On July 12, 2008 I visited Ewell on Smith Island, Somerset Co., MD.  We took the “Spirit of Chesapeake” from Smith Point, VA (near Reedville, VA) crossing the Chesapeake Bay to the western entrance of the Big Thorofare, and then onto the Ewell docks.

One Wilson’s Storm-Petrel was seen on the outbound trip at 11:43am, and many more were seen on the return trip.  The time that the Storm-Petrels were observed was recorded to the nearest minute, which with the total travel time and distance between the entrance to Smith Point, VA to the west entrance of the Big Thorofare (12.6 miles) allowed me to calculate the approximate location where the birds were seen as follows:

These birds were all seen in Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay, in Somerset County, even though the location reference point is Smith Point, Northumberland Co., VA.  The track of the ship is about 1 to 2 miles north of the Maryland/Virginia state line.

Wilson’s Storm-Petrels seen on the return trip between 2:41 and 2:53pm EDT.
3 birds seen about 3.72 miles roughly NE (course about 54 degrees)from Smith Point, VA
12 birds seen about 3.92 miles roughly NE (course about 54 degrees)from Smith Point, VA
5 birds seen about 4.13 miles roughly NE (course about 54 degrees)from Smith Point, VA
2 birds seen about 4.54 miles roughly NE (course about 54 degrees)from Smith Point, VA
1 bird seen about 5.16 miles roughly NE (course about 54 degrees)from Smith Point, VA
8 birds seen about 5.37 miles roughly NE (course about 54 degrees)from Smith Point, VA
3 birds seen about 5.78 miles roughly NE (course about 54 degrees)from Smith Point, VA
2 birds seen about 6.20 miles roughly NE (course about 54 degrees)from Smith Point, VA

The one Wilson’s Storm-Petrel seen in the morning was about 4.41 miles on the same course.
The total number of birds reported here is 37, undoubtedly there is some duplication, although the storm-petrels were not following the boat.  A total of 20-25 individuals Wilson’s Storm-Petrels seems like a better estimate, to me.

These observations appear to be over the deeper (colder?) part of the Bay.

Other species seen from the ship:  Double-crested Cormorant, Brown Pelican, Osprey, Laughing Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, and Foster’s Tern 

David Bridge
Alexandria, VA