Seal Island Tuesday (no tropicbird due to fog)

[Bill Baker]

Besides not being able to see more than 30-80 yards most of the trip and no tropicbird, the trip went well. Saw four common murres with one being just of George's Head Island soon after leaving. Great Looks at all the murres and their chocolately backs. Finished the Alcid Grand slam with great looks at Razorbill, Puffins, and Guillemot. Finally started seeing phalaropes with two flocks of red-necks with between 8-20 birds foraging along floating wrack lines. Wilson's Storm petrels were abundant, with over 50 in each direction, and an occasional Gannet coming out of the fog. A nice breeding plumage gannet was seen and has been perched on the rock cliff near the Great Cormorant colony as well. Arctic terns fed and bathed 30 feet from the boat. Still no shearwaters, but it looks a lot clearer for the Old Quarry Ocean Adventure puffin cruise on Friday, so hopefully we will finally be able to pick some out. Tropicbird success for the season, 3/6.