Birds of Isle au Haut: Harlequin Duck Trip
Sponsored by the ISLAND HERITAGE TRUST
Hancock County Bar Harbor Airport, Hancock, US-ME
Mar
30, 2013 9:20 AM - 9:22 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.4
mile(s)
Comments: Four to Six Killdeer
calling on the southern end of the runway near the entrance of the Hancock and
Bar Harbor Airport. Windows open because it was 47 F and warming. March 30
will be a perfect day for a boat trip around Isle au Haut, the Thorofare, and
the southern waterways and Islands. I have had many opportunities over the years
to sail on both the southern and northern passages around Isle au Haut aboard
the gaff rigged “Angelique” out of Camden. These harbors were and continue to be the
fishing capital of the Down East Coast including Stonington where the trip
leaves from today. Any opportunity
to study the Gulf of Maine Archipelago of 4600 Islands and try to understand how
the Gulf of Maine functions for birds. In January, we know there were thousands of Alcids
utilizing the inter-coastal archipelago for food and protection from winter
storms. From Northeast harbor to
Mount Desert Rock we saw large numbers of Alcids. Today remnant
populations.
1 species
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
5 4-6 calling at the airport entrance could be
heard clearly from the moving van with windows open
Isle Au Haut Ferry dock Stonington,
Maine, Hancock, US-ME
Mar 30,
2013 10:40 AM - 11:00 AM
Protocol:
Stationary
Comments: Checking out some of the Birds
of Stonington. House Finch was loudly calling.
9 species
Common Eider
(Somateria mollissima) 73
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
5
Common Loon (Gavia immer) 2
Ring-billed Gull (Larus
delawarensis) 1
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 50
Black
Guillemot (Cepphus grylle) 3
American Crow (Corvus
brachyrhynchos) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 12
House
Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 1 calling for
almost the whole 20 minutes and beyond
Western side of Isle Au Haut Island Heritage
Trust March 30 2013, Knox,
US-ME
Mar 30, 2013 12:00 PM - 1:20 PM
Protocol: Traveling
8.0
mile(s)
Comments: This Island Heritage Trust
Harlequin Duck trip stayed on the outside of Merchant island to Kimball
Island moving south from Robinson's Point to Western Ear. Purple
Sandpipers were one of the highlights followed by Harlequin Ducks along the
wilderness of the western side of Isle au Haut. Here the Alcids were represented
by Black Guillemot and seven Razorbills. We found no Murre or Atlantic Puffin in
contrast to our January trip. Is there any accurate monitoring of
Stonington south in January?
20 species
American Black Duck (Anas
rubripes) 3
Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) 113
Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)
45 This trip was intended to
locate, count and educate people about Harlequin Duck and the habitat and
locations that they live their lives. Amazing at the number and we can
only hope for enhanced Ecological Systems where they are allowed to thrive.
Surf Scoter (Melanitta
perspicillata) 31 Larger mixed flocks
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta
fusca) 26
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) 34
Red-breasted
Merganser (Mergus serrator) 17
Common Loon (Gavia immer) 35
Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)
1
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps
grisegena) 2
Great
Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) 1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus
leucocephalus) 3
Purple
Sandpiper (Calidris maritima) 245
Ring-billed Gull (Larus
delawarensis) 1
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 5
Great
Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 2
Razorbill (Alca torda) 7
Black
Guillemot (Cepphus grylle) 40
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
12
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 2
Isle Au Haut South Eastern Shore March 30 2013, Knox, US-ME
Mar 30, 2013 1:20 PM -
2:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.7
mile(s)
Comments: These birds were recorded from the
South Eastern shore of Isle Au Haut where we found the largest concentrations of
Harlequin Duck. The first environment cue that we were in open waters came
when the temperature dropped noticeably and there was a stinging bit to the
Northwesterly wind. The colder waters should in principle, be biologically rich
and teaming with food. Participants had an opportunity to see the differences in
species composition between these outer waters and the Thorofare, for
example. This is where I had hoped to find some Common or Thick-billed
Murre. None were found but there were healthy numbers of Guillemot,
Red-breasted Merganser and Harlequin Duck. We did have one Northern Gannet
but only brief looks at a juvenile wing before it disappeared from sight.
11
species
Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) 25
Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus
histrionicus) 61 This is an accurate count of
the birds seen along the shoreline of Isle Au Haut.
Long-tailed Duck
(Clangula hyemalis) 18
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
4
Common Loon (Gavia immer) 5
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax
carbo) 5 very good looks at the white flanks and
guttural sacs of this large Cormorant
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus
leucocephalus) 1 one adult bird seen several
times
Purple Sandpiper (Calidris
maritima) 21
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 3
Herring
Gull (Larus argentatus) 60
Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle)
54 This data was counted birds in the region of the
South eastern
Stonington Isle au Haut Thorofare, Hancock, US-ME
Mar 30, 2013 2:13 AM - 2:58
AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.5 mile(s)
Comments:
Having worked the eastern side of Isle Au Haut we were than taken through the
Thorofare on the return trip to Stonington Pier. This area was surveyed and
reported here.
18 species
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)
1
Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) 124
Harlequin
Duck
(Histrionicus histrionicus)
2
Surf
Scoter
(Melanitta perspicillata) 8
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta
fusca) 10
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) 25
Bufflehead
(Bucephala albeola) 15
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
7
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) 5
Common Loon (Gavia
immer) 9
Red-necked Grebe
(Podiceps grisegena) 1 flying fast over the
water some people got images
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
1
Purple
Sandpiper
(Calidris maritima) 9 At the tip of
Kimball Island
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 2
Herring Gull
(Larus argentatus) 45
Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle)
27
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 2
Common Raven (Corvus corax)
2
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