Birding the Bar Harbor Whale Watching and Puffins Trip Yesterday

Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica

Yesterday after we boarded the high-speed catamaran to embark on the trip, the naturalist and then the captain both warned us that they planned to do everything they could to assure we saw whales, and that might include extending the planned 3 12-4hour trip as long as 6+ hours, and that if anyone could not be out that long they should get off the boat now. This proved to be the case, as only one Minke Whale was seen at the usual stop, and we extended the trip into Canadian waters 45+ miles from Bar Harbor, and we got back at 6 PM, just 6 hours after leaving at noon. Shortly after leaving port we started to see Common Eider, mostly flying males, as the females were on nests, the males having done their job and leaving the females to tend to the nest and young.

Common Eider Somateria mollissima There are the largest of the eider family of sea ducks, and the largest duck in Europe, and in the Americas only the Muscovy Duck is larger. Famous for their down, the females line their nests with down pulled from their breasts, and more in the past than now were used for pillows, quilts and parkas. There are still some commercial down farms in Iceland.

Flock of alcids, mostly Razorbills with one Atlantic Puffin

We headed straight for Petit Manan Island, a breeding island for alcids and terns, where the “Puffin” part of the trip was featured. It proved up to its billing, with good numbers of Atlantic Puffins, Razorbills, at least 2 Murre, scattered Black Guillemots and large flocks of terns over the island. Photos were many, though the light made good shots tough. Here are a few.

Razorbill Alca torda These are a large black-and white alcid, with a very thick bill and a white line throught the bill.

Terns swarming over the nesting island, a mix of Common, Roseate, and likely Arctic Terns, though I cannot ID them from this photo. The fellow in the sombrero is a naturalist. He wears the sombrero to keep from getting hurt by attacking terns. He found it works, and does not hurt the terns like a workman's hard hat. Cool discovery!

From here we headed out whale watching. I was fortunate to find a birding club trip from Texas on the bow, and together we looked for pelagic birds. By far the most numerous species was Great Shearwater. These are summer visitors here, nesting on a few islands in the South Atlantic. Also present in good numbers were Wilson’s Storm Petrel, a smaller but good number of Leach’s Storm-petrel, a few Sooty Shearwatger, Northern Fulmar, and Northern Gannets.

Great Shearwater Ardenna gravis

Great Shearwater taking flight.

Wilson’s Storm-petrel * Oceanites oceanicus*

Great Shearwater

Northen Gannet Morus bassanus badly backlit unfortunatelly. This was one of the few adults we saw, most were browner immatures.

After missing big whales in U.S. waters we headed north to Canadian Waters for a Humpback Whale show. We had up to 10 Humpbacks very near the boat, feeding, and seeming to play. We got looks at them swimming, blowing, and good looks at tail flukes and flipper slapping. We stayed with them for at least an hour, and storm petrels entertained the birders while we were there.

Humpback Whales Megaptera novaeangliae lying on their sides slapping their big white pectoral fins on the water.

Humpback tail shot

Another individuals tail.

A little Minke Whale playing with the Humbpacks. This species, per our naturalist, was considered too small to be of great commercial value, and has become very numerous, expanding to fill the void left by depleted numbers of larger baleen whales.

After a long, and cold ride back to port, we all felt satisfied with our looks at both whales and the common seabirds.

Until next time, good birding. Steem on.
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