More info on these Dec 2-3 and 9 trips coming soon... including a minute-by-minute track log with birds...
Focusing on the eastern side of LIS (east of Milford CT) on Dec 2, 2013...
Focusing on the western side of LIS (west of Milford CT) on Dec 3, 2013... including 3 Razorbills seen....
We kept a detailed timed log of location (in iPhone GPS app) and birds seen (in my voice recorder) on both days (including enough detailed info to satisfy most protocols used in marine surveys, as suggested by P.Auster), and need to decide on best tools to use (e.g., good software apps) to display all that data. Having discussions with NOAA GIS experts to make a choice, such as qGIS program.
Transcribing from my voice recorder for Dec 3rd gave us the following detailed log of birds seen and when we saw them...
LIS BirdCount 2013 Dec 3rd survey cruise <<<click here to see the full bird log of the count.
Click on the following image to enlarge it, and hit ESC key when done, to return...
This log reflects only the west-bound leg of the trip, since much of the east-bound return journey would have double counted many of the birds we had in the morning. The Dec 3rd summary report below, does count some of the birds seen on the return leg of the trip. A detailed log of the Dec 2nd trip is also being prepared.
Here are the summary reports from those two trips across LIS, first the eastern trip, then the western trip....
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DEC 2, 2013
Subject: Long Island Sound Bird Count 12/2
Date: Tue Dec 3 2013 19:40 pm
From: kmueller AT ntplx.net
I was with Tom Robben yesterday for the first day of this Long Island
Sound seabird survey. The morning was overcast with hanging fog with 1
mile visibility. Winds picked up later to northeast at 10 knots
diminishing to calm by early afternoon with clear skies. We traveled
78 sea miles starting in Old Lyme, then headed East from the mouth of
the CT River to Race Rock near Fisher's Island, turned back west and
headed along the mid-Sound along the CT/NY line to Milford Harbor
where part one terminated.
Bird numbers were very sparse and frequency of sightings were slow.
The most numerous were Loons (mostly Common). Waterfowl included: 20
Surf Scoters, 1 Black Scoter, 7 White-winged Scoter, 9 Oldsquaw, 1
drake Common Eider (at Race Rock), 9 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Common
Goldeneye, 11 Bufflehead, 17 Black Ducks, 25 Mallards, 6 Greater
Scaup. Gulls sighted around 100 split evenly between Herring and
Greater Black-backed with mostly adult cycles with fewer 1st and 2nd
cycle, and 3-3rd cycle Herring Gulls). 1 Bonaparte's Gull off Old
Lyme, and only a few Ring-billed Gulls near Milford shoreline. 1 adult
Greater Black-backed Gull landed on the water off New Haven for what
appeared to be a deceased 1st year Gannet. We also noted 18 Gannets
(mostly flying) and mostly adults- with 3-3rd year and 1 second year
birds observed.
Forgot to mention the "most-likely" Snowy Owl seen perched on the
eastern-most boulder of Goose Rocks just west of Faulkner's Island
seen from at least a mile south of Faulkner's at the extreme range of
binoculars. Also 11 Great Cormorants- 10 perched on the rip-rap of
Race Rock lighthouse, and 1 flying off Woodmont area.
Keith Mueller
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DEC 3, 2013
Here is the western LIS trip, including a photo summary at....
Long Island Sound Bird Count-Western Section- Dec 3, 2013 - a set on Flickr
including Frank Mantlik's long-distance photo of this Razorbill in the water...
Subject: Long Island Sound Bird Count 12/3
Date: Tue Dec 3 2013 19:14 pm
From: mantlik AT sbcglobal.net
12/3 - Long Island Sound Bird Count in CT & NY Waters -
Tom Robben & I conducted a bird count by boat from Milford, CT to off Sands Point, L.I., NY. This was the second voyage of this project, and the first to this area of the Sound. Weather was ideal: some sun filtered through clouds (bright overcast), mild (35-48F), fairly calm (N at 3-8 mph). Highlights were large numbers of Common & Red-throated Loons, large numbers of Surf & White-winged Scoters (especially off Nassau Cty.), 3 Razorbills (CT) , 8 Northern Gannets, 1 Common Eider (off Stratford Point), 6 Bonaparte's Gulls, and a Snowy Owl (breakwater off Stratford Pt.). Also saw 2 Harbor Seals.
The full eBird list can be seen here: (http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15844154)
eBird Checklist – Long Island Sound Bird Count - West, Connecticut – Tue Dec 03, 2013 – 18 species (+1 other taxa)
Birders along the CT and NY shorelines of Long Island Sound [and any boats out in The Sound] are encouraged to "share" their eBird lists with: "LIS BirdCount".
Frank Mantlik
Stratford CT
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DEC 9, 2013
WHAT FOLLOWS IS THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF REPORTS WHICH FRANK MANTLIK FILED FOR HIS
DEC 9, 2013 BIRD SURVEY CRUISE IN CENTRAL LONG ISLAND SOUND....
THIS IS AN INTERESTING COMPARISON...
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FRANK'S 12/9 REPORT TO CTbirds....
Subject: Long Island Sound Bird Count results 12/9
Date: Mon Dec 9 2013
From: mantlik AT sbcglobal.net
12/9 - I conducted a LIS BirdCount boat cruise from Milford, CT to waters off Bridgeport, Norwalk, then SW off NY (Fort Salonga/Northport and east to off Smithtown Bay), then north and northwest (off West Haven) and return to Milford. Freezing rain last night. Cloudy/overcast all day, but little/no precipitation. 32-38F., Wind NE at 13-15 mph, eventually shifting from W about 3:30pm. Visibility initially 0.5 mile, gradually improving to 3-5 miles. Darkness by 4:40 pm; Back in 5:55pm.
Highlights were: 15 Surf Scoters (CT), 27 White-winged Scoters (NY), 5 Northern Gannets (all in NY), 1 Bonaparte's Gull (NY).
Frank Mantlik
Stratford CT
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FRANK'S 12/9 REPORT TO eBIRD.....
From: "do-not-reply@ebird.org" <do-not-reply@ebird.org>
To: mantlik@sbcglobal.net
Sent: Monday, December 9, 2013 10:35 PM
Subject: eBird Report - Long Is Sound Bird Count -West/Central, Dec 9, 2013
To: mantlik@sbcglobal.net
Sent: Monday, December 9, 2013 10:35 PM
Subject: eBird Report - Long Is Sound Bird Count -West/Central, Dec 9, 2013
Long Is Sound Bird Count -West/Central, Fairfield, US-CT
Dec 9, 2013 10:05 AM - 5:55 PM
Protocol: Traveling
50.0 mile(s)
Comments: F. Mantlik conducted LIS BirdCount boat cruise from Milford, CT to waters off Bridgeport, Norwalk, then SW off NY (Fort Salonga/Northport and east to off Smithtown Bay, then north and northwest (off West Haven) and return to Milford. Freezing rain last night. Cloudy/overcast all day, but little/no precipitation. 32-38F., Wind NE at 13-15 mph, eventually shifting from W about 3:30pm. Visibility initially 0.5 mile, gradually improving to 3-5 miles. Darkness by 4:40 pm; Back in 5:55pm.
10 species (+2 other taxa)
Greater/Lesser Scaup 50 off Charles Is., Milford, CT
Surf Scoter 15 CT waters, flew by off Charles Is., Milford
White-winged Scoter 27 all in NY waters.
Long-tailed Duck 17 12 in CT waters; 4 in NY waters.
Bufflehead 25 in Milford harbor when leaving dock
Red-throated Loon 5 2 in CT waters; 3 in NY waters
Common Loon 4 all in CT waters
loon sp. 6 1 in CT waters; 5 in NY waters
Northern Gannet 5 all adults (possibly 1 sub-adult); all in NY waters.
Bonaparte's Gull 1 flying in NY waters
Herring Gull 6 2 in CT waters; 4 in NY waters
Great Black-backed Gull 13 3 in CT waters; 10 in NY waters
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
HERE IS FRANK'S DETAILED BIRD LOG FROM DEC 9, 2013....
AND THERE IS A GPS TRACK LOG CORRESPONDING TO THIS, SO EXACT LOCATIONS CAN BE DETERMINED MINUTE-BY-MINUTE...
LIS BirdCount Boat Cruise Log - West Central Long Island Sound
Monday 9 December 2013. Frank Mantlik (bird-counter) aboard MV John Dempsey (CT DEEP vessel) with Capt. Rodney, Water Quality scientist Matt Lyman and assistant Kate and mate Johnny. We basically left Milford, cruised sw to water survey points off Bridgeport and Norwalk, then sw to LI, NY side. Hit several more points off LI while heading east. Last two points were well so of New Haven (NY waters) and off W. Haven (CT waters). Returned to dock 5:55pm (sunset was about 4:15pm).
Weather: Cloudy/overcast all day. Freezing rain last night, slick roads and walks. Cruise time pushed back to 10:00am. Chilly 32-38F, NE wind 13-15 mph, rain has ended. Seas were choppy with mostly 2-4 foot swells though some as large as 5 ft.
10:05 We left the Milford, CT (199 Rogers Ave.) dock. 25 Scaup, sp. 10:13 Another 25 Scaup, sp., 2 Common Loons, 6 Long-tailed Ducks. 10:15 East side Charles Is. 3 more LT Duck.
10:16 Flock of 15 Surf Scoters flew sw.
10:25 Fog in distance; visibility about 0.5 mi. (est.)
10:27 2 LT Ducks flew by.
10:29 1 LT Duck. And another at 10:33.
10:38 Just east of Stratford Point light. I just updated my iPhone with ios7, and am now ! loading App “Trails-GPS” to try to track our course.
10:47 Visibility good up to a point, then cannot see past a fog bank, about .25 mi away?
! 1 Loon, sp. TWC for Stratford gives: 34F, feels like 25; wind NE 13mph; dewpoint
! 32F;Humidity 93%; Visibility 7 miles (not on Sound), Barom Pressure 30.12”. 11:06 1 RT Loon flying high, heading east.
11:10 Stop at first Water Survey point; south of Bridgeport (I’m not sure of point
! number).
11:23 Sample completed, heading out sw to next spot. Waves about 1-3 or 1-4 ft. 11:45 Capt. Rodney confirms visibility now is about 1.0 mile. No birds.
11:52 1 RT Loon flying west, low to water. Water depth 106 ft.Water temp 47.2F. 11:57 1 Herring Gull.
12:02 1 Common Loon, sitting on water.
12:03 Stopping for 2nd Water Survey “PE1”, off Norwalk, just east of Norwalk Islands
! (Just in CT waters, near NY state line). Visibility and skies still very gray; no
! precip. 1 Herring Gull.
12:16 2 Great Black-backed Gulls (ad, imm). Rocking boat causes stuff to fall off tables. 12:19 End survey. Motoring again.
12:24 1 RT Loon in flight.
12:26 Another Loon flew by - Red-throated? Definitely in NY water now. Course
! heading 210 degrees, north of Fort Salonga (near Northport, NY).
12:36 1 RT Loon took off and flew away. Same imm. GBBG will follow us for nest 2 ! hours.
12:39 1 Bonaparte’s Gull flew by. We’re 2 mi. from on offshore fueling dock north of ! Northport, NY.
12:42 1 Loon, sp. flew by. And another probable RT Loon took off too.
12:45 Another RT Loon in flight, going west.
12:46 Another Loon, sp. We can see land ahead - Northport; we 1-2 mi. offshore.
12:47 5 WW Scoters took off.
12:48 Another Loon, sp. and 7 more WW Scoters. 5 more WW Scoters.
12:49 Adult No. Gannet took off from the water.
12:50 1 LT Duck. Lots of spray hitting windshield now, as we turned to head east into
! wind. Rockin and rollin in the waves. 12:54 3 WW Scoters.
12:56 4 more WW Scoters.
1:01 Off Fort Salonga, NY, heading east, approaching (offshore from) Sunken Meadow ! S.P.
1:05 1 adult No. Gannet took off.
1:09 2 LT Ducks took off. My iPhone battery too low, so I turned it off, can no longer
! record our “Trails” course.
1:23 Change course again to SW 220 degrees, with the wind. Slow down 1:25 to do
! Water survey at point “15”, off Smithtown, NY.
1:36 Finished water sample; head out, course 39 degrees.
1:41 Head NE, toward survey point “F3”, off Smithtown Bay. Into wind, lots of spray
! again.
1:44 1 fat LT Duck tried to take off, and re-landed.
1:46 3 WW Scoters took off.
2:01 1 Loon, sp. flying.
2:12 2 young Great Black Backed Gulls (one is the same follower).
2:13 Port Jeff ferry sailing left to right ahead of us, heading into Port Jeff. Lots spray.
! Visibility a bit better now.
2:18 Slow for Water Test site “F3”. A new (adult) GBBGull.
2:36 Finished Water sample. Now 4 GBBG sit around boat. Course 78 degrees.
2:43 Heading course 98 degrees. Off at 10:00 we can see Middle Ground Light.
! Water / waves has calmed down slightly.
2:49 1 large gull - Herring?
2:51 1 ad. GBBG flying.
3:00 Skies still gray, daylight waning. Heading SE at course 101 degrees. Capt.
! estimates visibility at 3 mi. now.
3:09 1 ad. GBBG, flying north.
3:16 1 ad GBBG heading WNW.
3:17 Another GBBG.
3:26 Ad. NO. Gannet.
3:44 Ad. No. Gannet sitting on water. Took a few photos (3000 ISO).
3:45 1 LT Duck, 2nd No. Gannet coming toward us (different bird).
3:48 Slow to take Water Sample “H6”, est. 3 miles offshore (NY) and looks due south
! from New Haven. Capt. says winds starting to shift from West. 2GBBG, 1 HERG 4:07 Back under way. Head due North at course 0.9 degrees.
4:27 1 Herring Gull flying N. Course 351 degrees. Sky getting darker (day’s end).
! Probably getting close to CT line now.
4:35 At last Water Sample point “H4”, mid-Sound, probably CT waters.
4:45 Last light. 1 GBBG. They are now towing a plankton net; last light.
4:54 Dusk. Underway again. Course 333 degrees (NW). Heading home; Back in 5:55.

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