Hurricanes, favorite of meteorologists, storm-chasers, and birders.  They are one of the reasons fall birding is so exciting.  Earl has been the talk of the town for the best part of the last week, as one would expect.  But not every hurricane or tropical storm does the business (where birds are concerned).  This particular hurricane will pass well to the east of New Hampshire, never the ideal storm birding state in the best of times.  So anyone wanting to maximize their chances of getting some good birds would be well advised to head for First Encounter Beach by daybreak tomorrow (Saturday September 4th).  Birds pushed into Cape Cod Bay by the northeast winds will circle clockwise to get back out to the Atlantic, in the process coming closer to First Encounter than most other locales.  Birding from Race Point or elsewhere in P.town is likely to be too difficult as you will be facing into the wind.

Hurricane Edouard offers the most similar track of recent storms, passing to the east of New England in early September 1996.  It didnt produce anything of note in NH (how much that has to do with observer bias I dont know – are there more birders these days – everyone I talk to seems to think so).   I have included the track of Edouardo and that of Earl to date and projected.

As for me, I am going with my prediction of course!  A damp squib along the coast of New Hampshire as far as storm birds are concerned – perhaps a jaeger or two, a few phals, black terns etc.  Not bad for a normal day’s birding but a disappointment for a hurricane.  Instead, I am going to check out some inland waterbodies.  The rains are expected to be reasonably heavy, and I think there is a slim chance of finding a decent downed bird inland (there is good evidence to suggest that a very small percentage of quality birds like Sabine’s gull, long-tailed jaeger etc, migrate overland).  Check back in tomorrow evening to see if I have a smile or egg on my face.

Stat check

Star Island – closed (I tried to get out for an overnight!)

Uncle Oscar – cancelled Saturday

Eastmans – cancelled Saturday (due to lack of sign-ups, not because of weather)

Hurricane Edouard - a damp squib for NH birding

Hurricane Earl - another damp squib?

Hurricane Earl projected