Multiple Band-rumped (Madeiran) Storm-Petrels off Long Island, NY

The highlight of an offshore fishing trip this past weekend (28-29 July 2012) by John Shemilt, Keegan Corcoran and myself was the discovery of six or seven BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETRELS [aka Madeiran Storm-Petrels]. This was over very deep water (c.4,500 ft) at the continental shelf edge some 92 miles SSE of Shinnecock Inlet on eastern Long Island. After stumbling upon one bird in the late afternoon we hurriedly dropped a chum slick that
quickly drew in the others. These were watched and photographed for close to an hour before the evening light became too poor for photography and word of fish biting nearby drew us away.

Also present over the slick were 70 or more WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS and a single LEACH'S STORM-PETREL, affording ideal comparisons. Although the number of sightings is definitely on the increase, Band-rumped Storm-Petrel remains a significant rarity in New England and adjacent the Mid-Atlantic States. Whether this is due to changes in marine conditions or more consistent access by birders to deep offshore waters is hard to gauge. In New York, the species has been photographed only once before (6 Aug 2011, John Shemilt), a few miles north of this more recent encounter.

The numbers of birds seen on this overnight trip were lower than we expected, with totals of 16 GREAT SHEARWATER, 3 unidentified large Shearwater, 1 MANX SHEARWATER, 1 AUDUBON'S SHEARWATER, 26 LEACH'S STORM-PETREL and 330 WILSON'S STORM-PETREL. Our only CORY'S SHEARWATER were 5 birds seen inshore on the return trip, with two individuals less than 2 miles from the inlet. No offshore terns, gulls, jaegers, sulids, shorebirds
or passerines were seen.

As is often the case in this area, we encountered some terrific marine mammals with several pods of RISSO'S DOLPHINS (70++ total), 10+ SHORT-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHINS, 10+ OFFSHORE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN and 7 FIN WHALE. It is equally gratifying to report that we tallied a mere 11 discarded helium balloons; well below normal. Sadly this is probably a reflection of the predominantly easterly winds rather than more responsible behavior by folks onshore.

Seawatch - Long Island, New York, USA

An evening seawatch (6:05-7:30 pm) from Amagansett near the eastern tip of Long Island (40.9694°,-72.1238°) produced some nice birds in spite of flat calm conditions and some mist. A scattering of Northern Gannets (21 total) were joined by at least six CORY'S SHEARWATERS, a single MANX SHEARWATER and two WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS. The tubenoses milled around on the edge of the mist for a half hour before disappearing. Other birds of note included 1 Black Skimmer (flying west), 2 subadult Laughing Gulls and 4 Common Loons (all in basic plumages).

Successful rat eradication on Canna, Scotland

The National Trust for Scotland announced the successful removal of Brown Rats (Rattus norvegicus) from the island of Canna off the west coast of Scotland (57.0579°, -6.54564°). Part of the Inner Hebrides, Canna has been plagued with an estimated 10,000 rats threatening nesting Manx Shearwaters (Puffinus puffinus), European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) and Razorbill (Alca torda). Human residents, some 13 islanders (down from 436 in 1821) were also troubled by the infestation. Eradication was complicated by the presence of a unique population of Wood Mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) of Norse lineage that needed to be captured and re-released after the program was complete. Beginning in 2005, 4,388 traps were placed following a carefully plotted grid across the five-mile-long island. Chocolate-flavored baits have been placed to detect rats by their distinctive nibblings and after 2 years the island has been declared officially rat-free. The project was funded by the European LIFE Nature fund and Scottish Natural Heritage and cost an estimated £500,000 or £50/rat. The Canna Wood Mice are not known to pose any threat to seabirds.

Nesting seabirds are rebounding quickly, with only 27 successful Razorbill nests in 2005 growing to 273 in 2007 and European Shag going from 48 pairs in 2005 to 72 pairs in 2007. Canna once held one of the largest Shag colonies in Europe. Manx Shearwater (once 1,500 nesting pairs) failed entirely as a breeder for the past 10 years but birds have continued to visit the island and have already raised at least one chick. Hopefully the population will quickly rebound to former numbers.

Seawatch - Long Island, New York, USA

I seawatched twice today - early morning (6:00-7:30 am) and late evening
(6:40-8:05pm) from Amagansett near the eastern tip of Long Island (40.9694�,-72.1238�).The wind had turned to the SW-SSW overnight and slowly picked up in force during the day, so that the sea was quite disturbed by the evening watch with a blustery 18-20 mph wind. In the morning, a big congregation of gulls, cormorants and terns were feeding on bait fish off Indian Wells Beach and attracted a SOOTY SHEARWATER. Otherwise, passage was light, consisting mostly of loons and gannets. In the evening, the highlights were three MANX SHEARWATERS moving east. All three very close to the beach (250-300 yards)giving fantastic views, as well as some very distant SOOTY SHEARWATERS also moving east. By far the most abundant birds were Common Terns, a steady steam mostly working west against the wind. Quite a few Roseate Terns were mixed in. Laughing Gulls were numerous on both watches, with a good number being subadults.

** Morning Seawatch (6:00-7:30 am) **
SOOTY SHEARWATER - 1 (initial moving west but joined feeding frenzy)
Surf Scoter - 2
Black Scoter - 3
Red-throated Loon - 1
Common Loon - 39
Northern Gannet - 35
Double-crested Cormorant - 16
Laughing Gull - 36
Herring Gull - 50
Great Black-backed Gull - 19
Ring-billed Gull - 20
ROSEATE TERN - 25
Common Tern - 500 ++
Least Tern - 50+ (nesting on beach in front of seawatch)
Eastern Willet - 1
Short-billed Dowitcher - 2

** Evening Seawatch (18:50-20:10) **
MANX SHEARWATER - 3 (east 19:20, 19:26: 19:40)
SOOTY SHEARWATER - 4 (east 19:14, 20:00 and 20:05)
Black Scoter - 1
loon sp. - 1
Common Loon - 2
Northern Gannet - 75
Double-crested Cormorant - 3
Laughing Gull - 17
Herring Gull - 10
Great Black-backed Gull - 4
Ring-billed Gull - 19
BLACK SKIMMER - 2 (west)
ROSEATE TERN - 35++
Common Tern - 800 +++
Least Tern - 50+ (nesting on beach in front of seawatch)

Seawatch - Long Island, New York, USA

I seawatched for just about an hour and a half this evening (6:40-8:05 pm) from Amagansett near the eastern tip of Long Island (40.9694°, -72.1238°). The sea was flat calm with very good visibility. There weren't many birds moving but the smooth sea and limited heat shimmer revealed a good number of lingering Common and Red-throated Loons in widely scattered groups on the water. Highlights were a MANX SHEARWATER moving west very close to the beach giving fantastic views as it followed a zigzaged route over the water. There was an interesting movement of BLACK SKIMMERS, with parties of two or three birds, all moving west. The shearwater came up behind two of skimmers and quickly passed them, showing just how fast shearwaters can move even in casual flight. Doubt I've ever seen Manx Shearwater and Black Skimmer in the same scope view before! A few minutes later a more distant SOOTY SHEARWATER winged its way east. My first of the year. A male and female WHITE-WINGED SCOTER floating off the beach were notable as they've become pretty scarce these past few weeks. A number of shorebirds were also noted moving east.

MANX SHEARWATER - 1 (west)
SOOTY SHEARWATER - 1 (east)
White-winged Scoter - 2 (male & fem.)
Surf Scoter - 4
Black Scoter - 42
Red-breasted Merganser - 4 (east)
Red-throated Loon - 9 (mix of plumage stages)
Common Loon - 35 (more than 50% non-alt. plumage)
Northern Gannet - 35
Double-crested Cormorant - 16
Laughing Gull - 3 (ads.) & 2 (subad.)
Herring Gull - 28
Great Black-backed Gull - 11
BLACK SKIMMER - 11 (all going west in 2's or 3's)
ROSEATE TERN - 5
Common Tern - 200 ++
Least Tern - 50+ (nesting on beach in front of seawatch)
Eastern Willet - 5 (east)
Black-bellied Plover - 1 (alt. east)
Piping Plover - 2 (east)
Semipalmated Plover - 5 (east)
Least Sandpiper - 1 (east)
Sanderling - 5 (east)