Pelagic Trip Report

February 12, 2005

08/01/05

 

Click on any image below to enlarge the picture.

Trip Route:

GA-Pelagic-trip-feb-12-2005.jpg (77205 bytes)

 

Species encountered:

Razorbill - 106

Manx Shearwater -2

Black-legged Kittiwake - 4

Red Phalarope - 315

Red-throated Loon - 6

Common Loon - 9

Northern Gannet - 141

Bonaparte's Gull - 183

Greater Black-backed Gull - 1

Herring Gull - 6

Black Scoter. - 6

 

 

Birds Photographed:

Razorbill

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RAZO-GA-2-12-05-0198.jpg (41294 bytes)

RAZO-GA-2-12-05-0196.jpg (37301 bytes)

RAZO-GA-2-12-05-0045.jpg (31870 bytes)

RAZO-GA-2-12-05-0038.jpg (33636 bytes)

 

Black-legged Kittiwake

BLKI-GA-2-12-05-0237.jpg (39364 bytes)

BLKI-GA-2-12-05-0182.jpg (21037 bytes)

BLKI-GA-2-12-05-0124.jpg (37016 bytes)

BLKI-GA-2-12-05-0119.jpg (39855 bytes)

Red Phalarope

REPH-GA-2-12-05-0078.jpg (32734 bytes)

REPH-GA-2-12-05-0080.jpg (56732 bytes)

REPH-GA-2-12-05-0067.jpg (43797 bytes)

Northern Gannet

NOGA-GA-2-12-05-0014.jpg (24033 bytes)

NOGA-GA-2-12-05-0020.jpg (30164 bytes)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pelagic Trip (Tybee I., GA, Departure)
12 February 2005
Data, photos and text provided by Bob Zaremba

Conditions Seas 2 -4 feet, partly cloudy becoming mostly sunny, temperature 40 - 55F, Winds Westerly at 5 Knots.
No. of Species 11

On 12 February 2005, a pelagic trip departed from Tybee Island, GA at approximately 6:40AM.  The trip was organized by Russ Wigh, and 11 birders accompanied Captain Steve Amick for a nice ride out to sea.  The seas were between two and four feet on the ride out and the weather was clearing.  On the ride out, starting at approximately 7:00AM, we encountered our first species, six RED-THROATED LOONS were seen flying by the boat.  Not a bad start to the day, as this species is always nice to see on pelagic trips.  We also passed by several COMMON LOONS and a group of BLACK SCOTER.  The plan for the day was to leave the dock a little later than the normal departure time for pelagic trips and work our way out to sea slowly since our target species were not expected that far offshore.

Our strategy paid off and at about 7:45AM we encountered our first target species.  We got great looks at six RAZORBILL fairly close to the boat!  There were also a very large number (approximately 50) NORTHERN GANNET and BONAPARTE'S GULL (approx 70).     

We cruised along for about an hour and where able to locate several more groups of Razorbill, Bonaparte's Gulls and Northern Gannet, as well as the first RED PHALAROPE for the day.  At approximately 8:35AM, we found the first MANX SHEARWATER, another life bird for many birders on the trip!  

By 9:30AM, we had worked our way out to the R2 Navy Tower.  Along the way, we added to our counts of Red Phalarope and Bonaparte's Gulls.  At the tower, we found several HERRING GULLS and a single BLACK-BACKED GULL, along with several more Common Loons, Northern Gannets and FORSTER'S TERN.  

Over the next few hours we continued to cruise along and continued to increase the counts of Red Phalaropes, Bonaparte's Gulls and Northern Gannets.

The next new species came at 12:50PM when we located two BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, another life bird for many of the participants!  The birds were seen well and close to the boat for good observation.  At 1:30PM, we came upon a group of 17 Razorbills and another Black-legged Kittiwake!

The highlight of the day for many aboard, came at 1:45PM when we came upon a large group of birds on the water.   As we slowly approached the birds, we quickly realized that we were looking out a group of over 50 Razorbills!   What a sight to see in Georgia!    As we were quietly observing the Razorbills and photographing them, the second Manx Shearwater lifted off the water in front of us for excellent views by all aboard.  Just to make this experience even more enthralling, another Black-legged Kittiwake was seen as well!   

For the remainder of the day, we cruised around and added another 21 Razorbills, and scores more Red Phalaropes to the day's list. 

We arrived back at the Tybee dock at 3:45PM.  All agreed that this had been the most successful and exciting winter pelagic trip that we had ever taken off Georgia.  The combination of great weather and great birds was unbeatable!   We ended the day with 11 species seen on the ocean, and a total of 106 Razorbills, 2 Manx Shearwaters, 4 Black-legged Kittiwake, 315 Red Phalarope, 141 Northern Gannet and 183 Bonaparte's Gulls!   

It was an incredible day at sea!

The full results below can also be viewed in PDF format by clicking here; GA-Pelagic-trip-Report-2-12-05.pdf

 

These pictures were taken on 2/12/2005 while on a pelagic trip that left Tybee Island  by Bob Zaremba, unless otherwise noted.

Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photograph.

   

February 12, 2005 Pelagic Trip out of Tybee Island, GA  
         
Departing Tybee dock at 6:40AM    
         
Returning Tybee dock at 3:45PM    
         
Weather: Clear and Cool, 40-55F, Winds Westerly at 5kts, Seas 2 - 4 out to 30 nautical miles
         
Leader: Russ Wigh      
Participants; Bob Zaremba, Gene Keferl, Steve Barlow, Pierre Howard, Helena Wood, Deb Zaremba
  Leo Virant, Dan Vickers, Steve Calver, Chris Feeney, Jeff Sewell  
Time Count Species Position County
7:02 6 Red-throated Loon Chatham
7:05 2 Common Loon Chatham
7:13 7 Loon sp. Chatham
7:15 6 Black Scoter   Chatham
7:45 6 Razorbill N 31 46.93  W 80 43.31 Chatham
  50 Northern Gannet N 31 46.93  W 80 43.31 Chatham
  70 Bonaparte's Gull N 31 46.93  W 80 43.31 Chatham
8:00 9 Razorbill N 31 46.28  W 80 44.08 Chatham
  40 Bonaparte's Gull N 31 46.28  W 80 44.08 Chatham
  4 Red Phalarope N 31 46.28  W 80 44.08 Chatham
8:15 2 Razorbill N 31 44.37  W 80 42.20 Chatham
  18 Bonaparte's Gull N 31 44.37  W 80 42.20 Chatham
  5 Northern Gannet N 31 44.37  W 80 42.20 Chatham
8:35 1 Manx Shearwater N 31 42.17  W 80 41.20 Liberty
9:15 15 Red Phalarope   Liberty
9:30 38 Red Phalarope N 31 25.79  W 80 35.82 McIntosh
  15 Bonaparte's Gull N 31 25.79  W 80 35.82 McIntosh
  1 Great Black-backed Gull N 31 25.79  W 80 35.82 McIntosh
  6 Herring Gull N 31 25.79  W 80 35.82 McIntosh
  4 Common Loon N 31 25.79  W 80 35.82 McIntosh
7 Northern Gannet N 31 25.79  W 80 35.82 McIntosh
11:50 75 Red Phalarope N 31 41.65  W 80 39.55 Liberty
5 Bonaparte's Gull N 31 41.65  W 80 39.55 Liberty
12:20 2 Red Phalarope N 31 45.07  W 80 36.41 Chatham
30 Bonaparte's Gull N 31 45.07  W 80 36.41 Chatham
12:50 2 Black-legged Kittiwake N 31 45.37  W 80 38.06 Chatham
20 Northern Gannet N 31 45.37  W 80 38.06 Chatham
40 Red Phalarope N 31 45.37  W 80 38.06 Chatham
3 Common Loon N 31 45.37  W 80 38.06 Chatham
1:30 17 Razorbill N 31 45.82  W 80 38 52 Chatham
1 Black-legged Kittiwake N 31 45.82  W 80 38 52 Chatham
40 Northern Gannet N 31 45.82  W 80 38 52 Chatham
100 Red Phalarope N 31 45.82  W 80 38 52 Chatham
1:45 52 Razorbill N 31 46.40  W 80 36.29 Chatham
1 Manx Shearwater N 31 46.40  W 80 36.29 Chatham
1 Black-legged Kittiwake N 31 46.40  W 80 36.29 Chatham
2:05 21 Razorbill N 31 47.17  W 80 38.74 Chatham
2:30-3:30 41 Red Phalarope Chatham
23 Northern Gannet Chatham
786 Total Individuals counted
Totals   Pelagic Species    
  106 Razorbill   New GA High Count
  2 Manx Shearwater    
  4 Black-legged Kittiwake   Tied GA High Count, set 18 Feb, 1984
  315 Red Phalarope    
  6 Red-throated Loon    
  9 Common Loon    
  141 Northern Gannet    
  183 Bonaparte's Gull    
  1 Great Black-backed Gull    
         
  767      
         
    Other Species    
    Royal Tern    
    Forster's Tern    
    Brown Pelican    
    Double-creasted Cormorant    
    Laughing Gull    
    Black Scoter    
    Herring Gull    
    American Oystercatcher    
    Ring-billed Gull    
         
         
         
Also seen were ;      
   many Spotted Dolphin    
         
         

 

 

 

  

 

   

 

    

 

 

 

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