Following the marine forecast for days, we were delighted when we realized
that we would get a window of opportunity that would allow us to get
offshore and back to the dock before all hell broke loose.  The ride out
was really rather gentle.  The ride back was a little bumpier but by coming
back in near Indian River Inlet and then running up the coast, our captain
gave us a very decent ride.  When we went to dinner a few hours later the
winds were howling and the snow was flying.  Sometimes timing is everything!

The trip started off with a spouting FIN WHALE early, but unfortunately it
was surfacing infrequently and we couldn't get close.  Flocks of RAZORBILLS
were seen flying by fairly early as expected.

Further offshore we found the DOVEKIES once again and ended up with a final
tally of over 400.  One of the most startling sights was when a bird we
passed by was picked off by a GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL and carried away.
This particular Dovekie did not move as quickly as the others we saw and we
believe it may have been ill.  Nature's tough that way.

The best bird of the day was an adult THAYER'S GULL that came in to the
boat and hung out for quite a while.  A gold start goes to Mikey Lutmerding
for picking it out from the swirling flock behind the boat.

Other highlights were great looks at BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, including a
gorgeous first-year bird, NORTHERN FULMARS, a killer NORTHERN GANNET show
in the chum line, and a nice show by some COMMON DOLPHINS.  Sort of
lowlights included an uncooperative ATLANTIC PUFFIN and a flyby COMMON
MURRE that just didn't want to be seen by the group.

Although it was very overcast and not conducive to great photography, I'll
soon be putting some images from the trip up on our Paulagic Birding
Facebook page.  The following are the final tallies for the day (with DE
count - MD count - Total Count):

Surf Scoter 13-0-13
White-winged Scoter 6-0-6
Black Scoter 2-0-2
Long-tailed Duck 1-0-1
Red-throated Loon 28-1-29
Common Loon 5-3-8
Northern Fulmar 2-5-7
Nothern Gannet 16-22-38
Black-legged Kittiwake 3-6-9
Bonaparte's Gull 0-1-1
Herring Gull 20-95-115
Thayer's Gull 0-1-1
Great Black-backed Gull 8-30-38
Common Murre 0-1-1
Razorbill 66-44-110
Dovekie 0-439-439
Atlantic Puffin 0-1-1
Large alcid (sp.) 0-16-16

Fin Whale 0-1-1
Common Dolphin 0-9-9


Other than a dedicated MOS trip, our winter season is over.  Be sure to
check our web site for trips later this year.


-PAG

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

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