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Fantastic pelagic in NC



Cape Hatteras Trip  28  30 July 2000

Observers: Peter G. Saenger and Steve P. Fordyce.

This trip was for a pelagic trip with Brian Patteson on the 29th out of
Hatteras Inlet, N.C., with a few brief stops on the drive to and from Hatteras.

Left home at 08:40 (20,422) and made it to the Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel
at 13:40. (20,716) We birded the first island for about 30 minutes and
found Ruddy Turnstones, Western Sandpipers, Spotted Sandpipers, great looks
at Common Terns on the rocks, Brown Pelicans flying by, Black Skimmer,
Laughing, Herring, and Black-backed Gulls, and also saw four Skates
swimming by just under the surface of the water in a "diamond" formation
(each at a point).

Arrived on the Outer Banks and Pea Island Wildlife Refuge at 16:45. A walk
out the dike to the end platform provided us with great looks at a good
number of Little Blue Herons in various plumage's, including one
"Dalmatian" looking biding in molt, as well as White and Glossy Ibis, Snowy
and Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Tricolored Herons, Cattle Egrets, and
Sandwich Terns. One Common Loon in basic Plumage was a surprise, as well as
the posting of a Roseate Spoonbill (which we did not see).

We made it to Hatteras and the Burrus Motel Court (252-986-2363) sometime
after 20:00 and about 452 miles. The hotel was simple, but clean,
comfortable, and inexpensive for peak-season ($48.00), and right across the
street from Oden's Dock, where the boat was leaving from in the morning.
After checking in, we went and had a late dinner of Dolphin (the fish) at a
restaurant just up the street (Channel Bass) that was really good.

29th
At the dock at 05:50. Around 06:00 Brian called us (about 25 people) to
board the Miss Hatteras for what turned out to be an incredible day in more
ways than one!

It was a warm mid-seventies as the Miss Hatteras pulled from the dock and
down the sound toward Hatteras Inlet and the Gulf Stream, with Royal Terns,
ibis, herons, egrets, gulls, and pelicans giving us a warm-up for the day's
species. Towering thunderheads reflected the first rays of the rising sun,
with flashes of lightening occasionally streaking to the calm sea below.

It took about two hours to cruise out to deeper, warmer waters and the true
beginning of our pelagic experience. Slowly the water changed from a
greenish-blue to a deep, clear blue, what is called "Blue Water". At points
in the day we had over 6,000 feet of water under us. As we approached the
Gulf Stream the water temperature went to 83 F. and you could actually feel
the warmth when you leaned over the railing.

The first pelagic species seen were Wilson's Storm-Petrels and individual
Cory's Shearwaters. Everybody was at the railing trying to get looks as
they flew around us, skimming the waves, but Brain assured us that as we
went further out we'd see plenty of them- he was right!

We slowed to trolling speed and the crew set 6 lines out to troll for
marlin, Wahoo and Dolphin (the fish), and Butch started his special fish
oil slick dripper, which leaves a trail of fish oil (and other unknown
ingredients) behind the boat for the birds (and other fish lovers) to
follow to us. About an hour later we started running into a great number of
Cory's Shearwater's and also Greater, Audubon's, Manx (1), and a few
Black-capped Petrels. Suddenly, it was noticed that we had company; at
least two Maco Sharks were cruising up the fish oil slick towards the boat.
I only managed to see their dorsal fins, but the thought of swimming
quickly left our minds.

At 10:40 Butch (the spotter stationed on the stern-nothing gets by Butch)
called out "TROPICBIRD!" There it was (my target species and many other's)
flying in toward the boat. An incredible bird, white with intricate black
markings, bright yellow-orange bill and a long streaming tail against a
blue sky. Wow! To make the moment even better, the bird flew to the boat
and then circled us a couple of times at about 50 feet, watching us. What a
bird! I was really happy and a quick look around the deck showed a lot of
smiling faces. If we'd gone back to port right then and there, the trip
would have been a success and I believe a few others felt the same way, but
little did we know how much more the day held for us!

As we trolled through the Gulf Stream, we kept finding groups of Cory's.
Greater, and Audubon's Shearwaters sitting on the water, offering fantastic
looks. With quite regularity we started also finding Pomarine Jaegers in
with them. What a sight to be able to study the field marks at close range
on a calm sea in good light! We started to increase our species list with a
Leach's Storm-Petrel. Then the Band-rumped Storm-Petrels joined us, and
more Pomarine Jaegers. The experience could not get better, or so we thought.

We began seeing pods of Dolphins, the mammals this time and they wanted to
play! A group of them, including a small young one, rode our bow wave for
quite a distance. This happened a number of times through the afternoon.
You could look straight down at them as they were almost under the hull,
riding the push from the bow, just under the surface. One female with a
young one, would roll as she swam and look right at you while you stared
down in wonder at them. You could see into their blow-hole and hear them
breath! At this point, I wished I had my daughter with me to see this; she
would have been awed by it!

Sooty Terns began put in their appearance and offering fantastic views, as
well as a few Black Terns, and a continued presence of all of the other
previously seen species. The numbers and views offered were just more than
anyone could have asked for. At times we had dozens of various species of
shearwaters all around the boat, Band-rumped and Wilson's Storm-Petrels,
and Black-capped Petrels flying with them, and a jaeger mixed-in as well! A
Pilot Whale was seen off the boat, adding to our sea-mammal list for the day.

We started to see patches of Sargasso seaweed and at one of the larger
patches we stopped to try for Dolphin (the fish- Maui-Maui). Smaller rods
were baited and the crew quickly caught one. If you have never seen a
living dolphin in the water, you just can not appreciate how beautiful they
are. The ones you see on the walls of restaurants, all painted with bright
blues, greens, and yellows are how they look! Just imagine looking down
into clear "blue water" and seeing schools of fish with those colors all
around! This alone is worth the trip! To top it off, they must be one of
the best tasting fish I've ever had. The dolphin hit quickly and many of
the birders took turns fighting a fish and pulling them in. As fast as the
crew could set a rod, another person would be there, as well as another
fish to fight. This is a bonus of the North Carolina trips that you will
not usually find further north on a pelagic birding trip. One of the
Dolphin was a Pompano Dolphin, very rare in these waters.

Back to birding or so we thought! After the excitement of the fishing, we
went back to watching the groups of birds around us. People started to let
their minds wander, since we'd all had unusually great looks at most, if
not all the expected species for the season. Just when things seemed to be
slowing down, someone yelled WHALE! This time, Sperm Wales. I believe the
count was three, slowing cruising along, blowing great clouds of steam into
the air. As we closed slowing in on them, one suddenly came shooting out of
the water and came crashing down with a tremendous SPLASH! What sight and a
good many wows! were heard around the boat! The day just kept getting
better and better.

It was getting to mid-afternoon and people started to fade a bit, not even
getting up when another jaeger was called! We'd had numerous great looks at
most of the expected species and the day had been just incredible. Suddenly
a Bridled Tern was called and people started to move again. This was a
species I'd thought would be seen frequently, especially more so than the
Sooty Tern, for which I'd traveled to the Dry Tortugas to see, not so on
this trip. Most people (but one) had good looks at the Bridled Tern as it
flew around the boat. It was getting late and it was time to turn toward
shore. As we picked-up speed and were now "fast" trolling, many began
counting their life species for the day and turned their thoughts to a
shower and a good dinner.

But, there it was again, a sudden loud yell! Except this time it was FISH!
FISH! FISH! Ron, the crew member in charge of the lines was yelling that we
had a FISH on a line and that it felt like a marlin. The boat slowed as a
Blue Marlin came streaking out of the depths and began a tail-walk across
the surface behind the boat!

A frantic moment of getting Jamie into a fighting harness (holds the rod to
the person) and getting him to the front of the boat to a position to
better fight the fish. Imagine having a rod clipped to your body and
walking along a rocking boat, all the while a fish bigger than you is
trying to run for it's life and pulling you!

It was an incredible sight to watch both Jamie trying to reel the fish to
us and the fish trying to get away. Jamie would reel in a few hundred feet
of line and then the fish would make a run, taking it all back, then shoot
out of the water, do a dance, and then go deep. This test of endurance,
both for the fish and Jamie, continued for about 45 minutes.

At one point during this, it was pointed out that the fishing line ran from
the tip of the rod, away from the boat and through a patch of Sargasso
seaweed and directly to a Bridled Tern, just sitting there, 40 feet from
the boat! The one person that still needed a good look at this species was
quickly found and good looks were had by all.

Slowly, ever so slowly, the line was reeled in and finally the great fish
was brought along side the boat. Only then could we see the great size of
it; estimated at 250 lbs.! The policy is catch and release, and the leader
was cut and the fish quickly swam back to the deep. I was told that the
hook would quickly come-out and the fish would be fine. Wow, what a sight
to watch!

OK, back to heading for shore, this time a little faster than before.
Everybody was settled into their places and turning their thoughts to
shore, when there it was again; a loud yell! But, this time it was SKUA! Of
course, it was from Butch at the stern of the boat.

A beautiful South Polar Skua was sitting among a group of shearwaters about
50 feet off the side of the boat. We had great looks at it, before the
group flew from the water and then the Skua showed us how it eats by
harassing the shearwaters, all the time giving us the looks we wanted!

Ok, one more time, we headed back to shore. We got back to the dock at 6:00
PM, from what had to be one of the best pelagic trips anyone could hope to
be one. We had most, if not all the expected species and fantastic views of
all of them, and an incredible list of sea life to add to that!

The trip was made even more enjoyable by the friendly and helpful crew of
the Miss Hatteras. Captain Spurgeon Stowe really goes for the birds, the
crew takes good care of you, the galley keeps you well fed, and the fact
that Brian has people stationed around the boat to help with identification
and spotting really makes the trip an enjoyable learning event.

Time for the usual disclaimer, that I have no personal or professional ties
to the Miss Chris or Brian Patteson, but I can highly recommend either one
if you have the chance to be in North Carolina! For those that are
interested, Brian has a web site at: http://www.patteson.com/ for more
information.



Species list

Black-capped Petrel- 176
Cory's Shearwater- 1156
Greater- 293
Manx- 1
Audubon's- 85
Wilson's Storm-Petrel- 281
Leach's- 1
Band-rumped- 32
White-tailed Tropicbird- 1
Pomarine Jaeger- 19
South Polar Skua- 2
Sooty tern- 86
Bridled- 2
Bottlenose Dolphin- 44
Spotted Dolphin- 2
Pilot Whale- 1
Sperm Whale- 2
Blue Marlin- one 250 pounder caught and released
Dolphin- several including one Pompano Dolphin (very rare)

Our leaders were Butch Pearce, Jamie Cameron, Marshall Iliff, Diane Andre
(counter) and Brian Patteson. The Captain was Spurgeon Stowe, who owns the Miss
Hatteras
--
Peter G. Saenger
Alburtis, PA
crex@early.com

[forwarded from birdchat by carolinabirds-owner]