Welcome to the Vinalhaven Sightings Report
January 22nd, 2013
“By far, the coolest one yet!” –
Ali McCarthy describing a
recent otter sighting at Carver’s Pond.
Highlights – Otters. Seal Island trip including both
Iceland and Glaucous Gull, Canvasback, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Tracking- trails and
otter stuff, , Brown Creeper, Kingfishers are everywhere, horned grebe, other
things.
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| 4 otters photo by Ali McCarthy |
“Otters on Ice” – Ali McCarthy has got one of the best views in town. As we know, all the “best” views of (or “in”, or ”on” or even “from”) anywhere must have an otter in them (this is an
accepted factoid). And while one
otter is more than most views will ever achieve, every so often a view comes along that is special enough, beautiful
enough and has a nice enough personality that it’s allowed to have a second otter. The view has now obtained “double
otter” status. (the term “double
otter” may ring a bell as the “D.O”
has been recognized and honored numerous times in ceremonies and
rituals by many cultures from New England to the mid-Atlantic states, but most
famously in the Karma Sutra, page 67 (LARGE PRINT edition). But that’s most likely
not where you heard of “D.O”
before.) In reality, seldom, if ever (or
never) does a view get to the “double
otter” level.
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| got to slide sometimes photo by Ali McCarthy |
And so it from there that after countless reincarnations and many consecutive lifetimes of pure-living
few “double otter” views will obtain
the elusive “sacred 3rd otter” status. Then
it’s roughly one in every gazillion “sacred
3rd otter” view that gets to goes from “elusive” to “exclusive” and
nails that 4th otter down,
entering the exclusive “nailed that 4th
otter” view status. But “what happens if a “nailed that 4th otter view” picks everything up and puts
the entire show on ice?”, you ask?
That, my friends, is how “legendary” views are made. Odds are your view may
ever get there, so if this is a priority you might want to think about moving.
Anyway, Ali McCarthy
has a legendary otter view, so I guess
Johnny has one too. Here’s some recent scoop from the legendary view at Carver’s Pond (1/19) as told by Ali.
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| this was the first to emerge photo by Ali McCarthy |
“As my daughter sat at the kitchen table this
afternoon eating her lunch, I heard her say "I just saw a seal on the
ice!". So we all looked out the window and watched two more otters
venture, one by one, from the shore over to the rock island in front of our
house and then dive beneath the ice. I could see one of them poke its head up
through the ice once and I noticed them on and off playing around the rock
island for about 2 hours this afternoon. Finally, I got to see them venture
back to shore...4 all together. SO cool!!”
Ali went on to mention that the
afternoon sessions was
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| fishy feast photo by Ali McCarthy |
“the latest (in the day) sighting,
ever…it’s always been mornings…usually just after daylight. But I did read they
become more active during the day at this time of year”
Ali’s got the otter bug. Not only does she have the “otter eye”, she
photographs them, researches them and shares all that and her experiences with
others. Otters are unusual. Everyone likes otters, even the ones who really
don’t.
Here’s a shot Ali sent in from
December. That gunnel eel had no chance. What a feast! Thanks for sharing the
photos!
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| mom, pup and the creepy one who keeps coming around photo by John Drury |
Seal Island - When folk think about Seal Island they think wildlife. Folk will often picture a warm, calm summer day with the island buzzing and humping with Tern, Gull and Alcid life. Mixed in with the scene are the random “Puffin’ Hippies” who are humans that can be seen in bird blinds or searching for a blind that they “swore was there” the day before. Dude where’s my blind? Anyway, they are to watch and count (probably by 1s) Puffins and other cute seabirds and their activity. (side note -“Puffin Hippies” are often favorable (judgment) than “Spraint-stinking Hippies”, and both are certainly better than “Angry Hippies” which can be found at a food co-op near you). In other words, summer is an active time on Seal.
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| beautiful Iceland Gull photo by John Drury |
But did you know that the island is technically there year round? Not only that, whenever it’s there it’s technically a wildlife refuge! Yes, the entire time! So it makes sense that wildlife would find or take (but never give) refuge at the island year-round.
Earlier this month (1/12) John Drury, Kerry Hardy, and Steve Rosen ventured out Seal way to see what they could see.
Seal never disappoints - Here’s the numbers from John. 25 Bald Eagles, 300 Grey Seals, 5 Iceland Gulls – 2 adults, 1 Glaucous Gull, 8 Horned Lark, 50 Snow Bunting, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 200 Purple Sandpiper, 7 Sanderling. Seen on the rides in and out – 30 Black Duck, 10 Great Cormorants, several razorbills, Black-legged Kittiwake. That’s quite a haul, and a nice variety of life – marine mammals, raptors, shorebirds, songbirds, and even a few white-winged gulls.
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| glaucous gull photo by John Drury |
Note here on gulls – Grey Seals certainly dominate Seal Island this time of
the year (putting the “SEAL” back in Seal island! big time) and having numbers like 300 (presumably not counted by “300s”) huge creatures like Grey Seals (up to 770 lbs for adult males) in
one location is an incredible picture to say the least.
That said about seals, any trip where Black-legged Kittiwake, Iceland Gull and Glaucous Gull are seen as the “trip trifecta” is a special trip for sure. Take a look in your field guide at these birds and their ranges. Iceland Gull breed only on Baffin Island, Glaucous from the Hudson Strait and Bay, north to some of those way northerly islands like Ellesmere and across the Arctic Circle to Alaska. Most overwinter up north, but both Iceland and Glaucous are regular, yearly winter visitors to the Gulf of Maine. Always cool to see one of the “winter” gulls, but to bag the trifecta, two flavors of white-winged sprinkled with a little kittiwake (still hands down the coolest gull in the world), that is how legendary trips are made.
That said about seals, any trip where Black-legged Kittiwake, Iceland Gull and Glaucous Gull are seen as the “trip trifecta” is a special trip for sure. Take a look in your field guide at these birds and their ranges. Iceland Gull breed only on Baffin Island, Glaucous from the Hudson Strait and Bay, north to some of those way northerly islands like Ellesmere and across the Arctic Circle to Alaska. Most overwinter up north, but both Iceland and Glaucous are regular, yearly winter visitors to the Gulf of Maine. Always cool to see one of the “winter” gulls, but to bag the trifecta, two flavors of white-winged sprinkled with a little kittiwake (still hands down the coolest gull in the world), that is how legendary trips are made.
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| male barrow's - looking sharp |
Barrow’s Goldeneye was
listed as a “Threatened” species by the
Maine legislature in 2007. Here’s a link to the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
post announcing the Barrow’s Goldeneye status in Maine. http://www.maine.gov/ifw/hunting_trapping/hunting/alert_waterfowl_hunters.htm
It’s
got quotes like “A few Barrow’s Goldeneyes
may be unintentionally shot” when
one is hunting Common Goldeneye. Common
Goldeneye was listed as a “Yummy” and “Fun to shoot” species by the Maine Legislature in 2007 by the way, just
minutes after the Barrow’s vote.
“There will be no penalty for killing a Barrow’s and reporting it to the Department.” is another favorite of mine. Things like an “Incidental take plan” are mentioned. Haven’t met too many Common Goldeneye hunters in my time out here, incidental take doesn’t seem like much of a local issue. we'll keep you posted.
“There will be no penalty for killing a Barrow’s and reporting it to the Department.” is another favorite of mine. Things like an “Incidental take plan” are mentioned. Haven’t met too many Common Goldeneye hunters in my time out here, incidental take doesn’t seem like much of a local issue. we'll keep you posted.
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| this is a barrow's and a canvasback coming right at ya! |
And with that said, there are
some humans (only
a handful I assure you) who are interested
in Barrow’s
Goldeneye and Common Goldeneye numbers. One such
human is referred to as Kelsey Sullivan. Kelsey is a long time VSR reader and works at/for the department of fish and wildlife, I think. Kelsey
is in charge of a Goldeneye survey this winter. If you are comfortable telling the difference between Barrow’s and Common Goldeneye and can take notes you can
help out with this noble undertaking.
Here's the test: take a look at this video and see if you can tell the female Barrow’s Goldeneye from the Common Goldeneye. Hint: the Barrow’s females have bright orange beaks!
How about the male Common Goldeneye? The yummy looking ones. There is also a male Barrow’s Goldeneye in the video, but you don’t get to see the crescent moon on his face, instead you can see the white dots on its back as he’s hiding his face under his back feathers. needless to say Plenty of male Common Goldeneye around. Anyway, do you think you might have seen the difference? Answer yes and you are qualified!
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| the canvasback, the barrow's and the red-breasted merganser. |
Kelsey.M.Sullivan@maine.gov
This offer is not exclusive to
Vinalhaven, so if you happen to find yourself crossing paths with some Goldeneye
and you are somewhere in Maine, let Kelsey know. Of course, it should be noted that Vinalhaven
Barrow’s are the best. “Our” Barrow’s have been voted “Best Barrow’s in the State”
by the VSR writing staff every time there is a vote. Anyway, “It’s the right
thing to do, and the right way to do it” and there will be no penalty for
reporting a Barrow’s Goldeneye to the department. or kelsey.
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| canvasback showing classic forehead slope |
Canvasbacks are noted amongst Pochards and ducks unlimitied for their unique head shape, a flat forehead that slopes into a long black bill. Males are also noted for their beautiful red heads, while females are noted for their nice personalities.
In reality though, the pochard group could easily be called “Aythya” , with “Aythya”
being the genus and true connection of this group. "Aythya" has always been one of the favorite latin ones to say out loud, because
if done correctly just saying the word “Aythya” can
create a contagious laughter and/or (at least a small amount of) smiles or
chuckles. Not trying to put too much pressure on the word, but saying “aythya”
correctly was at least a part of the courting process amy and I went
thru and processed. See where it got us? How can you not say it now? Here’s the
instructions…
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| last shot of the canvasback and barrow's goldeneye |
When saying the word “Aythya” it is best to have your tongue hanging out of your mouth in
a completely relaxed, dead fish kind of fashion. To increase
fun level next try
holding onto your tongue with finger and thumb (same hand preferable) while
saying “Aythya”. Now try
saying “Pochards” the
same way. Not nearly as fun.
Anyway, the book says they are
“rare” for Maine in the winter, 1 – 4 being seen yearly in the state. This is
the first I’ve seen out here, and the first anyone asked had heard of – have
you seen a canvas back out here? Not the first “unusual” bird to be spotted in Carver’s pond, won’t
be the last. Now back to looking for otters.
Around
the island! - Overwintering! – species not noted
every winter, or even less often – Brown Creeper (Basin, Huber, Reach Road), Belted
Kingfisher (Carver’s, Basin, Old Harbor)….From the yard – caught
a break from the at times “seemingly
continuous” Reach winds to scan the Reach from the yard. 3 Bufflehead, 2 Common Loon, 2 Red-breasted Merganser,
4 Surf Scoter and this Razorbill that was hugging the
shoreline, taking dives and apparently having a way with some of the shallower
fish. It was too dark and the photos were poor, but this video came out alright. we love
alcids from the back yard.
Other
lists: Huber/Seal Bay - (1/11) 26 Bufflehead, 12 Common Goldeneye, 5 Red-breasted
Merganser, 13 Oldtails, 1 Black Duck….
Carver’s
Pond – (1/11) – 2 Common Goldeneye, 19 Bufflehead, 2 Red-breasted Mergnaser…(1/17)
6 Barrow’s Goldeneye, 10 Common Goldeneye, 2 Bufflehead, 7 Hood Mergnaser, 1
Red-breasted Merganser…
Basin
– (1/15) 2 Barrow’s Goldeneye, 34 Crows (murder), 2 Common Raven, 3 Long-tailed
Duck, 1 Surf Scoter, 12 Common Goldeneye, 16 Bufflehead, 8 Red-breasted
Merganser. Harbor Seal…
(1/17)
Horned Grebe, 1 Common Loon, 2 Oldtails, 1 Barrow’s, 7 Common Goldeneye, 8 Red-breasted
merganser, 6 Surf scoter, 1 Belted Kingfisher
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| vole trails on lane's |
Tracking
– or you know you’ve had deep so for a bit when you find…. (fill
in the blank) …after
the snow finally melts!
Answer: vole trail cores along fields and meadows. “Your
bike” is also an accepted answer
Winter snows can play a huge role in the lifestyle and success of voles and other small (and tasty – judgment) rodents. A deep snow that “refuses to die, opting instead to get dirty and old” provides a nice habitat for meadow voles and other small, tasty rodents (that time it was a fact). Under the snow temperatures can stay close to 32 degrees regardless of conditions above the snow, while also giving a protective buffer from owls and other predators. When you live under the snow, you are living in the Subnivean Zone.
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| in the end it was either voles or aliens who made these trails |
When the snow finally melted – and it did so in tremendous fashion – evidence of vole tunneling and activity were captured in trails and trail cores. Check out this scene at Lane’s. Areas that would typically be off limits to rodents, and we mean death to rodents here, are now accessible with a layer of snow on top.
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| this otter trail is entering a 1/2 mile stretch thru the woods |
(2) Favorite cross island trail – linking vinal cove to the
basin, via otter pond, showed sign of coming and going, a single otter both
times. Trail was followed and led to waterway and cove below Steep Mountain in
the Basin, which is pretty steep.
Otter den – even with
the snow melting and things warming up, den #7 had plenty of spraint around it,
marking the presence, recently or presently, of the 4 otters in old harbor. It
might be presumed that these are the same 4 as the ones that Ali has been
seeing a mere ¼ mile away in Carver’s. But other than the magical “4”, there is
little to go on that is more than circumstantial.
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| only a family can create this much spraint trust me. |
Anyway, whatever the case, the otter still poop around their home, when they are home. Tomorrow should be a good day for tracking. Everyday should be good for tracking.
See ya out there.
