Fall Seabird & Whale Tales Excursion

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Trip Update: September 12, 2015
Trip is still a go. Please be down at the boats ready to board by 8 am. See you tomorrow! Krill 



 Seabird and Whale Tales Excursion
Sunday, September 13, 2015
8:30 am to 5 pm (or 6 pm)


 Day and Date: Sunday, September 13, 2015
Boarding time - 8:00 am
Departure Time - 8:30 am sharp - do not be late
Dock - Mayflower II State Pier
Vessel - the Son IV
Company - Plymouth Whale Watching

Free Continental Breakfast for all passengers.

Marine Forecast - click HERE

Who to contact: Krill Carson 508-566-0009 or krillcarson@mac.com

This trip is a GO and we are looking forward to another exciting day out on the water viewing seabirds, whales, seals, and other marine wildlife. Guest naturalists will be Wayne Petersen, David Clapp, Jim Sweeney, Mason Weinrich, and Krill Carson.

There are a few changes to the trip's start time, end time, and itinerary that I wanted to inform you about.

Start Time: We were able to get the boat company to agree to an earlier start time of 8:30 am. We are pushing hard to get an early start time so I am sorry for any confusion created. Please be down at the boat which is docked at the end of the State Pier by 8 am for boarding. We hope to leave the dock by 8:30 am sharp.

End Time: We are going to be flexible on our end time. We are scheduled to come back to the dock by 5 pm, but we could stay out until 6 pm if needed.

Itinerary: Once we leave Plymouth Harbor, we will head across Cape Cod Bay to Provincetown Harbor. The boat company had a previously arranged charter of pedal bikers who need to get dropped off in P'town that morning. Once we drop them off, they will spend the day pedaling back to Plymouth. It should take us close to 1 hr and 45 min. to steam across Cape Cod Bay and then we dock in Provincetown for only as long as it will take us to get the bikes and the bikers off the boat. While we are traveling across Cape Cod Bay, we will be looking for and commenting on the marine wildlife seen from the boat, but we won't have time to stop and watch them.

To compensate folks for this inconvenience, NECWA will be providing a free Continental Breakfast for all passengers that will include muffins, donuts, bagels, fruit, as well as juice and coffee. And as we cross the bay, we will conduct our free, onboard nature raffle so get ready for lots of fun as we raffle off nature-themed items like t-shirts, field guides and other paraphernalia.

I want to apologize for having to spend the first 2 hours of our trip crossing Cape Cod Bay and docking in P'town. I am sorry for this inconvenience, but I had no choice in the matter and am doing everything in my power to make this up to our passengers. The bike group chartered the boat in advance so they have first dibs on the morning route. But they did agree to leave the dock a bit earlier then what they were scheduled for, so again, be down at the dock by 8:00 am for an 8:30 am sailing.

Once we leave the bikers at P'town, the boat is ours for the rest of the day. We will be traveling along the outside of the Cape, passing Long Point Light, Wood End Light, and then Race Point Light as we head as far south as Highland Light. From there, we will turn back north and east and head offshore to the southern edge of Stellwagen Bank.

Over the past few weeks, we have had an explosion of sand lance in our southern waters that has attracted many unusual species of seabirds and other marine animals. So although we won't be able to head to Chatham on this trip, but instead will be staying closer to home, we will be in areas that have been very productive with regards to sightings.

Best to all and thank you for your understanding and patience in this matter. This trip is an important fundraising event for NECWA, but it is also a time to connect with friends offshore as well as wildlife. I work hard to put together productive and fun trips, and I greatly appreciate your continued commitment to NECWA and the work that we do on behalf of marine wildlife in our New England Waters. 

Again, please contact me you have any additional questions or concerns.

Best to all, Krill

Additional Trip Information:
    • Bring as little as you can due to space issues. 
    • You can bring your own food and drink, but no glass and no alcohol. 
    • You can purchase (cash only) lunch items from our full galley. Most are homemade. 
    • Bring small bills for the purchase of food, drinks and NECWA merchandise on sale.
    • NECWA t-shrits, sweatshirts, hats and other merchandise will be available for sale.
    • Cash only for the galley and for NECWA merchandise.
    • Use the link above to keep an eye out on the weather. The marine forecast is for Stellwagen Bank. 
    • Use the information below from Park Plymouth to find a good parking spot for all day. There are a few free lots that are a 10 minute walk from the boat. If you park in the Jenny Lot, walk behind the Jenny Grist Mill from the parking lot to access the path through the park. This path leads you down to the waterfront and is a beautiful walk. 

Galley: cash only - small bills please

     Breakfast - free Continental Breakfast: donuts, muffins, bagels, fruit, hot coffee, hot chocolate, and tea.

     Lunch - clam chowder, homemade turkey chili, homemade vegetarian chili, made-to-order deli sandwiches (roast beef, turkey, ham, or hummus).

     Desserts: brownies, cookies, etc.

     Drinks: water, coffee (caffeine and non), tea (caffeine and non), seltzers, ginger ale, Coke/Pepsi, Sprite

NECWA Merchandise: 

  • Peace for Whales t-shirts and sweatshirts
  • Northern gannet t-shirts and sweatshirts
  • field guides
  • whale and marine wildlife DVD
  • humpback song CD
  • NECWA baseball hat
  • NECWA magnets and bracelets


Parking in Plymouth:

 Park Plymouth Map General 2015

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