Large numbers of the water birds are migrating over the ocean this time of year and each time we look is different. Salisbury State Reservation and Plum Island are excellent view points where you can see gannets, loons, grebes and sea ducks. When the wind is off the water, many come close enough to see with the naked eye, but a pair of binoculars or spotting scope helps to see the birds further out.

 

     The gannet show has continued off the coast all this week. You can watch these large seabirds from the shore as they plunge into the water like rockets. Depending on the wind direction, many may be flying very close to land, or even over land. On one very windy day this week, they were flying into the Merrimack River and Newburyport Harbor! 

 

     Ganets have long-pointed wings and long neck and bill that give them a very “pointed” appearance. The adults sport a bright white plumage with jet black wing tips. The immature birds are darker overall, some very mottled. One day this past week, I counted 118 of these birds just by scanning the ocean once from left to right.

 

     Another spectacular sight this time of year is the high number of loons that are offshore. Tens, and sometimes hundreds, of loons can be seen sitting on the water and flying south, low over the water. One can often see small “flotillas” of ten to fifteen common or red-throated loons not far offshore from the platforms at Lot 1 and Lot 7 on the Parker River Refuge. 

 

     Many loons may be very close, not far from the surf breaking on the beach. A few loons still have their breeding plumage, though many are transitioning into their basic winter plumage. Occasionally I would see a loon that looked like it had an all-white body. Upon closer examination in the scope I could see that the bird had actually turned onto its back, with legs in the air, and it would be preening its white breast feathers. Sometimes, we hear a loon give their mournful call from the ocean!

 

     Some days, there were many more red-throated loons than common loons. The red-throated loon is a bit smaller and thinner than the common loon. It has a thinner, slightly upturned bill compared to the heavy stout bill of the common loon. Some of these loons will winter off our coast but many of them will travel further south.

 

     Other birds can be seen on these sea watches. A number of horned grebes and a few red-necked grebes are usually present. The horned grebe is one of the smallest birds on the water. Its gray body, white neck, dark cap and small thin bill give is a “cute” appearance. The red-necked grebe is larger and only has its red neck in breeding plumage. The number of grebes should increase in the next few weeks      

 

     Flocks of long-tailed ducks and red-breasted mergansers are also migrating. Greater scaup and bufflehead are moving through as well. Most of these birds will also go to lakes and reservoirs until the fresh water freezes and will spend most of the winter in moving rivers and just offshore.

 

     Large numbers of sea ducks are on the move and can be seen close to shore. Common eiders breed here, but their numbers climb this time of year as hundreds more arrive from further north. The black and white males are easily recognized, but are usually outnumbers by brown females and juveniles. We always look for the uncommon, but more beautiful king eider. One was already spotted off the Dog Bar Breakwater in Gloucester, so it is worth checking flocks of common eider here.

 

     Three species of scoters are also migrating into our waters. The most common scoters presently are the white-winged scoters whose white in the wings can best be seen in flight, but often seen at rest on the water as well. The male black scoter is all black and has a bright orange bill. The surf scoters have white on the front and back of the head.

 

     Eiders and scoters are seen up and down the coast this time of year. Large congregations are often present off the Salisbury and Plum Island breakwaters and in the mouth of the Merrimack River. 

You can god views of all these ducks from Lot 1 on the Salisbury Beach State Reservation or from the north end of Plum Island.  Large numbers can also be seen in Plum Island Sound from Sandy Point and from Pavillion Beach in Ipswich.

 

     Some of the first alcids have seen this season and their numbers should also increase as winter draws near. Razorbills are the most common, but black guillemots, common and thick-billed murres and tiny dovekies should be looked for. Of course the Holy Grail is the Atlantic puffin, which is seldom seen from land, but may be blown in by storms.

 

     So, as the fall migration continues over water, do keep an eye on the ever-changing ocean scene!