
  • Observers:  1
  • Distance:  4 mi

Checklist Comments

Cloudy; E@5mph; Visibility good; Seas calm; Tide near high falling to near low. I drove out Pole Line Road to the point and spent most of the time there, with a quick look at the cove to the east (dead) and about 20 minutes at Hatches Harbor. The shearwater feeding bonanza continues (it's now been at least 12 days!), the largest surf-feeding concentration this morning was off Hatches Harbor at sunrise. Huge concentration of large gulls (including the first adult LBBG of the season) also present today. Once again stunningly few terns and not a single jaeger.

Totals

29
Species Observed
+1 other taxa, 19,047 individuals
2
Species with Photos

Observations

  1. Common Eider

    Number observed:  13

  2. Black-bellied Plover

    Number observed:  25

  3. Semipalmated Plover

    Number observed:  40

  4. Piping Plover

    Number observed:  1

  5. Spotted Sandpiper

    Number observed:  1

  6. Ruddy Turnstone

    Number observed:  2

  7. Red Knot

    Number observed:  1

    Age & Sex:

    Age Juvenile Immature Adult Age Unknown
    Male
    Female
    Sex Unknown 1

  8. Buff-breasted Sandpiper

    Number observed:  1

    Details

    ^ extremely confiding juvenile on the beach south of the lighthouse; many photos

    Age & Sex:

    Age Juvenile Immature Adult Age Unknown
    Male
    Female
    Sex Unknown 1

    Media

  9. Sanderling

    Number observed:  30

  10. Least Sandpiper

    Number observed:  1

  11. Bonaparte's Gull

    Number observed:  3

    Age & Sex:

    Age Juvenile Immature Adult Age Unknown
    Male
    Female
    Sex Unknown 1 2

  12. Laughing Gull

    Number observed:  250

  13. Ring-billed Gull

    Number observed:  50

  14. American Herring Gull

    Number observed:  1500

    Details

    ^ most at the tip; many feeding on hundreds of dead mackerel trapped by the tide

  15. Great Black-backed Gull

    Number observed:  1500

    Details

    ^ most at the tip; many feeding on hundreds of dead mackerel trapped by the tide

  16. Lesser Black-backed Gull

    Number observed:  13

    Details

    ^ 5 ad. (FOS), 1-3s, 2+ 2s, 5+ 1s

  17. Common Tern

    Number observed:  200

    Details

    most at Hatches Harbor; the paucity of terns here the past couple of weeks is hard to understand

  18. Roseate Tern

    Number observed:  6

    Details

    incredibly few

  19. Cory's/Scopoli's Shearwater

    Number observed:  10

    Details

    remarkably few

  20. Great Shearwater

    Number observed:  15000

    Details

    ^ At one point early they were passing westbound at a rate as high as 800/minute! Given the nearly calm conditions, many were sitting on the water, as far as I could see to the south toward Wood End and as far to the east.. While I was kneeling near the waterline photographing the surf-feeding birds off Hatches Harbor, a GRSH hit me in the back and got tangled up in my feet!

    Media

  21. Sooty Shearwater

    Number observed:  150

    Details

    did not see the white bird today

  22. Manx Shearwater

    Number observed:  10

    Details

    very few today

  23. Northern Gannet

    Number observed:  20

  24. Double-crested Cormorant

    Number observed:  200

  25. Snowy Egret

    Number observed:  4

    Details

    at Hatches Harbor

  26. Great Blue Heron

    Number observed:  2

    Details

    at Hatches Harbor

  27. Turkey Vulture

    Number observed:  6

    Details

    on the beach at the south end of Hatches Harbor apparently feeding on the masses of Menhaden fry

  28. Common Raven

    Number observed:  1

    Details

    at Hatches, being harassed by terns (first one I've seen since spring)

  29. Horned Lark

    Number observed:  5

  30. Chipping Sparrow

    Number observed:  2

    Details

    along Pole Line Road

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