Posted by Jeff Nadler on April 17, 2007 at 11:13 AM
My wife and I will be visiting the Park, hopefully while the tour road is open to drive and before the crowds. While enjoying the seascapes but not photographing them, limited time for photography will have me at least hoping for bird and marine-life macro. One of our goals is surely a boat tour around the neighboring islands. I am wondering if these tours, closer to shore than whale-watches, will offer any potential seabirds/pelagic species sightings? I realize that this is not The place for puffins and any seen will be distant specks. I also wonder, given trail closures for this returning nesting species, if Peregrine Falcon flight shots are a possibility?
The park service used to run a boat out to one of the Cranberry Islands that belong to the park. It might be Baker Island. That trip goes out through the other Cranberry Islands to Baker and when I did that trip about 10 years ago we saw a couple of Bald Eagle nests, some osprey, and lots of other seabirds birds. I don;t recall seeing any Pelagic bird but I am not an expert on recognizing them. The trip departed from Northeast harbor.
If the park service is not running this trip you can take take the mail boat or other boat out to great Cranberry Island, or get a trip to other islands. If you have a bike take that along. You can check the availible boats here: http://www.cranberryisles.com/ferry.html
I have never tried to shoot the falcons so I will have to yeild to someone else on that!
Mid June should have lots of Lupine blooming everywhere so that should bring some good opportunities as well.
I was there in early June last year. I do not know anything about the boat tours, but I did stop to see the Precipice Peregrines. The trails were all closed off, the nest was about 75-100yds from the parking lot and probably 50 yards up the cliff. I could hear them and I knew where the nest was but never got a visual. Unless one came low off the ocean I think it would be quite hard for flight shots. Best of luck though, it is a great time to view the park!
Jeff
Posted by Garth McElroy on April 20, 2007 at 3:52 PM
Doubtful at best on being close to pelagics. Not far enough out to see and they most likely won't be chumming for birds. Plus, it'll probably be mid day! As for the park and birds it won't be "killer" in terms of species and numbers but there should be some decent warblers around. Nothing like in the interior of the state though.
Discussion
3 repliesAny thoughts welcome.
The park service used to run a boat out to one of the Cranberry Islands that belong to the park. It might be Baker Island. That trip goes out through the other Cranberry Islands to Baker and when I did that trip about 10 years ago we saw a couple of Bald Eagle nests, some osprey, and lots of other seabirds birds. I don;t recall seeing any Pelagic bird but I am not an expert on recognizing them. The trip departed from Northeast harbor.
If the park service is not running this trip you can take take the mail boat or other boat out to great Cranberry Island, or get a trip to other islands. If you have a bike take that along. You can check the availible boats here: http://www.cranberryisles.com/ferry.html
I have never tried to shoot the falcons so I will have to yeild to someone else on that!
Mid June should have lots of Lupine blooming everywhere so that should bring some good opportunities as well.
Good Luck
Jeff