Date: 8/17/26 6:00 am From: 'Steve Mirick' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Wilkinson's Basin Pelagic Trip Bird Report - 8/16/26
Survey of birds encountered during UNH research trip aboard UNH Research
Vessel Gulf Challenger. Boat did not stop or steer toward birds. Jane
and I were guests on UNH boat that was performing ocean experiments
offshore. The boat traveled to the CO2 buoy just beyond the Isles of
Shoals and collected water samples. It then traveled directly out to
the outside edge of Jeffrey's to the "Wilkinson's Basin Water Sampling
Spot" where it deployed the water sampler and collected net samples. On
the way back, it took a more southerly track to briefly stop near Old
Scantum and see some whales!
The birds were a bit slow for the date with large portions of Jeffrey's
Ledge completely absent for ANY birds. But birds filtered in at our
stop at Wilkinson's Basin and a couple of real nice finds (Parasitic
Jaeger and Leach's Storm-Petrel) came in to check out the boat.
Weather and seas - Light and variable winds 0-5 knots shifting to S and
increasing late in the afternoon. Seas about 1-2'. Able to ride on the
bow for whole trip.
Time - 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM.
eBird checklists submitted and eBird trip list with documentation photos
at this link:
Total list of birds offshore (east of Isles of Shoals)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Semipalmated Plover 3. Offshore migrating.
Red-necked Phalarope 22. Several small flocks. All ID'd were
Red-necked. Most appeared to be molting adults.
Red/Red-necked Phalarope 8
PARASITIC JAEGER 1. Subadult bird made a brief pass at the boat and
chased a Herring Gull.
Laughing Gull 5. All juveniles
American Herring Gull 31
Great Black-backed Gull 18
Common Tern 5
Wilson's Storm-Petrel 100. Scattered small numbers everywhere but
very few on Jeffrey's and most in the vicinity of Old Scantum.
LEACH'S STORM-PETREL 1. Only my 2nd record from Gulf Challenger.
First came just two months ago! Appeared soon after arrival at
Wilkinson's Point. Disappeared immediately (as they usually do), but
perhaps either a different one or the same one came by the boat a bit
later.
Cory's Shearwater 4
Cory's/Scopoli's Shearwater 1. Likely a Cory's. Just appeared pale
under wings.
Great Shearwater 5. Low number.
Northern Gannet 1
Double-crested Cormorant 15. Two migrating flocks.
Marine Mammals
------------------------
Humpback Whale - 3. All in the area of Old Scantum. One identified as
"Owl" is a long-time favorite offshore and was born in 1986 making her
roughly 30 years old!
Minke Whale - 1. Repeated views of one. But no photos!
Dolphin sp. - Small number. ID consistent with Atlantic White-sided.
