Date:         Tue, 5 Sep 2000 03:52:16 -0400
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Norm Saunders <marshhawk@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Subject:      Fw: Delaware/Maryland FONT Pelagic Results, September 3, 20
00
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew P. Ednie" <ednieap@wittnet.com>
Sent: Monday, September 04, 2000 3:29 PM
Subject: Delaware/Maryland FONT Pelagic Results, September 3, 2000


> Lewes, Delaware Pelagic
> 3 September 2000
>
> The FONT tour from Lewes on board the "Skipjack" left port at 5:30 AM.
Our
> goal was to make Baltimore Canyon via the 19 Fathom Seamount and the
> Teacup. The birding would be in both Delaware and Maryland waters.
Once
> again, our boat was skippered by Capt. Jack Rogers with mate, Mark.
There
> has never been two people more intent on finding birds. These two guys
are
> the best crew ever! Although overcast, the seas were calm with only
1-2
> foot swells. The viewing conditions were excellent except when we hit
a fog
> bank at the 30 fathom line.
>
> I knew we were in for a special day when the first shearwater to show
up
> was about 2 hours after we left the dock, an hour after sunrise. A
big, old
> Cory's Shearwater came gliding across the bow, then turned to go down
our
> port side. It was immediately joined by a Pomarine Jaeger! Seeing
pelagics
> this early on a trip from Delaware is always a good sign.
>
> The water temperature was incredibly warm. In June, the temperature
was 59
> degrees. This trip, the temperature ranged from 75 to 80 degrees.
Sargasso
> was everywhere, a sign that this was tropical waters. Several
observers saw
> flying fish. Highlights included a large number of Bridled Terns, and
great
> display of several Skuas and Jaegers, and the first record of
Long-tailed
> Jaeger for Delaware.
>
> Birds seen:                   DE:                          MD:
> Cory's Shearwater             14                            9
> Greater Shearwater                                         15
> Wilson's Storm-Petrel         74                           46
> Red-necked Phalarope          11                            4
> Shorebird sp                   8
>
> Pomarine Jaeger                1                            5
>
> Long-tailed Jaeger             1                            1
> South Polar Skua               1                            1
> Herring Gull                   3
> Great Black-backed Gull        6
> Bridled Tern                  11                           4
> Black Tern                     4
> Belted Kingfisher              1
>
> Other sightings:
> Malo Malo                 2
> Loggerhead Sea turtle     2
> Bottlenose Dolphin        6
> Common Dolphin           30
>
> Highlights by location:
> South Polar Skua (DE) N 38*33'10" W74*23'07" (Immature with worn
plumage)
> South Polar Skua (MD) N38*25'31" W73*55'82" (Blue base of the bill)
> Long-tailed Jaeger (MD) N38*25'31" W73*55'82" (immature)
> Long-tailed Jaeger (DE)  N 38*32'86" W74*19'15" (immature)
> Bridled Tern  N 38*30'55" W74*18'03" (water temp-75.7)
> Bridled Tern  N 38*26'62" W74*13'84"
> Bridled Tern  N 38*21'56" W74*09'88" (water temp-76.4)
> Bridled Tern  N 38*21'00" W74*08'85" (water temp-77.0)
> Bridled Tern  N 38*31'44" W74*14'14" (water temp-78.3)(8 birds
together)
>
> Trip leaders were Andy Ednie and Paul O'Brien. Special thanks to
Marshall
> Iliff and Jim Stasz for their contributions. The Delaware-Maryland
State
> Line is considered to be:
>  N 38*27'04"
> Andrew P. Ednie
> ednieap@wittnet.com
> Wilmington, DE

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