[Birdtalk] New York Pelagic photos

[tanager at timaverybirding.com]

I took advantage of being in New York this week and joined a pelagic trip to off
of Long Island into an area known as Hudson Canyon. I added 5 lifers (Brant (my
nemesis goose), Northern Gannet, Atlantic Puffin, Razorbill and Dovekie), and
had amazing looks at both light and dark Northern Fulmar, and more than 30
Black-legged Kittiwakes.  It was a cold trip (miserable if it weren't for the
birds), and a long day spending almost 12 hours out to sea.

Besides the great pelagic birds, the surprise was 7 different species of
Passerine visiting the boat.  Fox Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed
Junco, and Common Redpoll all landed on the boat.  Pine Siskin, American
Goldfinch, American Pipit and Red-winged Blackbird all flew by and around the
ship.  There were 3 redpolls in all, on several occasions, 2 of the birds
landed on the boat and worked on finding food on the anchors and everywhere
they could on the ship.  Mind you this was 40 miles off the coast...

In any event I created a gallery on my flickr page to share some of the pictures
until I get my site up and running again:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/western_tanager/sets/72157603361809699/

Tomorrow its off to look for Purple Sandpiper!

Good Birding

Tim