Pelagics

  

 Atlantic puffin   

       During our birding trip with "Road Scholar" (formerly known as Elderhostel), we were treated to two wonderful pelagic birding excursions on board the Elsie Menota and Day's Catch which far exceded out expectations regarding both whale and pelagic bird sightings.  Along with Right, Minke, Fin and Humpback whales, we had too many shearwaters to count (both sooty and Great), puffins galore, both Wilson's and Leach's Storm-petrels, common murres, Northern gannets, a great close-up view of a Northern fulmar, and many more.  It was difficult to make the decision to train the camera on a breeching humpback or a flyby by a trio of Atlantic puffins.

Northern fulmar

  Oh, if all our decisions could be so trying!  By the end of the trip, we had a total of 105 birds which included 9 new "lifers" for Sharon and me.  If you ever have the time and the inclination, by all means visit Grand Manan Island off the coast of New Brunswick.  We strongly recommend a stay at the Marathon Inn.  The Inn is over 100 years old, so expect rustic.  But, it is clean, comfortable, and the food was outstanding!  Innkeeper Jim Leslie is also a great birder and historian and can help you in your birding endeavors.  If possible, ask him to hook you up with our birding guide Roger Burroughs, author of many field guides for the northeast.

    Great shearwater

      As if this trip wasn't enough, we did manage a stop at Stratford, CT on the way home where a White-tailed kite has been repeated seen lately.  We had tried to find the bird unsuccessfully prior to leaving for Canada, but with the help of the folks at Coastal Connecticut Audubon Center and some local birders, this time we struck paydirt and landed our 10th lifer for the trip.....a bird which has not been seen in Connecticut in over 100 years!  All-in-all, it just doesn't get any better than this.

White-tailed kite