Aladdin's adventure onboard m/t Nord Supreme

OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can it be? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.

Jiffy (also jiff)

noun [in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.

ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.

So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!

Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas

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Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra

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คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้ไหม ไม่มีปัญหา ถ้าคุณต้องการไปหน้าถัดไป ให้กดปุ่ม “Next” ข้างบนนี้

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E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.

Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.

“The postings on this site are my own and don't represent Norden's position, strategies or opinions. All views are my own”

Aladdin's adventure on board m/t Nord Supreme

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Friday 1 ^st of September 2023 we are in the south part of the Mona Passage steaming south when I come on the bridge 4 o'clock in the morning. One hour to go and I will change course towards SW and then it is straight to the Panama Canal.

I change course and I am soon spotting a Brown Booby. One bird hunting in front of the boat. 30 minutes later there were 4 of them, two adults and two that looked to be young birds. With grey/ light grey body and under the wings with the black band on the wings.

At 6 thirty in the morning there were 6 of them hunting in front of the boae bird hunting in front of the boat. 30 minutes later there were 4 of them, two adults and two that looked to be young birds. With grey/ light grey body and under the wings with the black band on the wings.

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Saturday 2 ^nd of September 2023 we are at the Beata Ridge, 270 km north of Peninsular De La Guajira and at 6 o’clock it started to get day light and I was joined by my daily “GOOD MORNING” Brown Booby. Brown Bobbies are coming everyday since we entered the Caribbean Sea.

There was soon 3 of them hunting in front of the boat

One Martin, almost sure it was a Caribbean Martin but I report it as a Martin S.P.

There was another bird flying like a wagtail, up and down but bigger. Dark top and buffish bottom and I reported it as a Bird S.P.

Joined by a Masked Booby coming in from aft and it stayed for about an hour to hunt in the waves from the bow in front of the boat.

Masked Booby

Masked Booby

Masked Booby

Our Cadet dressed for Saturday dinner

4th Engineer and our Cadet

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Sunday 3 ^rd of September 2023 we are steaming towards South West when I come on the bridge at 4 o'clock in the morning. We are at the Planicie Colombiana and at 05:50, 270 km North East of the Panama Canal entrance and I have a Martin just in front of the window, 50 cm away.

But I never got any good glimpse for an ID as the bird took me by surprise and it was soon gone.

So it will be reported as a Martin S.P. I observed the first Brown Booby for the day just after 6 o'clock. I get out to try to get some pictures with my Scooby Doo pocket camera.

And as we can see on the below pictures it leave a lot to wish for regarding bird pictures.

And by the same time I discover that there are 4 Martins hunting over the deck. And we are soon joined by a second Brown Booby and I watch them hunting in front of the boat.

Brown Booby

At 06:25 and there is a white bird flying across in front of the boat. Coming from North West flying towards Colombia's coast some 250 km to the South West. I thought it was a gull or a Masked Booby when I spotted the white dot.

Coming closer and I could see that it was a amall white egret, and as I have no clue what egret it is it will be reported as a White Egret in eBird. In Thailand it would have been a Little or a Cattle Egret. Or a white morph Pacific Reef Heron. But in the Caribbean, I have no clue.

I went for a quick breakfast before I returned to the bridge to see how it worked out for our Bosun and AB to put up the new canvas for the bridge wings. They have made new canvas covers during the voyage to avoid the Pilots complaining in the Panama Canal

Putting up canvas for the Panama Canal

Putting up canvas for the Panama Canal

Our 3rd Officer

We drop the anchor just after 7 o'clock in the evening and we will have pilot at 10:15 tomorrow morning. Arriving to Cristobal outer anchorage and I could finsih my eBird trip report.

eBird Trip Report

Since April 2023 eBird offer a new feature, to create Trip Reports. At least this is when I first heard of this feature and I have decided to make the eBird Trip Reports instead of my list of OBSERVED birds.

And of course, this also means that I will HAVE TO go back and do the same for my old birding adventures, WHEN I HAVE THE TIME!

Today's Trip Report: Crossing the Atlantic Ocean - Gibraltar to Panama 22 August to 3 September 2023 | Click HERE

Download | PDF

Lifers
Icons for lifers used in the eBird trip reports

Species lifer:First time that someone observes a species in their life

Photo lifer:First time that someone photographs a species in their life

Audio lifer:First time that someone audio records a species in their life

Exotic species
Exotic species flags differentiate locally introduced species from native species.

Naturalized:Exotic population is self-sustaining, breeding in the wild, persisting for many years, and not maintained through ongoing releases (including vagrants from Naturalized populations). These count in official eBird totals and, where applicable, have been accepted by regional bird records committee(s).

Provisional:Either: 1)member of exotic population that is breeding in the wild, self-propagating, and has persisted for multiple years, but not yet Naturalized; 2)rarity of uncertain provenance, with natural vagrancy or captive provenance both considered plausible.

When applicable, eBird generally defers to bird records committees for records formally considered to be of "uncertain provenance". Provisional species count in official eBird totals.

Escapee:Exotic species known or suspected to be escaped or released, including those that have
bred but don't yet fulfil the criteria for Provisional. Escapee exotics do not count in official eBird totals.

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Monday 4 ^th of September 2023 we I come on the bridge at 4 o'clock in the morning. Pilot boarding time changed to 08:15 and I called engine at 6 o'clock to give one hour notice. I am enjoying my tea looking forward to the day light and I willhopefully see some birds.

I spot one bird and I ID the bird as a Swallow-tailed Kite, but it is a Magnificent Frigatebird, and this is the first time I see this bird.

Magnificent Frigatebird

We were supposed to get provision and stores on the way to the lock, but everything was cancelled. Crew change was cancelled, then it was changed to after the first locks.

And then changed again and the new crew boarded us on the way to the locks and the off signers were happy to get off. I was on the bridge keeping my eyes out for birds and crocodiles. But not many birds, one female Anhinga and plenty Black Vultures.

Approaching Cristobal

We do the crew change

Female Anhinga

And yes, I will bring my bird watching camera next time. But I am impressed by the members of the birdforum, they have managed to ID birds for me from pictures taken with my Scooby Doo pocket camera.

Last time I was here there was plenty crocodiles outside the locks, but today nothing. Some animals looking like big beavers was eating along the approach to the lock.

We approached the first look and it was very slow and it took a long time before we were in the lower chamber and they could close the gate behind us. We will pass through three locks before we are up in the lake.

Approaching the lower chamber

Approaching the lower chamber

Approaching the lower chamber

Approaching the lower chamber

Entering the lower chamber

Entering the lower chamber

Entering the lower chamber

We are ready to leave the lower chamber for the middle

Entering the middle chamber

We are in the middle chamber

The ship after us enter the lower chamber

I spot two Southern Lapwings between the chambers in the 2nd lock and I go out on the bridge wing to see if I can get a picture. Too far away for any pictures. I hear a bird sitting in a lamp post and I try to make a recording.

It is two birds and they take off and I go over to the starboard side and there are two pairs. Later on, I ID the bird as a Panama Flycatcher. But thanks to the birdforum I get the correct ID, Tropical Kingbird.

Listen to the Tropical Kingbird

Sound from www.xeno-canto.org

Remarks from the Recordist

Sitting on a lamp post next to the middle chamber in the lock to the Panama Canal. Two of them, looked to be a pair

Thanks to Butty and THE_FERN at www.birdforum.net for the ID as I had originally ID the bird as a Panama Flycatcher

Sound from www.xeno-canto.org

Remarks from the Recordist

The middle chamber in the lock to the Panama Canal. Two of them, looked to be a pair flapping wings and jumping around. Another pair in a lamp post 20 meters away

Thanks to Butty and THE_FERN at www.birdforum.net for the ID as I had originally ID the bird as a Panama Flycatcher

Tropical Kingbird

Thanks to Butty at the birdforum for correct ID. My original ID was Panama Flycatcher

I also spotted a Great-tailed Grackle bathing on deck, well, it was the AB on the watch pointing out the bird for me. So, I got to see a lot of birds, and I already had 3 birds I had never seen before today.

There was of course a lot of other birds, but I could not get any pictures or ID.

Building an observation platform for the tourists at the upper chamber

We are ready to leave the upper chamber

We are ready to leave the upper chamber

It took way longer than expected to pass the locks. But there is a lack of water in the canal. A lot of ships waiting for transit as they only let 30 ships pass per day. The lose water every time they open the locks and now, they also pump water between the locks,

So, it was 1 o'clock in the afternoon when we left the third and last lock on the Atlantic side.

I turned off my eBird app and I went down for a late lunch and for a couple of hours relaxing in my room.

eBird Report

Terminal del Ferry, Colón, PA
04-Sep-2023 09:17 - 12:58
Protocol: Traveling
5.97 kilometer(s)
7 species

Southern Lapwing 2
Magnificent Frigatebird 2   First ID as a Swallow-tailed Kite and I just reported the bird as a Swallow-tailed Kite. Coming closer and I saw that the tail was a normal long and black head so it turned out to be a Magnificent Frigatebird, a first ever for me.

First one was north of the locks and the second one came flying in over the locks from the south
Anhinga 1   Anhinga, snake bird. White neck and black belly with yellow feet, only seen from a faraway distance
American Black Vulture 7   Many in the sky but too far away for a proper ID so I only report 7
Orange-chinned Parakeet 4   Looking like two pairs, flapping wings making sound for each other’s, 20 meters between the pairs. Thanks to Butty at www.birdforum.net for ID. My original ID was a Panama Flycatcher
Great-tailed Grackle 1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S148986259

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

I am back on the bridge at 4 o'clock and I spot a couple of Black Vultures and one Brown Pelican sitting in the canal having a good time. We had about one and a half hour to go to the first lock on the Pacific side.

Our Cadet had seen crocodiles, I had seen none. But I was soon to see two Brown Pelicans flying towards us on the canal. So, there was a little bit of bird life to report in my eBird app that I started when I came on the bridge at 4.

Starting my eBird app coming on the bridge

Picture by our Deck Cadet

Our Hero keeping an eye on things

Picture by our Deck Cadet

Our Hero keeping an eye on things

Picture by our Deck Cadet

We are soon passing the prison where they kept Noriega, at least this is what our Cadet told me. He took pictures of the prison and he gave me some copies. And why not, now we know how Noriega's prison look like.

He also gave me a video, time lapse and I will post it here as well so you get a good feel of the Panama Canal action. A little something to enjoy to kill the Friday afternoon boredom.

Video by our Deck Cadet

Noriega's prison

Picture by our Deck Cadet

Noriega's prison

Picture by our Deck Cadet

Steaming towards the Pacific Ocean

Steaming towards the Pacific Ocean

Our Cadet looking for crocodiles

Our Cadet looking for crocodiles

We have one boat coming to deliver the mooring crew for the locks, 19 people coming on board in each side of the canal. But it is OK, they leave when we are clear of the locks so no need to have them running around onboard.

Entering the first lock on the Pacific Side and I spotted maybe 25 Great-tailed Grackles flying around in the lock area. Two Tropical Kingbirds was flying around the bridge and I spotted two Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks in the empty lock next to us.

Boat coming to deliver mooring crew

Approaching the first lock on the Pacific side

Entering the first lock on the Pacific side

First lock on the Pacific side and we see Panama City in the back

Video by our Deck Cadet

Big container ship continues in the new canal to the new bigger locks

Big container ship continues in the new canal to the new bigger locks

Our Cadet came in from the bridge wing and he told me that there was a small tree with a lot of birds next to the lock. I went to have a look and I managed to make a recording. The tree was full of small green parakeets.

I had no clue what bird it was, but I got help from the birdforum.

It was getting dark and I turned off my eBird app and I was very happy with my day, at least regarding the birds. A couple of new birds that I had never seen before.

Listen to the Orange-chinned Parakeet

Sound from www.xeno-canto.org

Remarks from the Recordist

In a tree next to the first lock coming over to the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic side. A small three next to the lock with 50 ++ parakeets and I could hear them from far away

eBird Report

Canal de Panamá--Corte Culebra, Panamá, PA
04-Sep-2023 16:00 - 18:21
Protocol: Traveling
17.85 kilometer(s)
7 species

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 2   Look like a pair
Magnificent Frigatebird 1
Brown Pelican 3
American Black Vulture 15
Orange-chinned Parakeet 50   50 ++ in a tree next to the lock and I could hear them from far away.

Thanks to THE_FERN at birdforum for ID
Tropical Kingbird 2   Thanks to Butty at www.birdforum.net for the correct ID. I originally ID the bird as a Panama Flycatcher
Great-tailed Grackle 25

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S149021707

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Soon out from the Panama Canal

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Tuesday 5 ^th of September 2023 we are in the Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Panama. I am joined by a bobby at 6 o'clock. Well, it was a Brown Booby but I did not figure that out until a few minutes later. It was still twilight and I only saw the bird as a shadow in front of the ship.

But the bird turned its belly against me and I could see that it was a Brown Booby. At 6 thirty there were 4 Brown Bobbies and at 06:45 I had 8 Brown Boobies in front of the boat.

There was another booby, looked very different and also looked to be a wee bit bigger. Rain and my poor Scooby Doo camera, but I tried to get pictures that I could send to birdforum for help with the ID.

Booby

Booby

They thought it was a juvenile Brown Boobie so no excitements. Not like I had beenhoping to have discovered a new species, but any way, I have seen Brown Boobies to last me for a life time by now. But a Brown Booby is better than no booby

We changed more than25% of the crew in the Panama Canal so we need to have drills. We will dofire, oil, abandon ship and a security drill at 10 thirty. And I had chosen to have a fire in the kitchen.

We start with the security drill before we do the fire drill. I go through theimportance of the gangway watch. Check all ID and keep a visitor list. And of course, to keep an eye on ropes etc. so no one climb on board to hide.

Stowaways have been reported in Ecuador and this is really not a drama we want to experience. So, we need to keep our eyes out and search the ship at departure.

By the time we finished the crew's blood was bubbling with enthusiasm, eager to start with thefire drill action. Fire alarm went off and we were soon having two smoke diving teams ready for action.

Team 1 entered the kitchen from the mess room and they extinguished the fire and we could go out to relax. But I had a surprise for them. The alarm went off again and team #2 had to enter from the back to put out the second fire.

Team 1 enter the kitchen

Team 2 enter the kitchen from the back

We are ready just in time for lunch, and we will open the slop chest after dinner. Wehave been out of stock of everything crossing the Atlantic. One month at the anchorage in Italy and now 3 weeks crossing the Atlantic.

So, no food and bounded stores on board. But we received stores in Bilbao after getting out of the locks on the Pacific side. So, I went to buy chocolate and nuts and I went to my room for some “quality time” I ripped open a drum of MIXED NUTS.

Who the duck has came up with the idea to put mixed nuts in a gallon jar? I could not leave the jar. I had just touched the surface, not even made a dent in the content when I was full. But I could not leave the jar alone.

My nuts finally out of reach

I took all m nuts and I went to put them outside our Cadet's door and I returned to my roomhoping never to see the nuts again.

I still have my chocolate, but I hope to run out of that problem very soon. It is not like Iam used to have chocolate laying around past expiry date. But I will do my best this very time.

Of course, I failed and the chocolate was no more when I went on the bridge at 4 o'clock with a mental note not to get anymore chocolate or nuts.

The A TEAM preparing our Pilot cabin

The A TEAM preparing our Pilot cabin

We will arrive to Esmeralda tomorrow and it looks like we will have some people coming to stay on board so I had my best team to prepare the pilot cabin so it is ready for a visitor to move in.

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Wednesday 6 ^th of September 2023 we are joined by Brown Boobies around 6 o'clock, same every morning. They come to hunt in front of the boat. But today the Brown Boobies was joined by one Nazca Booby, but only for a minute and it was gone again.

Nazca Booby, a lifer for me and it also generated a Rare Bird Alert in eBird.

Rare Bird Alert

6 hours later and I reported 25 Brown Boobies and one Nazca Booby. Now the Brown Boobies generated a Rare Bird Alert and I changed it to Bobby S.P. and the Nazca Booby was not any alert any more.

I managed to get a few pictures of the Nazca Booby, the first ever picture of a Nazca Booby for me. And I have got quite a few lifers since we left Italy so the birding has been good. I only miss my camera that I will bring the next time.

Nazca Booby

Nazca Booby

Nazca Booby

we drop the anchor in the afternoon and we have no news on when we will come to the buoys to start discharging. We have removed all our mooring ropes as they will deliver ropes especially for these buoys. We also had Surveyors coming to take samples.

It was getting dark and I turned on the floodlights on deck and it was about 20 minutes past 7 in the evening when I shat my pants. I was on the bridge, and suddenly, there was a huge Magnificent Frigatebird soaring outside the bridge looking at me.

It is a huge bird and they were here to hunt for fish in the light from the floodlights.

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Thursday 7 ^th of September 2023 and we are still anchored when I come on the bridge at 4 o'clock in the morning. I see that we have two Magnificent Frigatebirds hunting in the light from the floodlight in front of us.

The sun is soon coming up and I discover several frigatebirds over the anchorage.

Sun is coming up over Esmeralda anchorage

Sun is coming up over Esmeralda anchorage

8 o'clock and I am lucky, one of the frigatebirds flying towards the bridge and I prepare my Scooby Doo pocket camera. I manage to get some pictures of the bird when it is outside the bridge and I was happy.

Now I only need some pictures of the Peruan Booby that I have seen. Not reported to eBird as I had had a very quick glimpse only. But I have seen big whales both yesterday and this morning. So, there is action almost all the time.

Magnificent Frigatebird

Magnificent Frigatebird

Magnificent Frigatebird

Lunch, and today was the first time we have had food since we got the new Cock in Panama. It has been,well, a lot to wish for regarding the food. Previous Cock managed to make food even if the stores were empty. Now the stores are full and it is, well, food.

First day in it was pure fat chopped up in small pieces and I went to scold the Cook and he promised to improve. Yesterday it was boiled potato that was not boiled, everyone complained and I called the Cock and I asked what it was pointing at the potato.

Potato, he answered and I handed him a pork. He could not put the fork in to the potato as it was not boiled. Scolding the Cock every day, some people have to work 12 hours per day and he cannot even boil potato.

Captain told him to shape up and to serve food and today it was really good. And there was enough food and fruit. We got avocado and mango in Panama, but no sign of it and it will soon be rotten. But today there were fresh fruit. So, a wee bit of scolding works sometime.

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Saturday 9 ^th of September 2023 and our Pilot boarded us at 07:42, 20 minutes earlier than expected. We will move to the TME Terminal a few hundred meters away.

The terminal is 4 buoys and we will use our rented mooring lines to secure the ship to the buoys and pick up two cargo hoses and discharge the gasoline through underwater pipelines to the shore tanks 10 km away.

We had to rent special mooring lines that they delivered to the ship when we arrived to the anchorage. Our own mooring lines would be destroyed in the rolling and pitching at the buoys.

At the TME Terminal

We started discharging in the afternoon and I could leave the CCR at 19 thirty. Straight from 4 o'clock in the morning, no time for breakfast, lunch and the quickest dinner I have ever had. But

Before

After

the food is good, and there is plenty of it now.

So, a few skipped meals will do good for my diet and my soon to be V-shaped torso.

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Sunday 10 ^th of September 2023 and 16 hours of work yesterday and I slept until I woke up by myself at 5 thirty. The day was spent doing some paper work and we expect to complete discharging early tomorrow morning.

Cadet and 3rd Officer in the CCR

Cadet and 3rd Officer in the CCR

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Monday 11 ^th of September 2023 and we complete discharging at 06:42 and we leave 1 hour later to drop our anchor so they can come to pick up the mooring ropes that we had rented.

Leaving the buoys and we had one Brown Pelican flying across in front of us. One Blue-footed Boobie looking for fish around us and 8 Magnificent Frigatebirds soaring above us.

When they came close to each other it looked like they were annoyed and we had three of themaround the radar masts. They were looking like they were wrestling in the air biting each other’s wings. And one of them dropped a souvenir on Captain's shirt.

Magnificent Frigatebird

We left the anchorage around 11 and we will arrive to La Libertad early tomorrow morning.

We were steaming south in the North Pacific Ocean when I came on the bridge at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. I was soon joined by two boobies and I ID the bird as Masked Boobies because of the pale bill. I only seen Nazca Boobies with orange bill.

Reporting the bird in eBird and Masked Booby was not an option so I had to report them as Nazca Boobies. There was also one Magnificent Frigatebird about 1000 meters from us towards the Ecuador shore line.

I could see that one of the boobies landed on the gun wall around the fo'c's'le and I suppose that it will spend the night on board.

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Tuesday 12 ^th of September 2023 and I could see the Nazca Booby on the gun wall forward when it started to get day light at 6. I was joined by a Brown Booby 20 minutes past 6 and I will report this as a Brown Booby even though it is a RARE BIRD ALERT.

We will arrive to the pilot station at 7 thirty. There are a lot of Humpback Whales around us and they are jumping with big splashes. And there are birds to report to eBird. At least the birds I can ID, there are some birds that I cannot ID.

Port Quarantine board us at 07:24 for inspection and they need to inspect before the Pilot can come on board. They stay on board for an hour before they leave and the pilot can come to take us to the anchorage.

We drop anchor at 9 thirty and we can see one boat going to the La Libertad Terminal Offshore International Mooring Buoys so it will not be any berthing for us today.

Mooring arrangements at La Libertad Terminal Offshore International Mooring Buoys

We will also get mooring lines, same kind we had in Esmeraldas and we have to take of our ownropes from our winches.

Coming to the bridge at 4 o'clock and our Cadet tells me that they had a Humpback Whale and a baby just next to the ship during theafternoon. He took a few videos that we can enjoy here on www.aladdin.st

He had been very lucky to have the baby and mother just next to the ship. And he had been lucky to discover the whales.

You are not exactly looking down the ship side while anchored. And he was of course lucky to have his phone with him so he could take the videos.

Video by our Deck Cadet

Video by our Deck Cadet

I was green of envy when the Cadet went down from the bridge and I kept my eyes out for whales. There were plenty of them jumping around the ship.

But too far away for any videos or pictures.

I had a baby and a mother swimming behind the ship and I washoping for them to come closer so I could get a video.

The baby was jumping and playing and the mother stuck out the head from the water. Looked to be two adults and one baby. When the Humpbacks goes to have their babies, they are often having another adult swimming with them from the south pole as a helper.

They came closer and I tried to take a video, my pocket camera is only capable to take 2K videos, but I will upscale the video to 4K, or 8K to see if I can get the whales to appear closer than they were. DaVinci have the upscale abilities so I will try.

And I have done it with previous videos and I can get some training, practise and experience with DaVinci video editing.

In the evening we got an email that they expect berthing tomorrow morning. So, they are not better here than in Esmeraldas, they are not able to make any planning at all.

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Thursday 14 ^th of September 2023 and we expect to have the pilot on board at 8 o'clock. I took a few pictures when the sun came up to update my friends via the Line App so they can take part of my adventure in Ecuador.

Early morning anchored in Bahia De Santa Elena

Early morning anchored in Bahia De Santa Elena

Early morning anchored in Bahia De Santa Elena

I called the Pilot station at 7 but they had no updates. They would bring the mooring ropes at 7 thirty but there was no sign of any mooring ropes when I went to bed at 8 o'clock.

Pilot boarded us almost 5 hours late and we started to move towards the “La Libertad Terminal Offshore International Mooring Buoys” I had completed most of the paper work with the Loading Master while waiting for the pilot.

All tests were completed so I did not have to bother with this after having all fast at the buoys.

We will send mooring lines to three buoys and there was one Sea Lion sleeping on one of the buoys. And yet again, I regrated not to have brought my camera with me. But I tried to get some pictures with my Scooby Doo camera.

Magnificent Frigatebird

Magnificent Frigatebird

Magnificent Frigatebird

Magnificent Frigatebird

Magnificent Frigatebird

Magnificent Frigatebird

Magnificent Frigatebird

Sea Lion on the mooring buoy

Sea Lion on the mooring buoy

I spotted one bird flying across at the buoys and I reported it to eBird:

I have seen a lot of birds but not been able to ID many of them. And I have no camera, but this bird was quite close and I wrote a note:
- Dark Grey Bird
- Short Tail
- White and black band back of the wing

I was happy to see this bird as I thought it would be easy to ID the bird, but it was not so easy and I think it is a Storm-petrel

We had all fast at 15:00 and I went down to the CCR to have a chat with the Surveyors. They measured the tanks and I made an ullage report. We started to load the 3000 Bbl. of gasoil that we will use to push the line after discharging.

We loaded the gasoil in CT 5 Port and it took an hour. We started to discharge at 20:00 and I was back in my room at 8 thirty after yet another full day.

Our Cadet

Evening action in the CCR

Cadet, 3rd Officer and Loading Master

Evening action in the CCR

Cadet, 3rd Officer and Loading Master

Evening action in the CCR

Cadet, 3rd Officer and Loading Master

Pasta, toast and French Fries for dinner

We completed the cargo operation at 7 o'clock and it was too late to leave the buoy, daylight operation only so we will have our Pilot at 6 o'clock tomorrow morning.

+++++++++++++++
Friday 15 ^th of September 2023 and I spotted a Pelican coming to the bridge at 4 o'clock in the morning. Flying around the boat hunting for fish and I was not really interested until the bird came flying by the bridge.

Looked like an orange bill and that would make it a Peruvian Pelican. The bird was sitting on the mooring rope below the bridge wing and I tried to get a picture of the bird hunting in the dark.

Pelican

I spotted the bird I thought was a Storm Petrel and I made a drawing of the wing to see if I can get any ID suggestions from birdforum.

Our Pilot boarded us at 06:18 and by then I was a little busy trying to get pictures of birds sitting on the rail outside the bridge. I managed to get a recording with my Canon G7X and I was happy even though the video was nothing but garbage.

I will for sure bring my ZOOM Handy Recorder and camera next time.

Grey Breasted Martin

Thanks to THE_FERN at birdforum for the ID

Grey Breasted Martin

Thanks to THE_FERN at birdforum for the ID

Grey Breasted Martin

Thanks to THE_FERN at birdforum for the ID

Listen to the Grey Breasted Martin

Sound from www.xeno-canto.org

Remarks from the Recordist

Recorded with my Canon G7X pocket camera and High Pass Filter applied with Audacity

Sitting on the rail outside the bridge and there were 5 of them, ranging from black to grey.

Thanks to THE_FERN at birdforum for the ID

We left the buoys just before 7 and I was soon spotting 30 Magnificent Frigatebirds in a big swarm circling over the water, so I guess there was plenty fish. A few minutes later and we had to give way for a fishing boat crossing our bow, breaking all the rules.

I counted to 13 Magnificent Frigatebirds sitting in the mast on the boat and 2 flying after the boat. Just like the gulls and terns we see following the fishing boats in Northern Europe.

I went to bed at 8 but I could not sleep so I had a cup of tea before going to make some super important work in the CCR. I looked out my window quarter to two and I spotted 2 Masked Boobies and 3 Nazca Boobies in front of the boat hunting for fish.

I was busy in my room preparing my post on bird forum for when I have internet connection again.

Dear Members and Bird Watchers!

I have seen a lot of birds, every day and it has been fun even though I only have been able to ID the boobies, frigatebirds and Pelicans.

So, I was very happy when I spotted a bird flying across at Bahia De Santa Elena, Ecuador and I took notes on how it looked as it should be an “EASY” ID. My notes:
- Grey bird
- Short tail
- Looked like it had flied in to a wall (Stubby looking if you can imagine what I mean)
- White bar back of the wing and a small black bar

See attached drawing that I made. I was happy when I went to look for my bird on the internet as I was sure it would be easy to ID.

I could only get Storm Petrel S.P and the enthusiasm disappeared. Frustrating to see all the birds and only be able to ID the boobies and frigatebirds.

I spotted the bird again 4 o’clock in the morning when it was looking for fish in the light from the floodlight. I was standing straight over the bird. Small white band on the back of the wing, going from the body and stretching for about one third of the wing.

Is it possible to get any ID from my description and drawing?

This very morning, day light is breaking and I had 5 swallows sitting outside the window and I have ID the birds as Southern Swallows. Anyone that can confirm my ID by help of the poor pictures and the sound recording that I made with my camera?

And there was a pelican sitting fishing on the mooring line. I have seen many Brown Pelicans and so far, no Peruvian Pelican that have an upper orange coloured bill.

Is it possible to see if it is a Peruvian from my very poor picture taken in the middle of the night. I did not react on the pelican until I saw the orange bill, but I suspect it can be a reflection from the yellow light from the floodlight.

Kind Regards and Happy Birding!
Aladdin

Italian Delicatessen

Coming on my watch at 4 o'clock in the afternoon and I had 4 Nazca and 3 Blue-footed Boobies hunting in front of the ship. Captain came to the bridge bringing some Italian Delicatesses that he had got in Italy.

I enjoyed the Italian delicatesses and my tea while watching the boobies hunting for fishing in front of the boat. The boobies, like the gannets ae very nice to watch when they are diving and there was action all around.

We are steaming north and I had more boobies coming to hunt in front of the boat. At 17 thirty I had 7 Nazca and 3 Brown Boobies.

There were also 5 Blue-footed Boobies and there had been one Magnificent Frigatebird joining us for a couple of minutes before the bird disappeared again.

Nazca Booby

Nazca Booby

Nazca Booby

Brown Booby

No good picture, but the Brown Booby as a RARE BIRD ALERT and I need a picture for eBird

Brown Booby

No good picture, but the Brown Booby as a RARE BIRD ALERT and I need a picture for eBird

Listen to the Nazca Booby

Sound from www.xeno-canto.org

Remarks from the Recordist

Recorded with my Canon G7X pocket camera as a video and converted to MP3. High Pass Filter applied with Audacity

I had Nazca, Brown and Blue-footed boobies hunting in front of the boat. Two Nazca Boobies was sitting in the mast and they made angry noises as soon as another Nazca approached. I decided to make a video so I could get the sound recording.

We can hear that it is a female by the squawking sound. Males make whistling sound

The boobies made a lot of sounds but it was impossible to know which species that made the sound. But there was a Nazca Boobie sitting on top of the mast forward.
There was a second Nazca Booby sitting below the top bird on the light and when there was another bird approaching, they gave some noises.

I did not have my ZOOM H5 Handy Recorder so I decided to make a video with my Canon G7X and I got the sound, strong wind, but we can hear the bird.

I converted the video to an MP3 and I can upload it to Xeno-canto and eBird.

+++++++++++++++
Saturday 16 ^th of September 2023 and I could see 3 Nazca Boobies and 3 Blue-footed Boobies in the forward mast when day light was breaking at 6 o'clock. 2 Of them started to hunt fifteen minutes later but the remaining 4 continued their “Good morning” routines.

I was joined by 3 Brown Boobies at 6 thirty, they came flying in from behind on the left side and they started to hunt in front of the boat.

At 4 o'clock in the afternoon I have one Brown and one Red-footed Booby (Blue-footed no option in eBird) hunting in front of the ship. One Nazca Booby sitting in the mast where he stays until dark.

I have a second Red-footed coming in from East and I think it will join but the bird continues towards West and will spend the night on the ocean

A second Brown Booby is coming to us around 6 o'clock and now it is getting dark. He circles the mast that are occupied by two Nazca Boobies by now so it leaves and it looked like the bird landed on the water to spend the night

Evening and the birds prepare for the night. 2 Nazca Boobies that was reported in the previous check list are in the top mast.

It is getting dark and one booby comes in for landing in the mast but it gives up. Dark bird so only ID as booby s.p. A few minutes later another Nazca Booby and one Dark bird so only ID as booby s.p. comes in for landing.

They are circling and the booby s.p landing 2 times but take of again. I make a video as there is some ruckus from the mast and we can hear the female Nazca Bobby squawking and a male Nazca Bobby whistling make whistling sound.

Recorded as a video with my G7X Canon camera and converted to MP3 and will be uploaded when I have internet

I will see which birds are in the mast tomorrow morning at 6 when it gets daylight

Listen to the Nazca Booby

Sound from www.xeno-canto.org

Remarks from the Recordist

Recorded with my Canon G7X pocket camera as a video and converted to MP3. High Pass Filter applied with Audacity

Two Nazca Boobies sitting in the top mast and are prepared to spend the night. I have a dark bobby coming in to have a look for a place to spend the night. It is dark outside so I only ID the bird as a booby s.p. The bird makes a few turns around the mast before it leaves.

I few minutes later and another dark booby, I only ID the bird as a booby s.p. flying in together with one Nazca Booby. There are some ruckuses and I make a video to get a sound recording.

We can hear that it is a female by the squawking sound + one males making the whistling sound,

My two NazcaBooby recordings make one video

+++++++++++++++
Sunday 17 ^th of September 2023 and we are approaching Golfo De Panama when I come on the bridge 4 o'clock in the morning.

10 minutes before 5 and it is just enough daylight so I can see 3 Nazca Boobies in the mast forward. (Same as yesterday evening) 2 sleeping and one preening. The woken up bobby takes off and disappear at 6 o'clock.

By then I am joined by one Brown Booby and I have one small dark bird flying over deck, ID as a bird s.p.

Quarter past 6 and all the Nazca boobies are gone, not even fishing for breakfast before disappearing south. I think we are to close to land for them to like it, about 60 km.

I am alone with the Brown Booby until 6 thirty when the second Brown Booby join. At 7 o'clock there are 5 Brown Boobies and when I go down at 8 o'clock there are 13 Brown Boobies hunting in front of the boat.

A little later I could make the below report to eBird:
Curlew or Whimbrel flying south just next to the boat. I ID the bird as a Whimbrel because of the shorter bill. I compare pictures and the Curlew's bill is longer. Both have curved bill.

Anchored outside Panama City

Anchored outside Panama City

Anchored outside Panama City

Red Tailed bird

Poor picture, will send it to birdforum for help with the ID

Dear www.aladdin .st,

Thank you for being a part of eBird. To help make sure that eBird can be used for scientific research and conservation, volunteers like me follow up on unusual observations as a part of the eBird data quality process.

I am writing about the following observation:

Species: bird sp.
Count: 2
Observation Date: Sep 17, 2023
Location: Panama City - Pacific Anchorage Expansion West Side, Panamá, PA
https://ebird.org/checklist/S150215691

The documentation you have provided shows a Streaked/Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher.

Best Regards
eBird

There were two birds outside the bridge, but our Cadet flushed them before I could get a picture. But I got a picture when it landed on deck, but too far away for my Scooby Doo camera.

Red tail with yellowish breast and streaked back so I thought it should be easy to ID. But I came up with nothing after having searching high and low on the internet. I even had the Cadet to help me, but nothing.

We had just dropped the anchor at “Pacific Anchorage Expansion West Side” when I came on the bridge 4 o'clock in the afternoon. There are plenty birds but I could only ID the boobies and Frigatebirds. And of course, the pelicans.

But it kept me busy and my watch passed quite quickly. Pilot will board us at 22 thirty tonight and we will be the first ship in the north bound convoy. Later on, it was changed to 22:15

Anchored outside Panama City

eBird Trip Report

Since April 2023 eBird offer a new feature, to create Trip Reports. At least this is when I first heard of this feature and I have decided to make the eBird Trip Reports instead of my list of OBSERVED birds.

And of course, this also means that I will HAVE TO go back and do the same for my old birding adventures, WHEN I HAVE THE TIME!

Today's Trip Report: Panama City to Ecuador and back to Panama City - 5 to 17 September 2023 | Click HERE

Download | PDF

Lifers
Icons for lifers used in the eBird trip reports

Species lifer:First time that someone observes a species in their life

Photo lifer:First time that someone photographs a species in their life

Audio lifer:First time that someone audio records a species in their life

Exotic species
Exotic species flags differentiate locally introduced species from native species.

Naturalized:Exotic population is self-sustaining, breeding in the wild, persisting for many years, and not maintained through ongoing releases (including vagrants from Naturalized populations). These count in official eBird totals and, where applicable, have been accepted by regional bird records committee(s).

Provisional:Either: 1)member of exotic population that is breeding in the wild, self-propagating, and has persisted for multiple years, but not yet Naturalized; 2)rarity of uncertain provenance, with natural vagrancy or captive provenance both considered plausible.

When applicable, eBird generally defers to bird records committees for records formally considered to be of "uncertain provenance". Provisional species count in official eBird totals.

Escapee:Exotic species known or suspected to be escaped or released, including those that have
bred but don't yet fulfil the criteria for Provisional. Escapee exotics do not count in official eBird totals.

+++++++++++++++
Monday 18 ^th of September 2023 and we had transited the Panama Canal in a record-breaking time. We entered the first lock on the Atlantic side when I came on the bridge 4 o'clock in the morning. I could see from my room when they entered the locks on the Pacific side at midnight.

It was raining, and that is good as they have very low water in the Panama Canal.

Entering the first lock on the Atlantic side

Entering the first lock on the Atlantic side

Our Cadet

Our Cadet

Coming out of the last lock

Coming out of the last lock

Leaving the locks like I have never seen them before, EMPTY!

Our new 3/o and Cadet at 8 o'clock

We had a lot of Brown Boobies around us at 11 o'clock and I made a new report to eBird and now I could add both sound and pictures.

There was a Grey and white bird that I thought should be a piece of cake to ID. But I have come up with nothing. I thought it was a Mocking bird but after having checked pictures I decided that it was not a Mocking bird.

Grey and white bird on deck

Poor picture, will send it to birdforum for help with the ID

Dear www.aladdin .st,

Thank you for being a part of eBird. To help make sure that eBird can be used for scientific research and conservation, volunteers like me follow up on unusual observations as a part of the eBird data quality process.

I am writing about the following observation:

Species: bird sp.
Count: 1
Observation Date: Sep 18, 2023
Location: Caribbean Sea, Colón, PA
https://ebird.org/checklist/S150209311

The documentation you have provided shows an Eastern Kingbird.

Kind Regards eBird

Brown Booby

Brown Booby

Brown Booby

Brown Booby

Brown Booby

Brown Booby

Listen to the Brown Booby

Sound from www.xeno-canto.org

Remarks from the Recordist

Recorded with my Canon G7X pocket camera and converted to MP3. High Pass Filter and noise reduction applied.

Brown Boobies hunting in front of the boat. We can hear the bow waves and wind so not any good recording.

Yellow Crowned Night Heron

eBird Rare Bird Alert

+++++++++++++++
Tuesday 19 ^th of September 2023 and at 05:45 I could see 3 Brown Boobies sleeping in the mast as the day light started. At 6 one went to fish and 15 minutes later all of them were fishing. 6 birds so there had obviously been more than 3 birds staying over night

We got instructions for the tank cleaning in the morning so we started to clean our tanks before lunch and we completed around 8 o'clock and we could start the purging.

Brown Booby

And of course, we have had Brown Boobies hunting in front of the boat during the day.

+++++++++++++++
Thursday 21 ^st of September 2023 and we started with the mopping today and it will take a full day. I will be busy making entry permits for the crew to go down to pump out the last remaining water in the tanks.

In the evening we had a Brown Pelican landing on the starboard side bridge wing.

Brown Pelican

Brown Pelican

Brown Pelican

+++++++++++++++
Saturday 23 ^rd of September 2023 and we had the last drills for the month after breakfast and we had a Brown Pelican fling around the ship when we came on deck around 9 o'clock.

We dropped anchor around 10 thirty and I could make a few reports to eBird when I came on the bridge 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

+++++++++++++++
Tuesday 26 ^th of September 2023 and we were supposed to come alongside in Texas City this very morning. But the ship at our jetty will load another parcel so we will have to wait until the 28/9. So, it will be October by the time we leave Texas.

And I will have to wait for my bird books for a couple of more days. I have ordered 3 books online that are sent to our Agent in Houston.
1) Helm Field Guide - Birds of Northern South America
2) Princeton Field Guide - Birds of the West Indies
3) Princeton Illustrated Checklists - Birds of the Southern South America and Antarctica

So now I hope to be able to get to know a little more about the birds we see around us in the Caribbean Sea and in Central and South America.

So, it will be another night on the anchorage and I will of course keep an eye out for birds. I see Brown Pelicans every day and there are a lot of other birds I cannot ID. I am pretty sure it is a couple of hummingbirds on the way south that have passed in front of the windows on the bridge.

Well, I don't mind waiting on the anchorage, it will soon be time to go home.

Our Wiper gives Bosun a haircut

Our Wiper gives Bosun a haircut

Our Wiper gives Bosun a haircut

+++++++++++++++
Wednesday 27 ^th of September 2023 and we are still anchored when I come to the bridge at 4 in the morning. Enjoying a gorgeous sun rise looking out for birds. I had 5 Brown Boobies flying across towards the Southeast and that generated a Rare Bird Alert in eBird.

Sun is rising over Gulf of Mexico

+++++++++++++++
Friday 29 ^th of September 2023 and it looks like we will come alongside today. Delayed, Pilot boarding time is 09:00 and that is fine with me. I got the pilot boarding time confirmed when I called the Pilot station at 7 o'clock and by then I had done most of the checks on the check list.

I had had a tool box meeting with the crew at 6 o'clock so they can rig the pilot ladder.

Early morning on Galveston anchorage

The anchor was up just before 8 o'clock and I went for a power nap. Waking up at 9 thirty and we were approaching Texas City and we had the pilot on board when I came on the bridge at 9 thirty. I could see that there was a lot of birds flying around.

At the jetty there were hundreds of gulls and we had 5 Brown Pelicans sitting on the dock when we arrived. I also spotted one Magnificent Frigatebird.

eBird Trip Report

Since April 2023 eBird offer a new feature, to create Trip Reports. At least this is when I first heard of this feature and I have decided to make the eBird Trip Reports instead of my list of OBSERVED birds.

And of course, this also means that I will HAVE TO go back and do the same for my old birding adventures, WHEN I HAVE THE TIME!

Today's Trip Report: Panama Canal to Texas City, USA | Click HERE

Download | PDF

Lifers
Icons for lifers used in the eBird trip reports

Species lifer:First time that someone observes a species in their life

Photo lifer:First time that someone photographs a species in their life

Audio lifer:First time that someone audio records a species in their life

Exotic species
Exotic species flags differentiate locally introduced species from native species.

Naturalized:Exotic population is self-sustaining, breeding in the wild, persisting for many years, and not maintained through ongoing releases (including vagrants from Naturalized populations). These count in official eBird totals and, where applicable, have been accepted by regional bird records committee(s).

Provisional:Either: 1)member of exotic population that is breeding in the wild, self-propagating, and has persisted for multiple years, but not yet Naturalized; 2)rarity of uncertain provenance, with natural vagrancy or captive provenance both considered plausible.

When applicable, eBird generally defers to bird records committees for records formally considered to be of "uncertain provenance". Provisional species count in official eBird totals.

Escapee:Exotic species known or suspected to be escaped or released, including those that have
bred but don't yet fulfil the criteria for Provisional. Escapee exotics do not count in official eBird totals.

We started loading at 15:12 and we stopped at 16:18 for the foot sample in CT 3 P/S. They told us that it would be a 20 minutes stop but the time passed quickly and it was soon 8 o'clock in the evening and I was getting a wee bit worried. Something wrong with the foot sample?

We have cleaned the tanks with fresh water and we have gas freed the tanks and the crew have mopped up all the water from the tanks.

20 minutes stop turned in to a 6 hour stop and it was after 10 o'clock in the evening when we could resume loading.

+++++++++++++++
Saturday 30 ^th of September 2023 and we completed loading at 3 o'clock in the afternoon and we left Texas City just before 7 thirty in the evening. We had got news to go straight to Vopak Deer Park in Houston to load the MTBE.

We had expected, well, been hopingfor a couple of days at the anchorage. But straight to Houston and never mind the rest hours.

We had first line ashore at Vopak Deer Park just before midnight and it will be October before we have all fast. You just have to click HERE to swing right over to the month of October 2023.

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