Sunny and brisk (46
degrees) with a light east wind
It’s off to Gloucester,
Massachusetts for our annual Cape Anne birding trip to find migrant seabirds
from the north. Each year around
Thanksgiving weekend, the Mearns Bird Club makes the 4 ½ hour journey out to
the chilly climes of New England to scour the shores of Gloucester and
Rockport. The area is well known
among birders as a hot spot to find wintering birds such as the Gannett, Common
eider, Scoters, and always one of our targets…the Harlequin duck.
After our drive up and the
traditional lunch at the Causeway Diner in Gloucester. Here in the middle of November, with
temperatures in the mid-40s, on a Friday, you are lucky if you get a table
within the half hour of your arrival.
But, it’s worth it.
Following our lunch, we
decided to travel over to nearby Rockport and Andrew’s Point where there have
been reports of a very elusive pelagic bird, the Dovekie. This is a great find anytime of year,
and it would be a life-bird for a number of the group. The “super-storm Sandy” of last week
has blown a number of vagrants into the east coast from as far away as the
British Isles. It’s a slim chance
for us, but a chance all the same.
We also know that whenever we visit Andrew’s Point, the chances of
getting the Harlequin are very good.
Today bore out this prediction as we had good numbers of this most
handsome speices in close to shore.
Other birds spotted before the
sun began to set included the Northern gannet, White-winged scoter,
Red-throated loon, Red-breasted merganser, and the Common eider.
 |
| Common eiders |
Unfortunately, the Dovekie
eluded us, but we still have an entire day tomorrow to pursue this prize. All-in-all, it was not a bad start to
our weekend here in New England with more good birds sure to come our way.
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