Winter Birding Boat Trip

Description

Birdwatchers from New England and beyond flock to Cape Ann to participate in the Cape Ann Winter Birding Weekend each year.  Although we are not doing the full weekend in 2016, weather permitting, we are hosting the Winter Birding Boat Trip, aboard the Privateer IV, with 7 Seas Whale Watch. Saturday, March 12, 2016, from 8:00am - 1:00pm.  Afterwards, we will reserve a room at the Gloucester House restaurant for you to sit and discuss your findings from the trip.  You may order off of the regular menu.  Lunch is not included in the price of the trip.

Cape Ann is known worldwide for its exciting concentrations of Winter Seabirds, and the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce is planning a morning at sea which will delight all levels of Birders. Expert Guides will help you identify the winter  birds you will see.  Because we are doing the boat trip a bit later than we have int her past, we hope to also see some of the early Spring migrant birds, such as Fulmars, and we hope to see some whales too- Right and Humpback in particular!

On this trip we will be visiting one of New England’s most productive marine habitats: Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Stellwagen Bank is probably best known for its large concentrations of whales (Humpback and Finback especially) which attract tens-of-thousands of eager whale watchers each Spring through Fall. But the activity continues all year long! Even in Winter many species of marine wildlife can be seen, and while this trip will focus primarily on the birds of Stellwagen Bank, the possibility certainly exists that we may sight non-avian marine wildlife as well… including whales just returning from the Caribbean!

This a special opportunity for bird lovers of all skill levels to join expert guides on a tour of one of New England’s most

productive marine habitats at a time when most other passenger vessels have closed down for the year. The possibilities of what we might see on this winter boat trip are endless, but in the five years we have been running this trip we have seen:

Black-legged Kittiwakes, Iceland gulls, Glaucous gulls, Razorbills, Dovekies, Common murres, Thick-billed murres, Atlantic

puffins, Common eiders, King eiders, Long-tailed ducks, all three scoter species, Greater scaup, Northern gannets, Buffleheads,

Common loons, Red-throated loons, Horned grebes, Red-necked grebes, and even a Snowy owl just to name a few! (I’m still hoping for that Great Skua!)

The cost for this wonderful excursion is $75.00 per person.  Space is limited so please sign up early!

For more information please call the Chamber office and ask for Kerry:  978-283-1601.