Offshore Pelagic Trip 11/20/25 to Jeffrey's Ledge in NH/MA

[Steve Mirick]

I was an invited guest aboard the UNH Research Vessel "Gulf
Challenger".  Below is my trip report.

https://ebird.org/tripreport/434254

Steve Mirick
Bradford, MA


Pelagic trip aboard the UNH research boat "Gulf Challenger" along with
scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and UNH. Woods Hole
researchers were collecting copepods from deep water at Wilkinson's
Basin just east of Jeffrey's Ledge. UNH researcher was retrieving ocean
floor monitor.

We cruised directly over Jeffrey's Ledge out to Wilkinson's Basin (point
6) where we used a seine net to collect copepod samples. We then cruised
for a short while south along the outer edge of Jeffrey's Ledge where we
retrieved the ocean floor monitor.

The weather was fair, but the ride out was choppy and wet (not expected)
as the wind shifted into the NE and bow splash prevented surveys from
the bow. The ride back was much better as the wind and seas eased up a
bit. ENE winds 10 knots, seas 1 to 3 feet. Mount Washington was nicely
visible 115 miles to the NW!

Count of birds east of the Isles of Shoals only. Inshore birds not counted.

Common Eider    13 migrating south over Wilkinson's.
Black Scoter    4 migrating south over Wilkinson's.
duck sp.    8 migrating south (scoter or eiders)
Atlantic Puffin    2
Razorbill    10
Dovekie    39
large alcid sp.    3
alcid sp.    2
Black-legged Kittiwake    36 mostly over Jeffrey's Ledge in small groups.
Bonaparte's Gull    1
Ring-billed Gull    2.  Uncommon in Jeffrey's Ledge basin area.
American Herring Gull    17
Great Black-backed Gull    13
loon sp.    3 migrating south
Northern Fulmar    34.  Mostly light morph birds, but at least 3 dark
morph.

Noteworthy comments for the day:

* A few pockets of birds spread out (mostly) around the areas traveled.
* The majority of Fulmar were on the outer (eastern) edge of Jeffrey's
Ledge.
* Newly arrived Dovekies and a single Puffin. Surprisingly zero Murres.
* No late lingering Great Shearwaters or jaegers seen.
* A couple of migrating loons and sea ducks.

Marine Mammals:

Humpback Whale - 2. Both crossing in front of the boat and fluking just
north of Old Scantum. Photos of the underside of one of the whales was
obtained and the whale has been identified as "Fenway" by Dianna Schulte
of the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation.

Dolphin sp. - At least 3 on two separate observations. Quick, brief views.