Summer 2021, August 8-16, trips to Seal Island

 Summer 2021, August 8-16,  trips to Seal Island

this @13" Silver Hake,  spit up buy frightened Gannet, 

looks like it was a sunfish,  I did see several little sharks, in late July, @6"

Gail Mary crossing the reach, 

Black Ducks at seal Island

Gannet

this Great White Cormorant,  appearing quite dark from behind 

what I believe is a lesser Black-back, at seal Island

Lesser Black-back,  Seal Island

Bald Eagle in White Spruce, on Otter Island

Again the Great White, from the back looking mostly black, though you can see the yellow foot,

Great White Yellow-footed Cormorant,

Common Loon

young eagle, in the Puffin nesting area on the eastern end of Seal Island. 

Great White Yellow-footed Cormorant,

young yellow-crowned Night Heron, Yellow line yellow wire.

White Spruce tree featuring, fledgling Bald Eagle, 

Fledgling, Great White Yellow-footed Cormorant, down on the edge of the water indicating disturbance by eagles at this the home of most of the Great Cormorants nests in the USA during recent years. 

40 this spring of a total of 45, there were only 30 last year.

This gain is only the second such gain, in number of nesting pairs during the last 30 years

they go to the shore so they can get int he water and dive to avoid foraging eagles.

Breeding plumage Bonapartes Gull

I think this is this years laughing gull, 

Nat Bray, In The Reach,

Grey Seals

Common Murre, aka Guillemot, I think that band had slipped down and was pinching the starboard flipper.

Recently they have started breeding on Matinicus Rock, though I don't think they band them there.

this years Bonartes Gull

photos from Trips July 29-Aug 8, Vinalhaven to Seal Island

 Photos from trips July 29-Aug 8,  Vinalhaven to Seal Island.

the head and neck of  Spirit Cormorant

Adult Peregrine,  zooming around the back side of Seal.

Peregrine, in front of rock face

Grey seals posing

still there, still different,

Red-billed Tropicbird, el pájaro milagroso.

Rudy turnstone

Puffins, some ashore, many afloat.

Black Swallowtail,  SW cove, seal Island

Eagles on Otter Island

Chuck, and crew, and flounder

Greater shearwater

Great White Cormorant

red-necked phalarope

Black guillemots, back shore of Seal Island

Greater shearwater along side

young eagle and adult, Otter Island

Common Murre, aka Guillemot,  

Harlequin duck,  Little Brimstone.

Peregrine, western head, Seal Island

the terns did poorly this summer due to having a hard time finding forage, as did the puffins, the Cormorants did not seem to have similar difficulties. 

photos July 20-28, 2021, trips to Seal Island & Matinicus Rock.

photos July 20-28, 2021,  trips to Seal Island & Matinicus Rock

Red-billed Tropicbird, Seal Island

Jeff aboard the Shunty

adult and Immature eagle on Otter Island

Harlequin Duck,  near Brimstone, 

Manx shearwater, 

Red-shouldered hawk, with Green Snake

Red shouldered Hawk, with Green Snake,   Green's Island.

the primaries on this Great White Cormorant were dark, according to Elaine that should make them stronger than if they were white, maybe that is why some white birds have dark wing tips, gannets, tropicbirds, gulls, for the most part.

From the Bull Rock series, young eagle Bull Rock.

Great White cormorant, and some just Great Cormorants

Red-Billed Tropicbird.

getting crowded on the nest platform.

 

Norther, Red-necked or. Needle-billed Phalerope 

there is one Manx amongst the greater shearwater

Greateer shearwater, there was a bunch of these over by Matinicus Rock regularly during mid summer.

landing at Matinicus Rock, on a fine day

Double-crested Cormorants at Wooden Ball.

Wilson's petrels

Wilsons Petrel

Greater Shearwater, Gannet, and a couple of Razorbills.

Breeding plumage Bonapartes Gull,  rare in the bay.