NH-Offshore


 * =Birding in New Hampshire=

Rockingham County
=Pelagic Birding=

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NH coast
Coordinates: 42.9805395, -70.7080078 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Offshore waters - NH
Coordinates: 42.9252573, -70.6208038 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Isles of Shoals - NH
Coordinates: 42.9736571, -70.6214819 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Isles of Shoals--Lunging Island, Rye
Coordinates: 42.9758613, -70.6256533 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Isles of Shoals--Square Rock, Rye
Coordinates: 42.9752316, -70.6308313 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Isles of Shoals--Star Island, Rye
Coordinates: 42.9764333, -70.6125 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Isles of Shoals--White and Seavey islands, Rye
Coordinates: 42.9685691, -70.6241183 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Jeffrey's Ledge (New Hampshire)
Coordinates: 42.9222405, -70.52948 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

About Pelagic Birding from New Hampshire
There is relatively little known about the status of pelagic birds off New Hampshire. Perhaps this is what attracts birders to this frontier of birding, the unknown. Sitting out in a boat 40 miles from land can be exhilarating, both due to the separation from civilization and the feeling that anything is possible. The New Hampshire Rare Birds Committee defines the state’s pelagic waters as those between 42°52’3” and 42°59’0” latitude (Mirick 2005) and, per American Birding Association listing rules, out to 200 miles offshore. As can be seen in the map above, this is a very narrow zone, so pelagic birding tends to be especially challenging for NH birders working on their state list.

Whale Watches are the most readily available form of transit to offshore waters. Birds frequently favor areas inhabited by whales, such as Jeffreys Ledge and nearby areas about 20 miles off New Hampshire. Unfortunately, whale watches don't specifically target birds, so you may be forced to drift along a whale just a few miles offshore for the duration of the trip while huge flocks of albatrosses, petrels, skuas, and jaegers congregate just over the horizon. Prices vary but are generally in the $20 to $30 dollar range for adults. Trips usually last 4 to 6 hours. Most whale watches don't go especially far out, but Jeffreys Ledge can produce some interesting sea-birding. Whale watches that run out of NH include:
 * Whale Watches in NH**
 * Granite State Whale Watch - a good choice for state listers since the current boat lacks the power to make it to Stellwagen Bank down in MA. It still can make it outside state waters to smaller ledges in Maine and Massachusetts waters, so be prepared to work on your other state lists all the same!
 * Atlantic Whale Watch - a slightly larger boat than Granite State's for those of you prone to motion sickness.
 * Al Gauron's Deep Sea Fishing and Whale Watches
 * Eastman's docks

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media type="custom" key="29308543" || Local bird clubs and Audubon groups sometimes charter a boat to take birders to sea. If the birders charter the boat, then it can go where they want. Thus you won't be stuck looking at a whale inshore. Some of these trips go to Cashes Ledge, a large portion of which is in New Hampshire. Such a trip will provide a much better chance for interesting pelagic birding than a whale watch or even a chartered trip to the inshore banks like Jeffreys Ledge and Stellwagen Bank (MA). Here are some clubs to check out in case pelagic trips have been chartered to Cashes (usually once a year at best). Of course, you can always charter a boat yourself and organize a pelagic trip...:
 * **Chartered Pelagic Trips**
 * Seacoast Chapter of ASNH
 * Brookline Bird Club


 * More Information**
 * Coastal and Marine Forecasts

Late May through early October is the traditional whale watch season, which coincides fairly nicely with peak abundance of pelagic Southern Hemisphere breeders off New Hampshire. Greater Shearwater and Sooty Shearwater are the most commonly seen large tubenoses during this period, while Wilson's Storm-Petrels are seen on most every trip, often in large numbers. A few Manx Shearwaters and Leach's Storm-Petrels, both northern breeders, are often present during this season as well. At least a few Northern Gannets are generally present offshore almost year-round, with peak numbers observed during the migration periods. All three jaegers (primarily Pomarine and Parasitic) occur during the migration periods as well (mostly May to June and mid-July to November). Both Red-necked and Red Phalaropes also pass through, mostly in April and May and again in August and September, though you have to be sharp to pick out and identify these small shorebirds. Rarer species, of course, are to be looked for and often spur eager birders to spend inordinately large amounts of money to spend time offshore. Skuas have been observed off New Hampshire, with Great Skua perhaps being a regular visitor to Cashes Ledge. Even an albatross has been reported from New Hampshire waters. Almost anything is possible in this, one of the final frontiers of modern birding. The colder months are even less-explored offshore. Alcids migrate through between mid-October and December, and some can be seen from then through April. Northern Fulmars are regular visitors during the colder months, and Great Skuas may be present in small numbers as well.
 * Birds to look for on a whale watch or chartered trip**

For those of you who prefer not to experience the roll of the sea first-hand, this may be the way to go. Though eclipsed by sites at Cape Ann and Cape Cod to the south, the NH coast can provide some interesting pelagic birding during storms. Keep an eye out for a storm with a low-pressure center somewhere along or off the coast south of New Hampshire. This is locally known as a "Nor'easter" and as the storm passes it can produce suitable onshore winds for blowing seabirds to within sight of land. Easterly and southeasterly winds are best. Seabirds may head back offshore as soon as the system begins to head out and the winds shift to the North. Any species occurring on Jeffrey's Ledge could conceivably be seen from land in New Hampshire. Even in fair weather, a few pelagic birds may be spotted by the lucky land-based observer. In recent years, Wilson's Storm-Petrels have gathered along the coast in large numbers between early July and early September where they appear to be attracted by the local lobster industry. It is not especially unusual to see several hundred Wilson's Storm-Petrels from shore on a clear summer day. It remains to be seen if this phenomenon will continue. Northern Gannets are also frequently visible from shore, even during relatively calm weather. Manx Shearwaters are the most likely shearwaters to be seen from shore. Occasionally one or two can be seen flying by just offshore between late May and early October. On rare occasions, other shearwaters can be seen from shore. In September of 2002, thousands of Greater Shearwaters were visible feeding just off the NH coast, with a few Sootys and Cory's mixed in! Jaegers rarely come inshore to chase feeding groups of terns and can occasionally be seen in their acrobatic pursuits over the horizon. Alcids can be found during just about any weather between November and early April. Some years are better than others and it usually takes a lot of scanning all along the coast to come up with a few alcids. Razorbills and Black Guillemots are most frequent, but murres, Atlantic Puffins, and Dovekies occur occasionally. Any place with a decent view of the ocean can be good for scanning for pelagic birds. Favorite locations include Pulpit Rocks (across from Pulpit Rocks Road) in Rye, Ragged Neck (a.k.a. Rye Harbor State Park) in Rye, and Little Boar's Head in North Hampton (across from route 111). Be prepared for the weather and be aware of forecasts. Seeing unusual birds is not worth risking your life in a hurricane! From Mirick, S. 2005. Pelagic Birding in New Hampshire. //New Hampshire Bird Records//. 23(3): 45-48. || L797634 US US-NH US-NH-015 42.9805395 -70.7080078 NH coast L814018 US US-NH US-NH-015 42.9252573 -70.6208038 Offshore waters - NH L918302	US	US-NH	US-NH-015	42.9736571	-70.6214819	Isles of Shoals - NH  L916679 US US-NH US-NH-015 42.9758613 -70.6256533 Isles of Shoals--Lunging Island, Rye L1555489 US US-NH US-NH-015 42.9752316 -70.6308313 Isles of Shoals--Square Rock, Rye L278355 US US-NH US-NH-015 42.9764333 -70.6125 Isles of Shoals--Star Island, Rye L752738 US US-NH US-NH-015 42.9685691 -70.6241183 Isles of Shoals--White and Seavey islands, Rye L569900 US US-NH US-NH-015 42.9222405 -70.52948 Jeffrey's Ledge (New Hampshire)
 * Pelagic birding from land**