Pelagic trips are the premier way to see a unique set of seabirds, and we were thrilled to join a trip hosted by Michael Brothers of the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet. These excursions venture out to the Gulf Stream, and we highly recommend them for any serious birder.
Our trip began at 2:00 a.m. on a Saturday aboard the Pastime Princess. After watching American Pharaoh win the first Triple Crown since 1978, we drove three hours from home across the state. Traffic cooperated, and we arrived in time for dinner and to watch a Tampa Bay Lightning playoff game. Despite the heat and humidity, and a couple of early arrivals who were still in party mode, we tried to grab a few hours of sleep in the car before boarding.
A Magical Sunrise at Sea
We set off on a calm night, and the slow rocking of the boat allowed us to finally catch a few winks. By first light, we were all up, scanning the horizon. There’s something truly magical about watching the sunrise on the open ocean. As the sun came up, we were greeted by Cory’s Shearwaters and Sooty Terns gliding just above the waves—the perfect start to the day.
Soon after, a pod of three Short-finned Pilot Whales swam close to the boat, giving everyone a fantastic show and great photo opportunities.
As we motored eastward for the next six hours, we saw many more Cory’s Shearwaters, along with seven Audubon’s and a couple of Great Shearwaters. We were also lucky to spot three different species of storm-petrels: Wilson’s, Band-rumped, and Leach’s. Sharon even added a Black-capped Petrel to her year and life lists. We traveled 103 miles from land before reaching the Gulf Stream, and then it was time to turn back.
The return trip to port was a bit slower, but we added a few more sightings, including several Sooty, Royal, and Sandwich Terns. As we came within sight of land, a pod of Atlantic Spotted Dolphin raced toward our boat, offering a perfect end to an amazing day of pelagic birding. A special thanks to Michael Brothers for sharing his photos of the Sooty Tern, Wilson’s Storm-Petrel, and Atlantic Spotted Dolphin with the group of veteran bird guides.
Back on Land, and Closer to Our Goal
The following Saturday, we were back on land and on the hunt for our next target bird. We drove to the Brooksville area, following a report on eBird, and were ecstatic to find a Mississippi Kite right where it was supposed to be. Success rates like this are only about 50%, so it was a huge win. We also picked up two more year birds, the Carolina Chickadee and the Tufted Titmouse.
As of June 14th, our year list stands at 351 birds, leaving us with just 149 to go to reach our goal of 500!
Next up: Free Birds & Jail Birds in the Adirondacks
Trip : Total Species: 38 Year Birds: 11 Life Birds: 6
2015 : Year Birds: 351 Life Birds: 31
Here’s the list: 2015 Bird List
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