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Posted by Toe on 23:49:15 06/07/07
After several invites from Bob Wallace to join him on a pelagic adventure off North Florida, Trey and I finally made the effort (and the long haul!) this morning to New Smyrna Beach to join in the fun. We left the dock at 6:00 am, along with Andy Bankert, Michael Brothers, and of cource Capt. Bob. We didn't see any Common or Arctic Terns at the inlet, but did see a small flock of Sandwich Terns (year bird for me). At about 60 nm out we got our first Storm-petrel, a Wilson's. We later saw a couple of Bridled Terns. At about 80 nm miles we got a BLACK-CAPPED PETREL! We were then treated to several small flocks of Sooty Terns, both Band-rumped and Wilson's Storm Petrels, and a couple more Black-capped Petrels as we continued to run to 105 nm out. We had a LEACH's STORM-PETREL along with a Wilson's on the run out to the eastern side of the gulfstream. We then worked our way back inshore, stopping to do some trolling for tuna, and to watch the ocassional Black-capped Petrel or Storm Petrel. We spotted a Storm-petrel on the way in and Bob put out some menhaden oil. Almost immediately a Wilson's Storm-petrel came to check out the slick, then in less than a minute a Band-rumped came in. I told the guys that logically a Leach's would be next. Well, 30 seconds later along comes a Leach's with a second Wilson's! All three storm-petrels (the local three at least) at one time!
Fishing was slow, with only two Skipjack Tuna and a small Dolphin being taken. But, any day when the phrase "just another Black-capped Petrel" is used more than once is a good day. We also had a lot of different cetaceans, some of which I'm going to have to consult my reference material to identify. I can definitely say we had two pods of Pilot Whales, and a couple of dolphin species. Thanks to Bob for taking us along, and to Trey for driving up there. Our day's tally:
BLACK-CAPPED PETREL (6)
LEACH'S STORM-PETREL (2)
BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL (~6)
Wilson's Storm-petrel (~6)
Greater Shearwater (1)
Audubon's Shearwater (~12)
Brown Noddy (2-3)
Sooty Tern (75-100)
Bridled Tern (5)
Northern Gannet (1)
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