FYI, I  have prepared a kml file (can be opened in google earth) that shows the initial location of each non-Wilson's Storm-Petrel bird observed in MD waters on the Sunday pelagic.  Makes for interesting viewing, with the underwater topography displayed in google earth. 



If you would like a copy of the file, just email me. 



Thanks. 

Mark Hoffman 

wcbirding at comcast.net 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul Guris" <> 
To:  
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 1:24:08 PM 
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Results of Sun, Aug 15 Pelagic - Dark Storm-Petrel Trifecta! 

See Life Paulagics's annual summer trip out of Lewes, DE was a success.  The 
big highlights were 3 BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETRELS and 4 LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS, 
all in Maryland waters.  An interesting point is that these birds were in a 
crossover zone that is also claimed by New Jersey as part of its pelagic 
waters.  The birds were seen well, photographs were obtained of both, and 
write-ups will be submitted to the appropriate records committees. 

Another highlight was a poorly seen but fortunately photographed SOUTH POLAR 
SKUA seen on the way back in.  This bird was also in Maryland waters.  (I 
still need to check to see if we were still in the New Jersey crossover 
zone.) 

The expected CORY'S, GREATER (now GREAT per the AOU), and AUDUBON'S 
SHEARWATERS and were all seen well and, at one point, we had all 3 species 
sitting together.  WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS showed well, as usual.  To round 
out the trip, we had FIN WHALE, PILOT WHALE (an excellent show), the 
offshore form of BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN, a briefly viewed LEATHERBACK  SEA 
TURTLE, and two brightly colored PORTUGUESE MAN O' WAR jellyfish.  A bonus 
was catching a few MAHI MAHI and a SKIPJACK TUNA. 


Final totals were: 

SPECIES                    DE     MD     TOTAL 
----------------           -----  -----  ----- 
Cory's Shearwater             6      3      9 
Great Shearwater             15     13     28 
Audubon's Shearwater          6      9     15 
Wilson's Storm-Petrel       215     96    311 
Leachs's Storm-Petrel         -      4      4 
Band-rumped Storm-Petrel      -      3      3 
South Polar Skua              -      1      1 
Laughing Gull                 2      -      2 
Black Tern                    1      -      1 

Fin Whale                     3       -       3 
Atl. Bottlenose Dolphin       -      14      14 
Pilot Whale                   -     142     142 
Leatherback Sea Turtle        1       -       1 
Portuguese Man O' War         1       1       2 


Our next trip (which is sold out) is a special 22-hour small group trip to 
Delaware waters leaving this Thursday night.  Wish us luck! 


-PAG 

-- 
Paul A. Guris 
See Life Paulagics 
PO Box 161 
Green Lane, PA  18054 
215-234-6805