Seabirding and interesting plants

On Friday, June 5 I arrived at the marina in Hatteras at 5:15 a.m. for a pelagic birding trip with Brian Patteson. Unlike the very popular trips in May, this trip only had 8 participants plus 5 crew, which included Steve Howell as our seabird spotting and identification expert. During the trip, he imparted quite a lot of great information on molt and identification, and it was an honor to meet him in person. Soon after leaving the harbor, we were out on the open ocean, and our views differed little during the day from the photo below.

Southeast of Hatteras, North Carolina

Several miles out, we began encountering flying fish, and I tried my hand at photographing them, with a little success. This one is an Atlantic Patchwing.

Atlantic Patchwing

As we approached the Continental Shelf edge, about 27 miles offshore, the water depth changed from about 200 feet to 800 feet, then off the edge dropped quickly to 6000 feet. In this area of upwelling gulfstream currents, we began seeing seabirds. Among the first to arrive, and with us the whole time we were in deep water, were Wilson's Storm-Petrels. They were drawn in by "chumming", a mixture if fish guts and oil that these birds can smell from long distances. Most birds have a poor sense of smell, but seabirds depend on being able to detect their food by smell. Easily over 150 photos of these storm-petrels were taken, most of which were deleted as the motion of the boat made photography difficult.

Wilson's Storm-Petrels

These thrush-sized birds with a wingspan similar to a small tern, have long legs with yellow webs between their toes, seem to dance over the surface of the water.

Wilson's Storm-Petrel

Wilson's Storm-Petrel

Most of them were heavily molting, but a few appeared to be in fairly fresh plumage.

Molting Wilson's Storm-Petrel

Molting Wilson's Storm-Petrel

Molting Wilson's Storm-Petrel

Molting Wilson's Storm-Petrel

A few Band-rumped Storm-Petrels were seen, but all were only in view briefly and I was not able to get any photos. One of the specialties of the gulfstream is Black-capped Petrel, easily identified by its bold black-and-white pattern below, and bold white rump above.

Black-capped Petrel

They nest in the West Indies, and are not very common. Recent studies in the Dominican Republic have located nests of the buff-necked form, which was also in fresh plumage; apparently not molting.

Black-capped Petrel

The nesting areas of the more frequently encountered (at sea) white-necked form are not known, if I'm remembering what Steve Howell said correctly. It is also notable that they were showing wing molt. Such differences other places in the world have resulted in separating these populations into different species. So, are there two species here?

Black-capped Petrel

Several Great Shearwaters were also seen, which included adults with obvious wing molt shown by the outermost primaries being worn, and recently arrived "juveniles" with all their primaries clean and fresh. The bold pattern on the under side is superficially similar to the Black-capped Petrel, but note the dark belly of the Great Shearwater.

Adult Great Shearwater

The all black cap, white cheeks, and throat help distinguish the Great Shearwater from the also-common Cory's Shearwater.

Great Shearwater

Juvenile Great Shearwater

Juvenile Great Shearwater

Juvenile Great Shearwater

The second most common species we encountered, after the Wilson's Storm-Petrels, were Cory's Shearwaters. They looked bigger than the Great Shearwaters, and were browner overall with a pale bill and brownish on the crown and cheeks.

Cory's Shearwater

Cory's Shearwater

Cory's Shearwater

Probably the best photo of the day was the one below, of a Cory's Shearwater that came in close behind the boat.

Cory's Shearwater

But a good friend, and outstanding photographer, Dave Stimac might prefer the photo below as he seems to like birds in unconventional poses.

Cory's Shearwater

As with the Black-capped Petrels, there were two "types" of Cory's Shearwater seen. Those nesting on the Azores and surrounding islands are the most often encountered in North American waters. They are larger, with thicker bills, and most importantly, the undersides of their primaries are all black.

Cory's Shearwater

The ones nesting in the Mediterranean are called Scopoli's Shearwater, and may soon be considered a separate species. They are slightly smaller, with a thinner bill, and whitish on the inner webs of the outer primaries.

Cory's (Scopoli's) Shearwater

Cory's (Scopoli's) Shearwater

I was very lucky to get the photo below, which shows both types for an excellent comparison.

Scopoli's (left) and Cory's Shearwaters

We came back ashore in time for dinner. It was a rough trip, though there were only 4-6 foot swells, and several of us suffered from seasickness, though I only had one "event", after which everything was fine.

After a good night's rest, on Saturday June 6 we headed back inland, and south, to an area we visited back in January. On the way, we stopped again on Roanoake Island as there had been recent reports from the salt marshes there of Black Rail. As usual, we failed to find them, but did encounter some other interesting things, including orange species of milkwort and milkweed. The Butterfly Milkweed looked different in form from what we see in Michigan in most areas.

Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Orange Milkwort (Polygala lutea)

In this same area, several dragonflies were easily seen as they attempted to land on us. They appear to be Seaside Dragonlet.

Seaside Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax berenice)

South of Wilmington, we stopped in at Carolina Beach State Park, where in January we'd found a few Venus Flytraps. This time, it was easier, and there were more to find, as they were blooming. The flowers were on rather large stalks for the size of the leaves.

Venus Flytrap leaves

Venus Flytrap in flower

Venus Flytrap flowers

Around another part of the trail, we encountered a really nice bunch of Golden Trumpets, a species of pitcher plant that is also carnivorous.

Golden Trumpets

Golden Trumpets

Adjacent to the marina area in the park, we were told there was a bird feeding area where Painted Buntings could be seen. We waited there for a few minutes...it started to rain of course, then a male Painted Bunting started singing nearby. Then a female came to the feeder, followed by a second one. A second male was singing farther along the shoreline, and the closer male came into the feeder. Spectacular! In the woodlands around the marina, there were two additional males singing. This is one of only three areas in North Carolina where they breed.

Our final destination of the day, and essentially of the trip, was the Green Swamp Preserve of The Nature Conservancy. Here we walked a trail to a boardwalk choked with shrubbery, looking for carnivorous plants and orchids. In the sandy area in the pine woods there was one orchid, Spring Lady's Tresses. Another target in this habitat was Bachman's Sparrow, which was singing nicely for us.

Spring Lady's Tresses (Spiranthes vernalis)

Just past the boardwalk, the trail opened up and there were blooming Venus Flytraps everywhere. Literally hundreds of them. It was nice to see this, especially since poachers have wiped out so many populations of this range-restricted and now endangered species. Another target here was the Rosebud Orchid, and there were a couple dozen in loose groups.

Rosebud Orchid (Cleistes divaricata)

Rosebud Orchid (Cleistes divaricata)

Rosebud Orchid (Cleistes divaricata)

Rosebud Orchid (Cleistes divaricata)

On our way north to Fayettville for the night, we stopped at a few side roads and eventually found one last target bird, a calling Chuck-will's-widow. From there, it was a long (700 miles) drive back home on Sunday, June 7.


Now the summer will be spent banding hummingbirds, until our next planned trip in late August. Stay tuned.