The following list shows the number of each species seen on the 12/21/2013 trip, combining the number of birds from all areas of the trip, although the vast majority of these counts came from around Faulkner Island and nearby Goose Rocks, which were at the southeast corner of our route...
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| M.Danforth, S.Zagorski, K.VanDer Aue, T.Green, and K.Mueller |
HERE IS KEITH MUELLER'S EXCELLENT BLOG....
New England Coastal Birds: December (unofficial CBC) boat ride to Faulkner's Island
AND TRIP SUMMARY...
kmueller@ntplx.net
Dec 22 (2 days ago)
to me, Kathy, Sara, Tina, Mark, Paul, Frank, ls.broker
Hi Tom,
Here is just my estimate. I didn't count, but kept an approximation in my head.
First- that was the biggest flock of Common Eider I have ever seen in this State, and in the Madison/Guilford/Faulkner's Island/Branford area. There was also a high ratio of adult drakes to hens and only a few juvenile males in the flock. In the past when I did see small flocks of Eider (dozen birds or less), these flocks contained higher numbers of hens and juvenile males, and very few adult drakes. I also watched them dive and feed and it appeared they were successful in retrieving food items (most likely blue mussels, brown periwinkles and crabs). I watched several birds (after returning to the surface) shake the food item vigorously which is a normal behavior when they have caught a crab of a small cluster of mussels.
The majority of the Waterfowl(with the exception of Scaup, Oldsquaw and Bufflehead), Loons and Great Cormorants were seen in the area surrounding Goose Rocks (west of Faulkners) and in between Goose and Faulkners. Most of the Surf Scoters were loosely rafted in the rip to the NW of Faulkner's, just off the northeast shore of Faulkner's and inbetween Faulkners and Goose Rocks. There were a few small scattered flocks closer to the shoreline off Sachem Head west of Vineyard Point. The few Black Scoters (mostly hens) were among the scattered Surf Scoters. Of the 3 White-winged Scoters, 1 drake was seen crossing the bow of the vessel in the fog going out the channel by "can 5", the other two (drake and hen) were seen off the SE corner of Goose Rocks on our return trip to port.
There were over 125 Shorebirds (standing and flying) at Goose Rocks and Faulkners...at least 50 Purple Sandpipers, with some Sanderling, 24 Dunlin, and the rest unidentified Sandpipers (just a bit too far to properly ID). My count of 50 Purple Sandpipers were identified by confident ID sightings of some of the standing birds and the flying birds, and conversations with the others on board. Also 13 Black-bellied Plover standing with the Gulls on the NW tip of Faulkner's that forms the reef. Overall a good day around those two Islands.
Although there was a small flock of Scaup sitting off the SE corner of Goose Rocks, the majority of rafted Scaup were loosely scattered outside Great Harbor west of Goose Island (off Sachem Head) and east of the Thimble Islands. The second largest group was rafted outside Guilford Harbor just east of Lobster Rock and east of the main channel outside "can 3". I didn't look for any Lesser Scaup, but did note 3 (2 hens and 1 moulting drake) in one of the flocks off Great Harbor (taking off- wing ID) when it was suggested that we try and locate Lesser Scaup. Otherwise I didn't look for Lesser Scaup.
Goldeneyes were split in two rafts: one off the NW reef of Faulkner's and the other half were seen in Falcon Cove just west of Vineyard Point. Bufflehead numbers were split between Falcon Cove and Great Harbor. The majority of Red-breasted Mergansers were seen off the NW rip of Faulkner's.
Oldsquaw were in sporadic clusters: small group off the SW corner of Goose Rocks, small group off Goose Island (Sachem Head), Outer Thimble Island, Great Harbor, and outside Branford Harbor, and a few trios, pairs and singles throughout the area.
All the Great Cormorants were in the area of Faulkner's and Goose Rocks. The majority of both species of Loons were also in this area, with a few scattered singles seen mostly off Sachem Head and outside Guilford Harbor.
Gulls were scattered throughout the area. The largest concentrations were in Guilford Harbor off Jacob's Beach, Grass Island, Grass Island Beach, Circle Beach and the shoreline of Sachem Head.
I never counted Canada Geese
We saw a dozen plus Harbor Seals mostly in the area of Faulkners and Goose Rocks and a few following a Lobster Boat off Branford. We also saw three Gray Seals in the area of Faulkners/Goose Rocks, with one individual a very large adult near Goose Rocks.
I didn't keep a count but I roughly estimated: 75 Common Eider, 100 Surf Scoter, 500 Scaup (conservative est), 60 Goldeneye, 65 R B Mergansers, 40 Bufflehead, 3 W W Scoter, 8 Black Scoter, 5 Red throated Loon, 16 Common Loon, 20 Great Cormorant, 36 OLdsquaw, 400 Gulls mostly Herring (all over). Goose Rocks was the hotspot!
My overview: With the exception of the high number of Common Eider and Purple Sandpipers which were notable, the overall numbers of waterfowl were very low for this time of year as I compare it to previous years. Certainly the numbers of Scaup and late season Scoters that are normally in this area were much reduced from years past.....and Scaup numbers being the most reduced. Goldeneye numbers were lower than expected, but that can be a reflection of the warmer weather for this time of year.
Keith
