Several birders joined us on our monthly trip aboard the Seven Seas Whale Watch boat on Saturday, 7/23/16…

We were happy to find the YELLOW CROWNED NIGHT HERON on the flats behind the Ticket and Gift shop for the Seven Seas Whale Watch…

The day at sea was delightful. A cool way to bird on a hot summer day (around 90 degrees F on land, 70 out at sea). We were taken to the northwest corner of Stellwagon Banks. Along the way we encountered 350 White-sided dolphins along with several CORY’s Shearwaters and a Gannet. Soon after that we came across 50 Bottle-nosed dolphins…2Minke whales and 3 Hump-back whales. Then a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH came aboard, fluttered around occasionally, finally deciding to hitch a ride back to shore with us… Our total list below:

Cory’s Shearwater 47 (probably low)

Great Shearwater 1

Sooty Shearwater 2

Manx Shearwater 1

Wilson’s Storm-petrel 6

Northern Gannet 3

Double-crested Cormorant 12

Great Egret 1

Semipalmated Sandpiper 1 (seen by others)

Herring Gulls – Lots

Great Black Back Gulls – lots

Bonaparte’s Gull 1

Laughing Gull 2 (seen by others)

Common Tern 6

Peregrine Falcon (on the Gloucester Town Hall)

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH 1 (a hitch hiker)

Ida Giriunas

Reading, MA