Northern Fulmar, Northern Gannet, Razorbill, Common and Thick-billed Murre*, Dovekie, Atlantic Puffin, Red Phalarope, Pomarine Jaeger*, Great Skua*, Herring, Iceland, Lesser Black-backed and Greater Black-backed Gulls, Black-legged Kittiwake. There is no way we'll see ALL these birds, but these are the birds we would expect to see if we went out several times in winter. Some are virtually guaranteed (e.g. Herring Gull) and others are much less expected (marked with *).
We will also be looking for marine mammals. Some of the possibilities at this time of year are Fin Whale, Humpbacked Whale, Common Dolphin, Atlantic White-sided Dolphin, and Risso's Dolphin.
We plan to exploring various underwater features that often attract and hold marine life. Finding a concentration of baitfish or plankton generally means finding birds and marine mammals. We normally do not go all the way out to the canyons at this time of year, but instead visit areas out to about 50-60 miles offshore. We will also visit any commercial fishing boats in the area if they appear to be attracting birds. We will be chumming behind the boat to attract gulls, with the hope of finding some of the more unusual species and possibly attracting other birds like Fulmars or jaegers.
Our itinerary is always tentative. The actual route taken will depend upon the Captain's knowledge of current water temperature and bait conditions, what we encounter during the trip, and attempting to maintain a comfortable ride for everybody.
Be sure to check out our Preparations section before booking a reservation for this trip!