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Overnighter birds in recent years - August 23 trip

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Mary Gustafson

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Fri, 20 Jul 2007 16:20:44 -0400

Hi guys, 

For the last several years a subset of the leaders and others have chartered an overnight tuna trip just before the See Life Paulagics August pelagic birding trip.? In the past 3?years we've had White-faced Storm Petrel (_2_ last year, one in MD one in DE), Leach's Storm Petrel, Long-tailed Jaeger, South Polar Skua, Arctic Tern, Sabine's Gull, the most amazing Sperm Whale show I've ever seen (4-6 cows nose?to nose in a star), sea turtles, Risso's Dolphins, _plus_ birds usually seen on the shorter birding trips, etc. etc. etc.? These fishing trips have gone to locations where we wanted to bird, not places where? we wanted to fish, usually Wilmington Canyon on the MD/DE line and out to the 1000 fathom line in DE waters.? The boat we? used was the 43 foot Lewestown Lady with up to ten people, or shall we say 7-9 guys and me. ?The August? 23 trip is likely our one shot at getting?overnighters started?on the 85' Thelma Dale IV, which will be comfy and luxurious four-star accomodations compared to the much smaller Lewestown Lady.? Plans for this year are to go to the Baltimore Canyon and beyond.? Ever been to the 1000 line in Maryland?? I am not sure I have,?but I want to!? 

I hesitate to say anything about berths because I've never been below to the bunks on the TD IV (too much chance of missing a bird!) but I have heard the boat can sleep everyone in a bunk.? Don't hold me to that, I have not seen the bunks, but the boat owner?told me about installing them.? 

The difference between a 22 hour trip and a 14 hour trip may look like 8 hours, but when you take away travel time, the number of hours in waters that can produce those real star birds is huge on a 22 hour trip over a 14 hour trip.? The run in and out is the same, but the time in deep water is increased on the longer trip. The captain and crew have been dreaming and talking about running longer trips with us to the gulf stream and multiple states.? I am afraid this is a make or break effort to? get out on a long trip to MD waters. 

I'm hoping this?trip goes!? If you have questions about the trip or what an overnighter is like, don't hesitate to email me. 

Mary Gustafson 
Mission, Texas 
live4birds AT aol.com
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