Va-birders,
Wanted to send out a brief word that Brian Patteson has pelagics
coming up August 20-28 out of Wanchese (near Manteo) NC. While they won’t run in
Virginia waters, this is one of the closest ports to our state with active
pelagics
running (an hour closer than Hatteras), and this summer has been fantastic
(dare I say “epic”?) for White-tailed
Tropicbirds and Trindade Petrels, with both Brian and NOAA observers further
offshore picking up multiples of each some days.
Linked below are some photos from last month that give a
decent representation of what you might see over a summer weekend offshore in
the Gulf Stream
http://davidshoch.smugmug.com/Other/Hatteras-July-16-17-2011/18106684_c996qm#1389827438_Gxrd4mq
The itineraries will also be working some of the cooler waters inshore of the
Gulf Stream, with possibility for White-faced Storm-petrel.
Who knows, maybe while we’re out there we can convince Brian to
run some trips out of Va Beach next year …
Good birding,
David Shoch
Charlottesville, Virginia
