Sixty to 100 miles offshore from the Delmarva Peninsula, two great oceanic “rivers,” the Gulf Stream and the Labrador Current, meet and create ideal feeding grounds for some 30 species of truly pelagic birds–albatrosses, petrels, shearwaters, storm-petrels, phalaropes, skuas, jaegers, gulls, terns and alcids. These birds migrate through the offshore waters, totally sustaining themselves at sea, and come to land only to nest in the Arctic or South Atlantic regions. Getting offshore to see these fascinating birds is not easy. Walk-on fishing boats seldom go far enough offshore. Pelagic birding trips are occasionally offered from Cape May, NJ or Lewes, DE, but time offshore is limited on day trips and sea conditions can make viewing difficult or cause cancellation of the trip.

Weather disturbances over the ocean sometimes offer opportunities for birders to see pelagic species from land. Sustained onshore winds, “northeaster” storms and hurricanes can force these birds inshore or even over land areas.

Finding these storm-blown wanderers is a matter of timing, location, and good luck. The time to be afield is during the later stages of the storm or immediately after the storm has passed. Pelagic birds driven inshore will quickly head back out to sea as soon as the unfavorable winds change. Viewing conditions during storms are sometimes severely limited by rain and wind, and tidal flooding or storm damage can make vantage points inaccessible (and dangerous!). By checking the wind direction, storm track, and tidal conditions, one can decide where to go during those critical hours as the storm passes. This does not always mean heading for the coast. During a September hurricane in 1960, 48 sooty terns circled over the rooftops of Salisbury, and later that same day, as the storm cleared, a bridled tern was seen with sooty terns near the Salisbury airport, and an exhausted Leach’s storm-petrel was on the Wicomico River off Riverside Drive.

Unless the storm center passes over the Delmarva land area, the coastal viewing locations are usually the best:

1. Lewes-Cape May Ferry even in normal weather can yield interesting species such as Wilson’s storm-petrel (June-Sept.), parasitic jaeger (Sept.-Oct.), and razorbill (Jan.-Feb.).

2. Cape Henlopen State Park, with several ocean and bay overlooks that are usually accessible in storms, is a good place to search for jaegers and rare terns.

3. Indian River and Ocean City Inlets have strong tidal flows that provide feeding opportunities for many seabirds including storm stragglers. The viewing areas are excellent if weather conditions allow access. These inlets are good for the alcids and black-legged kittiwakes in winter.

Coastal Ponds such as Gordon’s Pond in Henlopen State Park, Silver Lake in Rehoboth, Mulberry Pond at

Assawoman Wildlife Area, West Ocean City Pond, and the Rum Pointe and Eagle’s Nest Golf Course ponds are attractive to red and red-necked phalaropes.

5. Ocean Overlooks along Delaware’s Seashore State Park and the Assateague Island National Seashore offer additional seawatch opportunities. In May of 2000 a yellow-nosed albatross showed up in the Assateague surf without any apparent assistance from oceanic storms.

6. Coastal Bay vantage points in Sussex and Worcester Counties are worth checking if the barrier island points are not accessible.

Inland locations should be checked, especially if the storm center passed inland or if the winds were very strong. After finding nothing of note at the Ocean City Inlet during a furious February northeaster, we were pleased to spot a black-legged kittiwake in a Whaleyville farm field.

1. Large Ponds and Flooded Farm Fields during and immediately after a storm offer resting areas for exhausted oceanic migrants caught over land.

2. Rivers and Chesapeake Bay Headlands should be watched for storm stragglers working their way back to the ocean. Vantage points like Vienna, Bivalve Harbor, and Roaring Point on the Nanticoke River, and Haine’s Point at Deal Island could turn up a good bird or two

So, when a storm moves into our area, turn on the weather radio, get out the DeLorme maps, plot your strategy and hope for good luck. At least you will not have to worry about seasickness!

Sam Dyke