Submit a Correction

Submitting a correction for Cap'n Fish's Special Pelagic Bird Cruise — Gulf of Maine. Update any fields that need changing and submit.

Trip Name *

Operator *

Country *

Sub-region / State / Province *

Departure Port *

Schedule * Selected dates, July–October; half-day departures; additional Freeport Wild Bird Supply-organised dates spring and fall — see freeportwildbirdsupply.com/pelagics for scheduled outings

Price Range (optional)

eBird Hotspot URL (optional)

Booking URL *

Description *

20–2000 characters. Describe the trip, target species, typical itinerary, etc.

Cap'n Fish's Cruises, operating out of Boothbay Harbor since 1945, runs dedicated seabird pelagic trips into the Gulf of Maine in partnership with Freeport Wild Bird Supply — Maine's leading birding specialty shop. The trips head approximately 20 miles offshore from Boothbay Harbor's historic town pier into the deep waters of the Portland shipping channel, where the seafloor topography creates natural upwelling that concentrates fish, squid, and the seabirds that follow them. Chumming is deployed at offshore stops to bring birds alongside the vessel for extended close-range viewing and photography. The Gulf of Maine has a cold sub-Arctic character driven by the Labrador Current, supporting a seabird fauna that differs markedly from the warmer-water Mid-Atlantic and Cape Hatteras pelagics: Razorbill, Atlantic Puffin, Black Guillemot, Common and Thick-billed Murre, and Dovekie are regular alcids, while the summer months bring four shearwater species (Great, Sooty, Cory's, and Manx) migrating through on their Atlantic circuit. Wilson's Storm-Petrel is abundant during the warmer months; Northern Gannet is year-round; Northern Fulmar, Leach's Storm-Petrel, Red and Red-necked Phalarope, Pomarine and Parasitic Jaeger, and occasionally South Polar Skua are regular on offshore runs. The fall trips (September–October) are particularly productive for alcids and late-season shearwaters, with Great Skua possible on the best days. Freeport Wild Bird Supply organises additional birding-led departures at which expert bird guides lead the offshore portion; chumming takes place at offshore stops to attract seabirds close to the vessel. These dedicated bird-guide-led dates are listed at freeportwildbirdsupply.com/pelagics; the underlying vessel and departure port is always Cap'n Fish's from Boothbay Harbor. Trip reports documenting multiple shearwater species, phalaropes, jaegers, and storm-petrels have been published for outings in 2020, 2023, and 2025, confirming the operation is active.

Operator Website (optional)

Contact Email (optional)

Fields marked * (asterisk) are required.

Submit Correction