Double-crested Cormorants

Birds of interest within Provincetown harbor:
Sightings of the Great Blackback gull is sighted throughout the year as well as the Common Eider ducks that stay within the harbor.The Double-crested Cormorant also is found nesting in the summer months on the rocks of the breakwater that protect the inner harbor.

7/7

Birds seen throughout the day:
Bonaparte's Gull ~ 1
Common Tern ~ 90
Greater Shearwater ~ 15
Least Tern ~ 12
Manx Shearwater ~ 1
Northern Gannet ~ 1
Sooty Shearwater ~ 10
White Winged Scoter ~
Wilson's Storm-petrel ~ 60

Diving Gannets

7/9

Birds seen throughout the day:
Black Tern ~
Common Tern ~ 55
Greater Shearwater ~ 100
Least Tern ~ 12
Manx Shearwater ~ 2
Northern Fulmar ~ 1
Northern Gannet ~ 1
Sooty Shearwater ~ 450
Wilson's Storm-petrel ~ 600

7/14

Birds seen throughout the day:
Common Eider (at sea) ~ 27
Common Loon ~ 2
Double-crested Cormorant ~ 200
Great Blue Heron ~ 1
Greater Shearwater ~ 2200
Northern Gannet ~ 14
Parasitic Jaeger ~ 3
Sooty Shearwater ~ 4000
Wilson's Storm-petrel ~ 225

1st year gannet

7/16

Birds seen throughout the day:
Black Tern ~1
Common Tern ~ 265
Greater Shearwater ~ 70
Manx Shearwater ~ 3
Northern Gannet ~ 7
Northern Harrier ~ 1
Parasitic Jaeger ~ 3
Roseate Tern ~ 2
Sooty Shearwater ~ 90
White Winged Scoter ~ 1
Wilson's Storm-petrel ~ 300

Wilson's Storm Petrel

7/23

Birds seen throughout the day:
Black Tern ~ 1
Common Tern ~ 465
Great Blue Heron ~ 1
Greater Shearwater ~ 180
Manx Shearwater ~ 3
Northern Gannet ~ 3
Parasitic Jaeger ~ 1
Roseate Tern ~ 22
Sooty Shearwater ~ 164
Wilson's Storm-petrel ~ 150

Young Common Loon

Greater Shearwater

8/4

Birds seen throughout the day:
Black Tern ~ 3
Common Tern ~ 681
Greater Shearwater ~ 1118
Manx Shearwater ~ 14
Northern Gannet ~ 5
Parasitic Jaeger ~ 6
Roseate Tern ~ 26
Sooty Shearwater ~ 620
Wilson's Storm-petrel ~ 824

Interesting Observations :
Marine bird observations are peaking during these next few weeks with good numbers and diversity of petrels, shearwaters, terns, jaegers and gannets. Monarch butterflies have really begun to show up off-shore with some dragonflies and wasps coming in over the water as well.

Monarch Butterfly ~ Continual 3-5 hour
Wandering Glider (dragonfly) ~ 2

Northern Fulmar

Common Terns

8/20

Birds seen throughout the day:
Bonaparte's Gull ~ 50
Common Eider ~ 21
Common Tern ~ 400-500
Greater Shearwater ~ 200
Laughing Gull ~ 50
Least Tern ~ 12
Manx Shearwater ~ 20
Northern Gannet ~ 2
Parasitic Jaeger ~ 3
Roseate Tern ~ 150
Sabine's Gull ~ 1
Sooty Shearwater ~ 60
Wilson's Storm-petrel ~ 55

Adult Parasitic Jaeger

Shearwater
By Peter Trull

Too many birds for one to see
August on the open sea
As billow builds to boundless trough
my pinions stiffly streak and laugh
Under gales - such force implores
To drive me on to ancient shores
Effortless I glide and sway
With miles to go, no dark or day
Wind and whales, food forever
Ravenous, gluttonous birds endeavor
To cross the equator spring and fall
Penguins, puffins, I stir them all
Cetaceans in reverence and in slaughter
Been there and back
Seen it all
Shearwater

Young Kittiwake 1st winter plumage

Adult Common Loons