Late summer is usually a busy time, filled with pre-work preparations and plenty of outdoor exploration as vacation ends and migration begins. This year I was fortunate enough to join a pair of offshore journeys with See Life Paulagics. The first was a two-day cruise from Point Pleasant, New Jersey on the Voyager in mid-August. The latter was a September … Read More
Migrants and Mysticetes
Weather and fall pelagic trips often don’t mix well. The September two-day trip out of Hyannis, Massachusetts that I hoped to attend with the Brookline Birding Club was regrettably called off due to interference from the remnants of Hurricane Florence. The cancellation was a bit of a letdown, but I told myself that I was satisfied with the offshore action … Read More
New York’s Magic Pelagic
Pelagic birding trips appeal to my inner explorer. Searching for wildlife on the high seas offers a special kind of thrill, an opportunity to break from more typical, terrestrial efforts and visit a realm beyond the boundaries of humanity’s collective comfort zone. The inhabitants of this habitat are inherently fascinating in their adaptations and lifestyles. Truly monumental surprises can occur … Read More
Listing Priorities
The week began with a Barred Owl. Just minutes after midnight, my tired brain registered a series of emphatic hoots somewhere in the woods beyond the campground loop. I smiled as I continued preparing for bed. It had been 14 months since I last encountered the species, which is essentially unheard of on Long Island. These birds are quite common … Read More
Lewes Pelagic – June 4th, 2016
Another boatload of anxious birders gathered at Fisherman’s Wharf in Lewes this past Friday evening for an overnight Seelife Paulagics trip into Maryland (and a little bit of Delaware) waters. Weather conditions looked fantastic for the day ahead with light east winds, a very low chance of rain, 3-4 foot waves, and 70 degree water out on the continental shelf. Paul … Read More
Cape May Pelagic – February 6th, 2015
This past Saturday was the Cape May See Life Paulagics trip, and our boat-full of eager birders were in for a great day on the ocean. We sailed out of the Cape May canal while the first hint of light rose above the horizon, passing 2 Harlequin Ducks, 7 Great Cormorants, 30 American Oystercatchers, and a nice spattering of the usual seaducks around … Read More
The August Brooklyn Pelagic a.k.a pterodroma magic
For the 3rd August in a row, I’ve managed to find myself on Paulagics fantastic overnight pelagics. This year they have moved to a new boat, the Brooklyn IV, and a new dock in Brooklyn which is more convenient than the old spot in Freeport. There had been several fantastic pelagics just north and south of us recently, including double-digit … Read More
Belmar Paulagic – Jan. 2, 2015
See Life Paulagics kicked off it’s 2015 winter pelagic line-up with an 8 hour trip out of Belmar, New Jersey on January 2nd. This short trip stayed close to shore, and we had great weather, and fairly calm seas which helped to make this the perfect trip for birders new to the pelagic scene. A constant stream of chum behind the … Read More
Freeport Pelagic: Birds with Friends
Years ago, back when the Internet was younger, Nemesis Bird sprang forth from a group of young Pennsylvania birders who met each other working field jobs and chasing rare birds. Nowadays, we find ourselves scattered across the map. We’ve always gone where the jobs were–that’s nothing new–but our increasingly adult lifestyles and (thankfully) increasingly professional work situations make it increasingly … Read More
Rain with a chance of shearwaters – Lewes Paulagic
This past Saturday, fellow NemesisBird contributor Tim Shreckengost and I joined Paul Guris‘ seabirding crew and about 30 other birders from mostly Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania on a 12 hour pelagic trip out of Lewes aboard the trusty Thelma Dale IV. The morning started off with heavy rain. I was too excited to be cooped up inside though, so Tim and … Read More