After having to cancel in 2020, we were thrilled to be on the water on Friday, June 11, for our annual “Seabirds of Matinicus Rock” trip out of New Harbor. Aboard the Hardy III, captained by Al Crocetti of Hardy Boat, we took a full day ride out of Muscongus Bay, cruising 25 miles to one of the largest seabird colonies in the Gulf of Maine, at Matinicus Rock. This trip offers one of the most impressive shows of alcids (Atlantic Puffins, Razorbills, Common Murres, and Black Guillemots) that can be had out of a Maine harbor, includes a long stretch of open water for early pelagic species, and visits nesting colonies close and far from shore allowing for good comparisons of Common, Arctic, and Roseate Terns.
After leaving New Harbor, we motored around Eastern Egg Rock, the site where Steve Kress first reintroduced puffins in 1973. Here we saw good numbers of Atlantic Puffins and Black Guillemots, plus a few north-bound migrating shorebirds including Ruddy Turnstones in their breeding plumage. We stopped by again briefly on our way back and found a late Purple Sandpiper here as well.
This early in the summer we don’t expect to see too many pelagic species (specifically tubenoses), plus the cold water and rocky conditions were definitely limiting factors, but we did have a handful of Northern Gannets and at least one Wilson’s Storm-petrel during our long open water crossings.
The highlight of the trip was of course Matinicus Rock itself. The numbers of nesting seabirds out there is wonderful to see. Razorbills performed courtships displays as they flew around the boat, puffins paired up with bill-clacking on the water, and 30+ Common Murres were spotted around the island, these murres being the newest recolonizing nesters on the island, finally fledging a chick just last year. Three Great Cormorants, while not breeding on the island, were also a special highlight.
Many thanks to Al Crocetti and the crew from Hardy Boat for their excellent service and phenomenal work educating the public and providing opportunities to see these seabirds. Also thanks to Ed Jenkins for keeping track of the birds we saw in eBird (links below).
Join us for a Sunset Puffin Cruise this summer, on July 10 and July 23, or if you are interested in-harder-to find pelagic like shearwaters, jaegers, and skuas, you won’t want to miss our Bar Harbor Pelagic on September 11.
eBird Lists:
We keep segmented eBird checklists during these trips to make sure birds are reported in the proper locations. You can click the “view” link next to each checklist to see species seen during each segment. The “share” link is for anyone who was on the trip to add the list to their own eBird account.
New Harbor, Bristol – View – Share
Eastern Egg Rock – View – Share
Segment I – View – Share
Segment II – View – Share
Segment III – View – Share
Segment IV – View – Share
Segment V – View – Share
Matinicus Rock – View – Share
Segment VI – View – Share
Segment VII – View – Share
Segment VIII – View – Share
Segment IX – View – Share
Eastern Egg Rock – View – Share
