Trans-Atlantic Cruise Sept 18th-October 10th continued.

Land migrants observed at sea......

I'd hoped we come across a few migrants landing on the ship given the length of time we would be spending along the eastern seaboard of North America. From previous experience in European waters, it's not always easy to get good views of passerines, typically they fly past you and then disappear, presumably having found a quiet inaccessible corner to hunker down in.

The first observation was on September 22nd (position at midday; 200 nautical miles SE of Sable Island Nova Scotia). A probable Yellow Warbler flew past the window while I was having breakfast in the restaurant but a check of the decks failed to find it.
September 24th was the most interesting day for migrant activity. As we made the approach to New York a House Wren and Common Yellowthroat were on board shortly after dawn and a Northern Flicker flew alongside. Rather than being migrants drifted far offshore by adverse weather these birds were making a crossing of Lower New York Bay and pausing on the ship for a quick rest. Migrants presumably use the Rockaway Peninsula (Breezy Point) and Sandy Hook (New Jersey) as landmarks for a short cut across the bay.

Subsequently I didn't come across any passerine migrants at sea for several days, presumably a reflection of the calm, clear sunny weather with nothing to disorientate them. The next for me was a probable Lapland Bunting flying alongside the ship in the St Lawrence River on the approach to Quebec on October 2nd. After this a Buff-bellied Pipit was seen flying alongside the ship way out in the Gulf of St Lawrence on October 4th, unfortunately the last that was seen of this one was it fluttering just above the waves presumably too tired to make it onto the ship.
On Oct 5th a White-throated Sparrow came aboard while we in port at Sydney, Nova Scotia and then stayed on board until at least the mid Atlantic. On October 6th a chunky greenish/yellowish passerine flew past me offshore from Newfoundland (perhaps a Tanager) but was never seen again.
I was also somewhat gripped by photos shown to me of a Northern Parula on the upper decks seen by one of my fellow cruise goers.

It wasn't only birds noted on board. Several butterflies identified as Compton Tortoiseshell were noted on the ship at dawn on September 23rd. Other people showed me photo's of a dragonfly (probably a Green Darner) on board at this time.