ML222370491

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

I revise my initial report here to provide some recording details and notes about the observer. I do this to insure eBird that these numbers are accurate and migrating birds, not repeats. My stationary position was a the West end tip at the base of the Rip. This afforded me a view West toward Block Island Sound. Using scope for offshore and binoculars for inshore I would only count individuals that passed my location. There were no individuals that returned SW during this or any other watch over the last few days. No individuals are every seen going back across the island into Buzzards Bay or through the pass between the island. Individuals that go up into the Bay towards the Canal seen to eventually come back and then go around the West end of Cutty. I have watched this a number of times. I was told that know one else was reporting these numbers. Watching the movement today I can see that the birds are too far from Gooseberry to see them. An observer standing at the SW of the Vineyard would get good views as most of the birds are going through that water between it and Nomans Land. I record the sightings in groups of 100 into my phone on a list App. I do this with all of my island sightings to keep accurate counts during the day. I am also a long time seabird surveyor for NOAA and use the same techniques when reporting these types of counts. There is no bias. Scientific reporting. I only say this because I take reporting seriously, Please feel free to contact me if anyone ever has questions about my methods or sightings. I wish I had shot video. Back to the report: 1500 in first 64 minutes. 1346 in next 66 minutes. Some 100 groups were counted in under 5 minutes. Birds were still moving when I left to go to work. Very fast paced counting and action. Almost non-stop birds going by. Limited photos because most of the birds were right overhead and needed wider small lens to truly capture the scene. Only three individuals 2-3 years old observed.

Technical information

Model

NIKON D7500

ISO

16000

Focal length

300 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/14.0

Shutter speed

1/6400 sec

Dimensions

4192 pixels x 2795 pixels

Original file size

1.72 MB