Cape May Pelagic - 6/21/20

Last Friday night I joined the Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center on its first 24-hour pelagic trip of the year. In the past, the June trips have been quite successful with a nice diversity of seabirds and marine life. Like all pelagic trips though, you never know what you’ll see until you’re actually out there. We left the dock at 9 p.m. and headed out towards the area of the Wilmington Canyon. We arrived there in the predawn light. The sound of the American Star’s engine slowing down awakened all the sleeping passengers. The boat came alive as everyone began rolling up sleeping bags; many multitasking while also brushing teeth, and some waiting for the coffee to finish brewing in the galley. The crew, mostly consisting of college interns, began ladling out chum to start attracting the sea birds. It wasn’t long before some came into view. Wilson’s storm-petrels and a few shearwaters kicked off the day. T...