August 15, phalerope, petrels and Gannets in the landscape

August 15,

Phalerope, petrels and gannets in the landscape,

 Northern phalerope, aka red-necked

 A gang of Wilson's petrels, flush from roosting on the water, Hurricane the White Islands and Camden Hills beyond.

a couple of young gannets, Heron Neck light beyond,  and Bald Rock mountain?

August 13,

August 13,

mink, in the morning.

 The cormorant nests on Little Roberts were abandoned, the young move towards the shore, this indicates that eagles have been foraging here.

Adult great cormorant and 3 double crested, at least two of which appear to be fledgelings.
the birds are close to the shore so that when the eagles come by they can seek refuge underwater. In recent years there has been little or no recruitment to the great cormorant population in the area.

I doesn't take much to get the cormorants moving, this is the first of the season,  a group of passing double crested cormorant, headed SW

the young cormorants have left the nest platforms on Seal island as well.

Rudy Turnstones at Little brimstone.

August 11, VHaven to Seal to Rockland.

August 11, Pick up team from Seal Island, deliver to Rockland.

What are they looking at?

la bandera,

honoring the pajaro loco tropical, 10 year seasonal resident of the area, an individual persisting in loyalty to terrain greatly removed from its natal island, despite associated complications, violating tradition and contradicting its given name.

Keenan, Isabelle, Stacey, Seal Island 016, another great crew,  unloading in Rockland, I think that Isabelle was primary artist.

Vinalhaven turbines behind shag rock,

turbines over ledges

August 10th, trip to Seal Island.

August 10th, trip to Seal,

A gang of Laughing gulls roosting in the western bite of Seal Island.

Puffins in Murre cove,

a couple of the blinds observers use on the island.

there was a gannet roosting on the SW corner,

I include this poor photo of a sooty shearwater because its the only one I got.

The legendary almost Ivory Black-back was seen at one of its old haunts, the gravel bar on Little brimstone.

This bird has been around the bay for a decade or so, at least.

August 9, Matinicus Rock, Puffins, Eagles, evidence of peregrines.

August 9,  trip to pick up the team on Matinicus Rock and take them to Rockland.

 as usual there was a gang of Puffins paddling round the anchorage these two were quite tame to curious

note the bow wave this bird is pushing,

Due to a last minute shuffling of days, I arrived to collect the team of observers 24 hours earlier than expected, despite that they gamely hustled and got ready fast, meanwhile I got a chance to be ashore for a spell and got some pics of Puffins lugging in feed.

They were quite busy.  even at midday,

Arctic tern head,  probably a peregrine ate it.

On the way back to Vinalhaven from Rockland, there was a pair of eagles preforming,

they were flying around together being very conspicuous,

Great blue heron, double crested cormorant,  Talbot's Island.

aug 5,

August 5th,

doves preening on staging, in the morning,

Turn The Paige,  east of Otter,

herring gull pursuing young bald eagle,  at Otter Island.

This tropic bird does inspire,  here a great flag made on Seal Island Isabelle was the primary artist I believe.

link to Map o fbay with some possible routes

This is a test to see if this address will get you to a map with possible routes for boat rides from Vinalhaven.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1vvougjM6yUOxYWTsNzy-SW5_QXs&ll=44.211107179774444%2C-68.74814987363266&z=10