Tag: puffin

Typically, the almost annual Eastern Egg Rock trip to visit the puffins began with confusion about the weather.  Initially, we had a near perfect forecast.  The night before, a prediction for fog raised its ugly head.  When six of us met at the Friendship Boat Landing, the weather was superb.  Our plan was to camp overnight, so we paddled four miles to the campsite on Black Island first.  Two members in the group, decided to remain in the area.  Although there were fog banks to our east and west, four of us had glorious conditions for our cruise to the rock.  Thanks to club member, Liv Ridley, who works on the rock, we knew the puffins were there.  As always, they were a treat.  Our return to Black was equally enjoyable.  Three of us spent the night while ex-president DeCoster logged in a 17 mile day and returned home.  Camping conditions were excellent but we awoke to dense fog.  During breakfast, we experienced a unique fog bow.  We outwaited the fog and paddled to Harbor Island for a trek across the island to cliffs on the west side.  From there, we returned to Friendship completing an exceptional two-day adventure visiting the puffins, experiencing a fog bow, and hiking the cliffs of Harbor Island.  

Participants:  Ellen Nelson, Mark Nelson, Jean Miller, Ken Gordon, Ex-president DeCoster, and TC Ron Chase

The need for a quality forecast makes planning a sea kayak trip to distant Eastern Egg Rock a challenge.  That was especially true this year as strong winds and high seas (due at least in part to Tropical Storm Bill) resulted in four postponements.  We finally got a good wind and weather forecast but 2 to 4 foot seas were predicted.  It seemed like every aspect of the trip was formidable.  Round Pond Landing was crowded and chaotic.  I estimate the seas were in the 4 to 5 foot range approaching Western Egg Rock where we initially thought we’d had a close shark encounter.  Turns out it was probably a sunfish.  It was unsafe to land on Western Egg, a first for me.  That meant remaining in our boats for an extended time.  We decided on a short visit with the puffins with a stop at western on our return.  The seas were still big leaving Western but mellowed as we neared Eastern Egg Rock.  Usually, most of the puffins are located on the west side of the rock but only a few were present this year.   Since a tour boat was circumnavigating the island, we reluctantly decided to extend our trip and do the same.  Our efforts were rewarded as scores of the delightful seabirds were swimming and feeding in large swells on the south side.  Numerous more sightings were made as we continued around the rock.  Hurrying back to Western Egg, it was still unsafe to land.  After about 5 hours in our boats, we found relief at Noyes Preserve on the southern end of Loud’s Island.  Whitecaps were building when we finally returned to Round Pond Harbor.  Despite a multitude of obstacles, we had another successful puffin endeavor.

Participants:  Ellen Nelson, Mark Nelson, Jean Miller, Randy Berube, Laurie Wunder, Tom Meredith, and TC