Hopefully Mattie will send me some pictures to post. David's camera, affectionately know as "Nikki," got sea sick and was unable to capture any full images. This was a fun and productive trip and I recommend it. (Plus Keith did all the driving!) I hope they do it again. I am attaching the link to Boston's Best Cruises, the company that provided the boat trip. They have several other trips planned and also do whale watches. Click HERE
Tim Factor's Cruise report:
| Subject: Boston Harbor Islands Get Out and Bird
Cruise 1/16/10 From: Tim Factor <tef617 AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 06:41:52 -0500 Nearly 200 people took advantage of the perfect weather on Saturday to enjoy a cruise of the Boston Harbor Islands. The emphasis was on birding but members of the South Shore Camera Club and Quincy Historical Society attended and made presentations as well. The trip began at the Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, then stopped to pick up more passengers at Long Wharf in Boston. From there we headed to the outer harbor islands, then through the Hull Gut to Hingham Bay and the mouth of the Weir River, then back to Boston and Quincy via the inner harbor islands. Brant - many at outer islands American Black Duck Mallard Greater Scaup - presumed Greater Common Eider - 100s, but all in relatively small groups, no big rafts Surf Scoter - large numbers relative to WWSC White-winged Scoter Long-tailed Duck - nice looks at many among inner harbor islands Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Red-breasted Merganser Red-throated Loon Common Loon Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Great Cormorant - outer islands Purple Sandpiper - including a flock of ~50 roosting on rocks at high tide in outer islands Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull - the usual at its usual spots near Long Wharf Great Black-backed Gull Black Guillemot - a few, including one between the airport and Deer Island, unambiguously in Suffolk County, for those who care about these things Rock Pigeon American Crow - outer islands European Starling - outer islands House Sparrow Also, before boarding the boat in Quincy, a non-birding camera club member got a picture of a Cooper's Hawk perched in the rigging of the USS Salem. Thanks to official and unofficial spotters Les Tyrala (who also shared info about the geology of the islands), Bob Kelley, Matt and Luke Garvey, Liz and Maurice Southworth, and Bill Zuzevitch. Many thanks also to NPS Rangers Kelly and Dawn and DCR Ranger Jessica. The captain and crew of the Voyager III did a great job to get us close to many of the islands, not easy to do in a boat of that size in those waters. Tim Factor Boston tef617 AT gmail.com |