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maartenscherpenisse · 5 years

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Acadian Flycatcher peet-seet or peet-suh or peet

Alder Flycatcher fitz-bee-

American Avocet wheek or kleet (repeated in flight)

American Bittern gulp-a-pump woonk-a-chunk

American Black Duck quack quack quack (lower than a Mallard)

American Black Oystercatcher wheep-wheep-wheep (rapid; clipped)

American Coot ka-ha; ka-ha kuh-uk!; kuh-uk! (loud; clear)

American Crow caw-caw-caw-caw-koodle-yah; koodle-yah (trilly voice)

American Golden Plover looo-eee! poo-too-eee!; poo-too-eee!

American Goldfinch pa-chip-chip-chip per-chick-a-ree po-ta-to-chip (and dip {in flight})

American Kestrel klee; klee; klee

American Pipit chwee; chwee; chwee (thin) pipit-pipit

American Redstart tzee-tzee-tzee-tzeeeo

American Robin cheer-up; cheer-a-lee; cheer-ee-o, whinny

American Wigeon squeaky; nasal whistle

American Woodcock peeent; peeent; peeent (nasal)

Anna's Hummingbird chee-ik-ee-ik-ee-ik (grating; squeaky)

Ash-throated Flycatcher ka-brick ka-wheer prrrrrt (buzzy)

Bachman's Sparrow highly variable - clear; liquid; whistled phrases

Bachman's Sparrow seeeee; slip-slip-slip-slip-slip

Baltimore Oriole flute-like; disjointed series of notes here; here; come right here; dear

Barn Owl screeeeeee (hissing - long)

Barn Swallow twittering (rapid) tit-tit-tit-tit (rapid staccato)

Barred Owl who-cooks-for-you; who-cooks-for-you-all

Bay-breasted Warbler tee-zee-tee-zee-tee-zee-tee (very rapid; hp)

Belted Kingfisher stuttering; non-musical; dry rattle in-flight

Bewick's Wren like Song Sparrow; but thinner; more rapid

Black & White Warbler wee-zee; wee-zee; wee-zee (like a squeaky toy)

Black Rail kicky-chew; kiki-krrr; pee-pee-toe

Black Skimmer kaup; kaup; kaup (clear-noted)

Black-bellied Plover pee-a-wee!; whee-er-wee!

Black-billed Cuckoo ku-ku-ku

Black-billed Magpie maaagh?! wenk-wenk or wenk-wenk-wenk

Blackburnian Warbler see-say; teetsa-teetsa-teetsa- zee-zee-zee

Black-capped Chickadee chk-a-dee-dee-dee (rapid; higher-pitched than Carolina)

Black-capped Chickadee fee-bee

Black-chinned Hummingbird tchew (soft; flat)

Black-crowned Night Heron quawlk

Black-headed Grosbeak ik (sharply) robin-like; but more musical spik

Black-legged Kittiwake kitty-waaak

Black-necked Stilt kyip; kyip; kyip

Blackpoll Warbler chipping trill

Black-throated Blue Warbler beer-beer-beer-beeee! (raspy) zur-zur-zur-zree! please; please; please squeeeeze I am so laz-eeeeee

Black-throated Gray Warbler zeedle-zeedle-zee-zeet-cha

Black-throated Green Warbler trees-trees-murmuring-trees zee-zee-zee-zee-zoo-zee

Black-whiskered Vireo Tim Kelly or Whip Tim Kelly

Blue Grosbeak chink; house finch-like; but lower

Blue Jay fee-der-de-lurp jay-jay-jay queedle-queedle-queedle-

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher zpeee (a bit raspy)

Blue-winged Warbler beee-bzzz; blue winged! (second syllable buzzy)

Bobolink plink; plink

Bobwhite toot-sweet! bob-white!

Bonaparte's Gull chrrr-chrrr-chrrr (rapid; buzzy)

Boreal Chickadee chick-che-day-day

Boreal Owl hooo-too-too-too-too...

Brewer's Blackbird ksh-eee (creaky)

Brewer's Sparrow seeeep (thin)

Bristle-thighed Curlew cheew-iew-iew-it

Broad-tailed Hummingbird chittering; thin, mixed with wing-hum

Broad-winged Hawk peet-seeeeep

Brown Creeper trill (hp; rapid) always as individuals

Brown Thrasher varied mocker-like phrases (repeated 2x) drop-it; drop-it; cover-it-up; cover-it-up; pull-it-up; pull-it-up

Brown-headed Cowbird bubble-bubble-zeeee!

Brown-headed Nuthatch kit-kit-kit-..or ki-dit; ki-dit (rapid)

Bufflehead (Fe) quack quack quack

Bullock's Oriole varied; rich whistles and mixed gutturals chuck chuck chuck-it-too-ee zhew zhew

Bushtit lisp (multiple; very hp) tsit (multiple; very hp)

California Quail kurr chi-ca-go; chi-ca-go qua-quer-go; qua-quer-go

Canada Goose honk; honk; honk

Canada Warbler chip-chupitty-swee-ditchety

Canyon Wren tewee; tewee; tewee (slowing) tsheee (raspy; metallic)

Cape May Warbler seet-seet-seet-seet (thin; hp)

Carolina Chickadee car-o-li-na (four notes) chk-a-dee-dee-dee fee-bee-fee-bay see-dee-dee-dee

Carolina Wren brrrrrrr (a brief; downslurred; rapid trill like thumbing comb tines) chooble-dee (varied triplet phrases) tea-kettle; tea-kettle; tea-kettle

Caspian Tern raaaah (raspy; hoarse)

Cassin's Finch chitty-up or chill-ee-up

Cedar Waxwing trill (hp; rapid) always in flocks zeee-zeee-zeee (hp trilled)

Cerulean Warbler chyoo-chyoo-chyoo-tseee (last syllable burry) trill (ending with buzzy-) beeee

Chestnut-sided Warbler pleased-pleased-pleased-pleased-ta-meetcha see-see-see-Miss-Beech'er

Chimney Swift chit-chit-chit-chit (rapid staccato) twittering (rapid)

Chipping Sparrow chipping trill (mechanical)

Chuck Will's Widow chuck-will's-widow

Clapper Rail tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-.

Clark's Grebe kreeet (burry) kriiik (burry)

Clark's Nutcracker kraa-a-a-a (long; drawn-out); or kra-kra-kra-kra

Common Eider ow-oo-urr whoo-ooh; whoo-ooh

Common Goldeneye pee-ik (raspy)

Common Loon cooo-leee; cooo-leee (slow; plaintive) whinny

Common Merganser ah; ah; ah; ah (low; even croaking in flight)

Common Moorhen kip-kip-kip-

Common Nighthawk beeer pee-eet (nasal)

Common Poorwill poor-will; poor-will; poor-will

Common Raven cruck (harsh; raspy) tawk (metallic)

Common Ringed Plover poo-eep (in-flight)

Common Screech Owl woooooooo warbled

Common Snipe skaip wicka-wicka-wicka-

Common Tern kee-arr (trilly)

Common Yellowthroat witchety-witchety-witchety (slow) (Western race) tchep (flat and raspy)

Connecticut Warbler chee-pa-chuh; chee-pa-chuh; chee-pa-chuh; chee chik-a-too-ee; chik-a-too-ee

Cordilleran Flycatcher pseet; tri-i-i-ip; seet (thin; squeaky)

Dark-eyed Junco dit (repeated occasionally) smack (repeated occasionally) chipping trill (musical; tinkling)

Downy Woodpecker peeek (sharply) whinny

Eastern Bluebird pew or mew (sharply) chatter (harsh; brief)

Eastern Kingbird t-t-tseeep (electrical sputtering)

Eastern Meadowlark but-I-DO-love-you spring-of-the-year

Eastern Phoebe fee-beee (last syllable raspy)

Eastern Towhee too-wheee! drink-your-teeeee! hot dog; pickle-ickle-ickle

Eastern Wood Pewee pee-a-weee and pee-yer

Evening Grosbeak chirp or chiirrrp (burry)

Field Sparrow a ping-pong ball dropped onto a table increasing in rate and pitch

Fish Crow eh-eh; eh-eh (two-noted phrases)

Forster's Tern keeeeeeeeer zaaaah (raspy; nasal)

Gadwall (Ma) bek (buzzy) (Fe quacks like mallard)

Golden-crowned Kinglet see-see-see- (hp)

Golden-crowned Sparrow Oh; dear me!; three blind mice

Golden-winged Warbler beeee(buzzy trill)-bz-bz-bz

Grasshopper Sparrow pee-trip-treee (last syllable a raspy trill)

Gray Catbird meeeee-ew or maaaaaanh (nasal) varied mocker-like phrases (seldom repeated)

Gray-cheeked Thrush whee-wheeo-titi-whee (thin; nasal)

Great Blue Heron squawking or croaking (very raucous)

Great Gray Owl whoo-whoo-whoooo

Great Horned Owl hoot-a-hoot; hoo-hoo who's awake? me too

Great Kiskadee Qu'est-ce qu'il dit? Qu'est-ce qu'il dit? ("What's he saying?")

Great-crested Flycatcher prrreeeet (burry); wheeep

Greater Yellowlegs dear; dear; dear (sharply) klee-klee-klee tu-tu-tu (whistled, 3 or more notes)

Green Heron skelp skelp skelp

Green-tailed Towhee weet-churrr-chee-churrr (mixed sweet and burry notes)

Gull-billed Tern kay-week and za-za-za

Hairy Woodpecker pik (flat) whinny

Hammond's Flycatcher chip-chewy or chip-chewy-chew (hp and a bit burry)

Heerman's Gull kowok

Henslow's Sparrow tsip-a-tik (non-musical; repeated occasionally)

Hermit Thrush veer-veer-veer-veer- Why don'tcha come to me? Here I am right near you

Hooded Warbler a-weeta-weeta-weet-tee-o

Horned Lark pit-sit (hp) tee-seep (hp)

House Finch zreee! (included in varied; warbling song)

House Sparrow chiddik; chiddik (dry; non-musical)

House Wren stuttering; gurgling; musical;

Inca Dove no hope

Indigo Bunting varied phrases (in couplets) fire; fire; where? where? here; here; see it? see it?

Kentucky Warbler p'chee; p'chee; p'chee

Kildeer kill-deeeeer or kee-dee; kee-dee; kee-dee

King Rail hip-hip-hurrah (dry; rattly)

Lark Sparrow tsip (sharp)

Laughing Gull haa-haa-haa-haa (loud; laugh-like) laughter (raucous; clear-noted)

Lazuli Bunting zzzzzzd (buzzy)

Least Bittern wuff; wuff; wuff; wuff; wuff ku-ku-ku (lower and throatier than B-B Cuckoo)

Least Flycatcher che-bek

Least Sandpiper kreeet (thin; somewhat burry)

Least Tern zreeeeek

Lesser Goldfinch tee-yee! or tee-yer

Lesser Yellowlegs quu-quu (whistled - in pairs) tyooo-tyoo yoo-yoo; yoo-yoo-yoo

Limpkin kraaaaaah (loud; piercing; usually repeated)

Long-billed Curlew ker-lee

Long-billed Dowitcher keeeeek (in flight - may be repeated)

Louisiana Waterthrush chink tree; tree; tree terwitter-witter wit

MacGillivray's Warbler chiddle-chiddle-chiddle-turtle chip-chewy or chip-chewy-chew (hp; clearer than Hammond's Flyc.) tsik (low; sharp)

Magnolia Warbler weeta-weeta-weetsee weeta-weeta-wit-chew I'm-I'm-I'm-so-sweet one; two; three; four; six

Mallard quack quack quack

Marbled Godwit god-wit or ker-whit raddika; raddika; raddika

Marsh Wren varied; complicated; fast; bubbly and busy

Mountain Chickadee tsik-a-zee-zee-zee (raspier than Carolina)

Mourning Dove hooo-ah hoo-hoo-hoo chirry-chirry-chirry-choreeo

Mourning Warbler turdle; turdle; turdle; two-to-you

Nashville Warbler trill in two parts - 2nd faster and lower in pitch see-bit-see-bit-see-bit; see-see-see-see (2-pt.)

Northern Cardinal cheer-cheer-cheer-purty-purty-purty-

Northern Flicker kleeeyer wik-wik-wik Northern Flicker (courting) squeechu-squeechu-squeechu

Northern Mockingbird varied phrases (thrice or more repeated)

Northern Parula Warbler trill! (fast rising; ending with)-tsyoo zeeeeeeeeeeeeeee(buzzy)-chyoo

Northern Pintail (Ma) prrrip; prrrip (low; stuttery)

Northern Pygmy Owl too-too-too (clear notes)

Northern Saw-whet Owl too-too-too (clear notes)

Northern Shoveler (Ma) chik-chik; chik-chik (Fe quacks like mallard)

Northern Waterthrush twit-twit-twit; sweet-sweet-sweet; chew-chew-chew

Oldsquaw ow-ow-ow-a-la

Olive-sided Flycatcher pip-pip or pip-pip-pip quick; three-beers

Orange-crowned Warbler trill (ascending/accelerating; then tumbles at end)

Orchard Oriole warbling - varied phrases; incl. guttural notes

Osprey kyew; kyew; kyew; kyew; kyew

Ovenbird p'cheer - p'cheer - p'cheer t-cheer; t-cheer; t-cheer

Pacific Loon kwa-wee!

Pacific-slope Flycatcher see-a-weeeet! seeet (sharp; h.p)

Palm Warbler trill (weak and buzzy)

Pectoral Sandpiper krick (low-voiced)

Pied-Billed Grebe gulp; gulp; gulp kuk-kuk-kow-kow-kow-kowp-kowp

Pileated Woodpecker kik-kik-kik-kik-kik (rate & pitch rise then fall)

Pine Siskin zreeeeeee! (buzzy)

Pine Warbler chipping trill

Piping Plover pip-pip-pip

Plain Titmouse tsik-a-dee

Prairie Warbler zee-zee-zee-zee (steady rise in pitch)

Prothonotary Warbler zweet; zweet; zweet (single pitch)

Purple Finch warbling - varied phrases; fast; lively; brief

Pygmy Nuthatch pippit; pippit; pippit

Raven squawking (raucous)

Red-bellied Woodpecker churrr; churrr (throaty; deeply trilled)

Red-breasted Nuthatch ank-ank-ank (nasal monotone)

Red-eyed Vireo where are you? and here I am

Red-headed Woodpecker squeer; squeer (raspy)

Red-shouldered Hawk kee-yer; kee-yer; kee-yer.

Red-tailed Hawk keeeeeeeeer

Red-throated Loon kwuk

Red-winged Blackbird chortle-deeeeee (hp and drawn-out last syllable) conk-a-reeeeeeeee tseer; tseer

Ring-necked Pheasant kok-kok (squawky; raucous; followed by wing-whir)

Rock Wren ch-reee; ch-reee; ch-reee (a bit trilly-buzzy) chee-urr; chee-urr; chee-urr (a bit raspy) tik-eer

Rose-breasted Grosbeak cheer-up; cheer-a-lee; cheer-ee-o chink

Royal Tern keeer (trilled)

Ruby-crowned Kinglet ji-dit; ji-dit; ji-dit (rattly) too-fritchyoo-fritchyoo-fritchyoo-

Ruby-throated Hummingbird t-t-t-t-t-t-t (soft; rapid; excited)

Ruffed Grouse drumming-thumping; accelerates into a whir

Rufous Hummingbird zee-chuppity-chuppity (buzzy)

Rusty Blackbird check ksh-a-leeee (rusty-squeaky)

Sanderling plik-plik-plik

Sandhill Crane garoo-a-a-a (stuttery)

Savannah Sparrow zit-zit-zit-zeeee-zaaay (burry-raspy)

Say's Phoebe pi-weer or pee-eee!

Scaled Quail Paark! Pe-cos; Pe-cos; Pe-cos

Scarlet Tanager cheer-up; cheer-a-lee; cheer-ee-o (burry; raspy) chick-burrr (last syllable rapidly trilled)

Scarlet Tanager hurry; worry; blurry; flurry (burry)

Scrub Jay shaaaaack (drawn-out; grating) zreeeeek

Seaside Sparrow chup-chup-tzeeee

Sedge Wren chip; chip or chip; chip; chrrrrr-rrr

Semipalmated Plover chureee! churrrk (burry)

Sharp-tailed Sparrow tee-shaay (raspy)

Short-billed Dowitcher tu-tu-tu (in flight - may be repeated)

Solitary Sandpiper peet-weet-weet or peet

Solitary Vireo chu-whee; cheer-ee-oh Come here Jimmy quickly

Song Sparrow Maids-maids-maids-put-on-your-tea-kettle-ettle-ettle Hip; hip; hip hurrah boys; spring is here! Madge; Madge; Madge pick beetles off; the water's hot

Sora ker-wee ker-wee(descending whinny)

Spotted Sandpiper peet-peet-peet-peet weet-weet-weet-weet

Sprague's Pipit ching-a-ring-a-ring-a-ring-a-ring-a-ring-a (descending)

Starling wolf-whistle (breathy)

Steller's Jay shaaaaack (drawn-out; grating) shook-shook-shook-shook-shook

Summer Tanager cheer-up; cheer-a-lee (bouncy - musical)

Summer Tanager piky-tucky-tuck or pik-a-tuck

Swainson's Hawk kreeeeeeeeeerr (drawn-out; shrill; plaintive)

Swainson's Thrush rurrip; rurrip whit; whit

Swainson's Warbler whee; whee; whee whip-poor-will

Swamp Sparrow chipping trill (slower; staccato)

Tennessee Warbler tika-tika-tika; swee-swee-swee; chay-chay-chay

Tufted Titmouse cheeva; cheeva; cheeva fer-da; fer-da; fer-da here; here; here peter-peter-peter-

Tundra Swan woo-ho and woo-woo

Upland Sandpiper ch-wut wolf-whistle (long; drawn-out)

Varied Thrush chyup

Veery veer-veer-veer-veer- (ethereal)

Vesper Sparrow like Song Sparrow; but lower; more guttural Listen to my evening sing-ing-ing-ing here-here; where-where; all-together-down-the-hill

Virginia Rail ki-dik; ki-dik; ki-dik tic-tic-mcgreer

Warbling Vireo warbled phrases (complicated) If I sees you; I will seize you; and I'll squeeze you till you squirt (to a caterpillar) brigadier; brigadier; briga-tee

Western Bluebird few (sofly)

Western Grebe krik-krik

Western Kingbird kit

Western Kingbird whit; whit; whit

Western Meadowlark flute-like; 7-10 gurgling notes

Western Screech-Owl accelerating hollow whistles; constant pitch

Western Tanager pri-di-dik

Western Towhee chup-chup-zeeee!

Western Wood Pewee peeer (burry)

Whimbrel ti-ti-ti-ti-ti-ti (clear; 5-7; rapid pace) whistled notes - clear; 5-7; rapid pace

Whippoorwill whip-poor-will

White-breasted Nuthatch anh-anh-anh-anh- (nasally) tooy-tooy-tooy-tooy wee-wee-wee-wee-who-who-who-who-

White-crowned Sparrow more; more; more cheezies; please pink (loudly) tseeeep (thin)

White-eyed Vireo chick; per-wee-tee-o; chick or chick-per-wee-o Quick give me a rain check Spit and see if I care; spit!

White-throated Sparrow O Sweet Canada; Canada; Canada O-san-pibbity-pibbity-pibbity

White-throated Swift je-je-je-je-je-je-je- (shrill; excited)

Whooping Crane ker-laa; ker-laa (second note higher-pitched)

Wild Turkey gobble-gobble-gobble-

Willet pill-will-willet

Willow Flycatcher fitz-bew (burry)

Wilson's Warbler chee-chee-chee; chet-chet-chet-chet

Winter Wren varied; complicated; bubbly and busy

Wood Duck jeeeeeeee! !-sliding (hp) whistle whoo-eek (breathy; whistley)

Wood Thrush chk-chk-chk (dry-subtle) ra-vi-o-li (flute-like) ee-oh-lay (flute-like - last note trilly) ra-vi-o-li (flute-like) oo-duh-lay-oh or oodle-drrrr (last note trilly) fweet-fweet-fweet (rapid-fire)

Worm-eating Warbler trill (very rapid; even; mechanical)

Yellow Rail click click (typewriter-like) tik-tik; tik-tik-tik; (2-3 rhythm; repeated)

Yellow Warbler sweet; sweet; sweet; little-more-sweet

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher chu-wee; chu-wee killik

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker meeew (whiny; nasal)

Yellow-billed Cuckoo hoo-luh; hoo-luh; hoo-luh (1/sec; broken) ka-ka-ka- kowp-kowp-kowp

Yellow-breasted Chat whoit (whistled) wit; wit; wit or chak; chak; chak

Yellow-headed Blackbird hoarse; raspy notes and phrases

Yellow-rumped Warbler trill in two parts, 2nd higher or lower in pitch trill (weak; unvaried)

Yellow-throated Vireo three-Ay; three-Ay

Yellow-throated Warbler tsyoo-tsyoo-tsyoo-tsyoo -tswee

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rantsandaves · 7 years

Text

Vermont, Maine, & the Atlantic

At a library in Scottsdale, Arizona, I tallied up my numbers and counted all the species I’d need to see to make it to 700 before the end of the year. I looked at my credit union account and tried to how (if) I could make my dollars stretch till the beginning of 2018. I sat down like a an accountant from the 1920’s. I furrowed by brow and added, subtracted, and divided every which way. It became apparent that I would not be able to go to Alaska. A lower 48 big year it is, I suppose. I am very much aware that I probably won’t see 700, at least within this calendar year. But it’s way too late to quit now.

As I left Arizona, Hurricane Harvey was wreaking havoc on Texas. Shortly after, Hurricane Irma would hit Florida. I decided to stay clear of the South for the time being and booked a spot on a pelagic trip in Maine. Previous year’s trip reports looked extremely promising, and I hoped that this year would yield similar results. I had just over a week to get from AZ to ME and knew it would take a lot of driving to get there. No pain, no gain, no Maine.

I zipped across the country, stopping in Hagerman NWR in Texas for a Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Chautauqua NWR in Illinois for a Hudsonian Godwit, and managed to snag great looks at a Connecticut Warbler (FINALLY!) in Hammond, Indiana near the shores of Lake Michigan. I visited my first roommate ever, Katie, who just happened to be visiting her hometown in Cleveland the same weekend I was passing through. We watched the Cleveland Indians set the record of twenty-two consecutive wins at a bar near where she grew up. It was quite a scene. Katie and I birded briefly in the morning and I set out towards the North East.

I checked the ABA listserv and saw a Northern Wheatear was sighted in Vermont near the New York border. The bird could not have been in a more perfect place, as it was only a half hour out of the way from my planned route. I slept briefly at a rest stop that had a picture of a black and orange bird labeled “Northern Oriole” in its visitors center— evidence that NYDOT either really doesn’t like Baltimore or doesn’t keep up with changes in ornithological taxonomy.

I drove up to Vermont and arrived to see other birders scoping the field where the wheatear was reported. Mosquitos and bluebirds were the main creatures buzzing about for hours. At about 9:30, the wheatear finally showed up and gave quite a show! It perched for a long time (like, ten whole minutes) on a post and seemed unconcerned by the thousands of dollars worth of viewing equipment pointed in its direction. The people who owned the property next store came out to view the bird and everyone was thrilled at what a successful morning it turned out to be.

I drove up through New Hampshire and got my first taste of what autumn feels and looks like. It reminded me of a time nearly three years ago, while working at a Crate and Barrel in Pasadena, California, I was folding fall-themed dishtowels with renderings of brightly-colored red, green and yellow leaves. I remember wondering if I’d ever even see the Atlantic, let alone a real, honest-to-goodness fall. Let me tell you: the colors on the trees are better than on the dishtowels.

I finally arrived in Maine and stopped to stretch my legs and bird around Gilsland Farm. I sat on a bench near the south end and checked the bird reports when I noticed that a Fork-tailed Flycatcher had been reported in Maine the same day, and the same place at Gilsland Farm! The report was posted at 11 AM and I had just gotten there at 2 PM. I grabbed my scope, hoping the bird was still hanging out, when I saw a handful of other birders all looking in the same direction—a very good sign that something has been found. I walked over and there it was, a beautiful long-tailed, highly contrasting black and white flycatcher, a wayward vagrant far from where it should be in South America. It hung around for a long time, swooping and fly-catching, then perching at the top of a tree as if to show off to the birders below. Two great birds in one day! I was thrilled, but worried that my luck would run out the next day on the pelagic trip.

The next morning, I took some dramamine and boarded a huge boat that set out to find birds on the Atlantic. The passengers came from all over, from far-away mystical places like Texas and California, even as far as Norway. The trip started off with a thick layer of fog in all directions, but I had hope that it would clear up. I kept to the front of the boat, hoping it would be the best spot to get great looks. As the wind bit my face and numbed my fingers, we saw some Black Guillemots and Northern Gannets. And we got great views of fog.

On the back of the boat, small trees were propped up as an ‘experiment’ in hopes to attract passerines lost at sea. We saw a Cape May Warbler and a Red-eyed Vireo flying confused over the Atlantic, and a juvenile Cedar Waxwing actually did make use of one of the conifers.

We did end up seeing a few species that I hadn’t seen before: Leech’s Storm-petrel, Great Shearwater, Wilson’s Storm-petrel, and Pomarine Jaeger. The Wilson’s and Pomarine we saw in Canadian waters and would not count towards a lower 48 big year.

While the storm-petrels were exciting to see, the highlight for me was the large group of Pilot Whales that came up to greet the boat. They were playful, popping their heads up or coming up and doing twirls so you could see their belly through the water., There were a couple of very young calves that were so much smaller than the rest and undeniably adorable.

The rest of the trip I spent fighting a dramamine-induced coma. Non-drowsy formula, yeah right. I stepped off the boat disappointed, tired, and hangry. I checked into a motel in Bangor to wash off the marine layer and all the dirt that I accumulated at rest stops across the country. It was hard not to feel disappointed, but I did. I went and got some greasy take-out food, a tall-boy of cheap-o beer and watched some bad reality TV; a ritual for me that makes even the worst day fade away.

That’s the nature of pelagic trips, I suppose, as well as birding in general. You might go out and see everything you want to see and more, or you might find that all the birds are everywhere you are not. But it’s still better than not going out at all.

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