Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 17:41:58 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Mark Hoffman Subject: April Pelagic Possibilities MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit With another pelagic looming next Saturday, April 3rd, a quick review of the prior pelagic species observed during the early-April time-frame is appropriate. As Richard Rowlett used to say in his humorous "newsletters" promoting his pelagic trips - the species to "bone up on". As Paul Guris suggested in email announcing this trip, early April is a relatively unknown period from a pelagic perspective. A query of the Worcester data base for pelagic records between 15 March and 15 April reveals that only five formal pelagic trips have occurred during this period, on 03/15/2003, 03/16/1975, 03/20/1976, 04/11/1976 and 04/15/1978.. Although the dearth of prior data might seem to make it a period to ignore, from a veteran pelagic birder's perspective, it actually makes the trip much more interesting. A strong potential exists to break a few Maryland pelagic frontiers. A query of the Worcester County data base (now some 148,114 records strong) reveals 65 records in the "pelagic zone" between 15 March to 15 April, the time period I will use to assess prior records. In addition to the five organized pelagic trips during this time frame, there are a number of records from birders riding along on fishing boats. Given the small number of records, they are all detailed below, with editorial comments from yours truly. Several species groups (e.g., loons, scoters) tend to occur near shore, but not over the deeper water. I'll skip those species to fit MDOsprey's message length limit. Northern Fulmar-Many records into May, so very much a possibility for those who missed the good numbers on the Feb trip. NOFU 03/15/2003 105 OCP, MD waters. Trip to Balt. Canyon. (MLH, Armistead, G. L., Guris, P., Gustafson, M., Iliff, M. J., et al.) (Unpub. Obs.) 0925:1430. NOFU 03/20/1976 12 OCP, "to Balt. Canyon". (MLH, Rowlett, R. A., et al.) AB cites RAR et al. (AB 30:703 Unpub. Obs.) NOFU 04/15/1978 1 OCP, "off OC", MD waters? (Rowlett, R. A., et al.) (MB 34:153) Manx Shearwater-In addition to this record, this is a big spike in records (6) between Apr 23-30. A definite species to study!!! My target bird to get a good photo of in Maryland. MASH 03/29/1987 1 AOCEAN, "3 m. E of OC". (Dinsmore, S.) (AB 41:411) Northern Gannet-Common inshore and offshore. NOGA 03/15/2003 151 OCP, MD waters. Trip to Balt. Canyon. (MLH, Armistead, G. L., Guris, P., Gustafson, M., Iliff, M. J., et al.) (Unpub. Obs.) 0925:1430. NOGA 03/16/1975 170 OCP, MD waters. (Rowlett, R. A., et al.) (Rowlett 1975) NOGA 03/20/1976 1 OCP, No #. (MLH, Rowlett, R. A., et al.) (Unpub. Obs.) NOGA 03/25/1973 20 FB, 2 imm., 18 ad. (Rowlett, R. A., et al.) (AN 28:122 Rowlett 1973c) NOGA 04/04/1992 80 FB, MB "at OC". (MLH, O'Brien, M.) (MB 48:81 Unpub. Obs.) 0730:1420. NOGA 04/11/1976 232 OCP, R80 maximum counts. 170 imm., 62 ad. MD waters? "2-113 km ESE OC". (MLH, Rowlett, R. A., et al.) (MB 32:94 Rowlett 1980 Unpub. Obs. (no #).) "in 11 hours". # in MB is 230. NOGA 04/15/1978 303 OCP, "high count for season". "off OC", MD waters? (Rowlett, R. A., et al.) (MB 34:153) Red Phalarope-Could be an excellent time for this species, note 4/15 count below. In breeding plumage!?!?!?! REPH 03/15/2003 15 OCP, MD waters. Trip to Balt. Canyon. (MLH, Armistead, G. L., Guris, P., Gustafson, M., Iliff, M. J., et al.) (Unpub. Obs.) 0925:1430. REPH 04/15/1978 211 OCP, "off OC", MD waters? (Rowlett, R. A., et al.) (MB 34:161) Great Skua-Paul's target bird - is it prophetic that two prior two both scored this species? Although this species does seem less common due the removal of the foreign fishing fleets, and good number of gulls that should be moving at this time implies lots of targets for this "master of the sea". Although these birds were not identified to species, Great Skua would certainly seem more likely at this season. GRSK 03/16/1975 3 OCP, MD waters. (Rowlett, R. A., et al.) (AB 29:674 AN 31:34 Rowlett 1975) No details in AB. SK(SP) 03/20/1976 1 OCP, No #. (Rowlett, R. A., et al.) (AB 30:804) AB implies SK(SP) "seen on all 4 pelagic trips", no details. SK(SP) 04/11/1976 1 OCP, MD waters? (MLH, Rowlett, R. A., et al.) MB and AB cite RAR et al. (MB 32:94 AB 30:825 Unpub. Obs.) Pomarine Jaeger-We can get this one. POJA 03/25/1973 1 FB, Earliest spring arrival in Rowlett 1980. (Rowlett, R. A., Wierenga, H. L.) (AN 28:173 Rowlett 1980) Prob. same bird cited as JA(SP) in Rowlett 1973c & AN chart. jaeger (sp.) JA(SP) 03/25/1973 1 FB, (Rowlett, R. A., et al.) AB cites RAR, HLW et al. for all records. (AB 27:598 AN 28:122 Rowlett 1973c) Prob. same bird is cited as POJA in Rowlett 1980. Little Gull LIGU 04/15/1978 1 OCP, "off OC", MD waters? (Rowlett, R. A., et al.) (MB 34:162) Black-headed Gull-This and Little Gull are real possibilities. BHGU 03/25/1973 1 FB, ad. "15 mi. from OC". "38 04 N 74 06 W" (R80). (DuMont, P. G., Rowlett, R. A.) (AB 27:598 AN 28:122 Rowlett 1973c) See also Rowlett 1980. "28 km ESE OC" (R80). Bonaparte's Gull-The more bonies, the better the chances for a black-headed or little. Can be quite pelagic at times. BOGU 03/15/2003 3 OCP, MD waters. Trip to Balt. Canyon. (MLH, Armistead, G. L., Guris, P., Gustafson, M., Iliff, M. J., et al.) (Unpub. Obs.) 0925:1430. BOGU 03/20/1976 65 OCP, R80 maximum counts. "within 2 km of OC/INLET". (Rowlett, R. A.) (Rowlett 1980) R80 not clear if other observers or OCP (weathered out?). BOGU 04/04/1992 30 FB, (MLH, O'Brien, M.) (Unpub. Obs.) 0730:1420. BOGU 04/10/1994 20 FB, To Jack's Spot, "offshore". (MLH) (Unpub. Obs.) 0700:1400. Herring Gull-The more Herring Gulls, the better the chance for a white-winged (Glaucous or Iceland). HERG 03/15/2003 123 OCP, MD waters. Trip to Balt. Canyon. (MLH, Armistead, G. L., Guris, P., Gustafson, M., Iliff, M. J., et al.) (Unpub. Obs.) 0925:1430. HERG 03/16/1975 1000 OCP, "45 m. off OC". (Rowlett, R. A., et al.) AB cites RAR, PGD et al. (AB 29:674) HERG 04/04/1992 10 FB, (MLH, O'Brien, M.) (Unpub. Obs.) 0730:1420. HERG 04/10/1994 10 FB, To Jack's Spot, "offshore". (MLH) (Unpub. Obs.) 0700:1400. Lesser Black-backed Gull-Likely in any mass of large gulls. LBBG 03/15/2003 1 OCP, MD waters. Trip to Balt. Canyon. (MLH, Armistead, G. L., Guris, P., Gustafson, M., Iliff, M. J., et al.) (Unpub. Obs.) 0925:1430. Glaucous Gull-The 3/16/1975 count is a Worcester record. We had Iceland in Feb, time for the other one. GLGU 03/16/1975 3 OCP, "record high total". Max. counts (R80). MD waters. "3831N7409W, 81km ENE OC" (R80). (Rowlett, R. A., et al.) AB cites RAR, PGD et al. (MB 31:96 AB 29:674 Rowlett 1975 AB 45 m. off OC.) See also Rowlett 1980. AB "among flock of 1000s of HERGs". GLGU 04/15/1978 2 OCP, "off OC", MD waters? (Rowlett, R. A., et al.) (MB 34:161) Great Black-backed Gull-Fairly common offshore. GBBG 03/15/2003 6 OCP, MD waters. Trip to Balt. Canyon. (MLH, Armistead, G. L., Guris, P., Gustafson, M., Iliff, M. J., et al.) (Unpub. Obs.) 0925:1430. GBBG 04/04/1992 1 FB, (MLH, O'Brien, M.) (Unpub. Obs.) 0730:1420. GBBG 04/10/1994 1 FB, To Jack's Spot, "offshore". (MLH) (Unpub. Obs.) 0700:1400. GBBG 04/11/1976 36 OCP, R80 maximum counts. "2-113 km from shore". (Rowlett, R. A., et al.) (Rowlett 1980) "in 11.5 hours". Black-legged Kittiwake-Missed in February, but clearly we still have a chance. BLKI 03/16/1975 7 OCP, MD waters. (Rowlett, R. A., et al.) (AN 31:34 Rowlett 1975) BLKI 03/20/1976 1 OCP, No #. (MLH, Rowlett, R. A., et al.) AB cites RAR et al. (AB 30:804 Unpub. Obs.) AB implies BLKI "seen on all 4 pelagic trips", no details. BLKI 03/25/1973 1 FB, imm. (Rowlett, R. A., et al.) (AN 28:122, 174 Rowlett 1973c) BLKI 04/11/1976 1 OCP, MD waters? (Rowlett, R. A., et al.) (MB 32:94) Dovekie-Good numbers this winter. A Dovekie would be a new Worcester late date. DOVE 03/15/2003 4 OCP, MD waters. Trip to Balt. Canyon. (MLH, Armistead, G. L., Guris, P., Gustafson, M., Iliff, M. J., et al.) (Unpub. Obs.) 0925:1430. DOVE 03/20/1976 1 OCP, No #. R80 latest winter record. No location given. (Rowlett, R. A.) (Rowlett 1980) Common Murre--Common Murre seen in DE waters in Feb, have they really left? COMU 03/15/2003 1 OCP, MD waters. Trip to Balt. Canyon. (Iliff, M. J., et al.) Not seen by many. (Unpub. Obs. (M. L. Hoffman)) 0925:1430. murre (sp.) MU(SP) 03/25/1973 1 FB, (Rowlett, R. A., et al.) (AN 28:175 Rowlett 1973c) AN "possible Thick-billed Murre". Razorbill-Good numbers (at least at the Inlet!) this winter. Any Razorbill would be a pelagic zone record late date. RAZO 03/15/2003 7 OCP, MD waters. Trip to Balt. Canyon. (MLH, Armistead, G. L., Guris, P., Gustafson, M., Iliff, M. J., et al.) (Unpub. Obs.) 0925:1430. RAZO 03/16/1975 1 OCP, MD waters. AB "off OC". (Rowlett, R. A., et al.) (AB 29:674 AN 31:34 Rowlett 1975) RAZO 03/25/1973 8 FB, R80 maximum counts. Latest winter record cited in Rowlett 1980. "10-15 m E OC", "22-28 km ESE OC". (DuMont, P. G., Rowlett, R. A., Wierenga, H. L.) (AB 27:598 AN 28:122, 175 Rowlett 1973c) See also Rowlett 1980. "in 2 hours". AB RAZO 04/04/1992 4 FB, MB "record departure date". AB "off OC". (MLH, O'Brien, M.) (MB 48:94 AB 46:406 Unpub. Obs.) 0730:1420. large alcid (sp.) LA(SP) 03/15/2003 5 OCP, MD waters. Trip to Balt. Canyon. (MLH, Armistead, G. L., Guris, P., Gustafson, M., Iliff, M. J., et al.) (Unpub. Obs.) 0925:1430. LA(SP) 03/25/1973 7 FB, AN # in chart is 8 (includes murre (sp.)). (Rowlett, R. A., et al.) (AB 27:598 AN 28:122, 175 Rowlett 1973c) LA(SP) 04/04/1992 7 FB, MB "off OC". (MLH, O'Brien, M.) (AB 46:406 Unpub. Obs.) 0730:1420. Atlantic Puffin-Had one in MD waters in Feb, several May records, so if we can get far enough offshore a real possibility. ATPU 03/15/2003 1 OCP, MD waters. Trip to Balt. Canyon. (MLH, Armistead, G. L., Guris, P., Gustafson, M., Iliff, M. J., et al.) (Unpub. Obs.) 0925:1430. ATPU 03/16/1975 7 OCP, R80 maximum counts. MD waters. "94-113 km ENE OC". (Rowlett, R. A., et al.) (AB 29:674 AN 30:186, 31:34 Rowlett 1975 No details in AB.) Accepted by MDDCRC #90-07. See also Rowlett 1980. "in 2.5 hr". Mark L. Hoffman, wcbirding@adelphia.net, Get details on the trip at www.paulagics.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================