While waiting to board the Steamship Authority's
Martha's Vineyard to head into Oaks Bluff on the Island, I chose to not waste my time and do a little bit of birding!! The first birds I noticed were a group of
Double-crested Cormorants off on the rocks looking out from the pier, but then, closer to shore, a group of terns were fishing the currents and eddies near us. Several
Common Terns were observed, but of much more fortune, 2
Roseate Terns came within 50 yards of us, dive-bombing the waters for something good to eat, then following them around until they dove into the frigid waters again! They had that mostly dark, black bill, long forked-tail, white underbelly with a hint of pink and were swifter than their fellow Commons. Had struck out the last 2 times looking for these particular terns, both at Sandy Point on Plum Island and at Plymouth Beach in Plymouth. Certainly the highlight of my time there before departing! The 2
Ospreys were busy attending to their nest atop some hazard tower (alternating red & white diamonds within the diamond-shaped signs). A few female
Common Eiders were rafting along near the pier as well. All in all, very enjoyable! Happy birding to all!
Location: Woods Hole - Steamship Authority
Observation date: 6/13/10
Number of species: 10
Common Eider - Somateria mollissima 3
Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus 11
Osprey - Pandion haliaetus 2
Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis 5
Herring Gull - Larus argentatus 4
Roseate Tern - Sterna dougallii 2
Common Tern - Sterna hirundo 8
Rock Pigeon - Columba livia 4
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia 2
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus 13
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/massaudubon/)
