About Seabirding
I have been organizing and leading pelagic birding trips since 1986. In 1995, I moved to Hatteras, North Carolina so that I could offer a more extensive schedule of sea trips in some of the most consistently productive offshore waters in the western North Atlantic. The close proximity of both the warm Gulf Stream current and the edge of the Continental Shelf inshore, as well as the influence of the cooler Labrador Current make Hatteras waters a dynamic environment which attracts a remarkable diversity of seabirds throughout the year. In 2001 Kate Sutherland moved to Hatteras to work with me and she has been here since. Kate has two degrees in Marine Biology from University of North Carolina at Wilmington and is our co-captain and naturalist guide. Daniel Irons is an avid birder and fisherman who moved to Hatteras keen to document seabirds from Cape Point. In 2023 he started working for me and now he is on every trip as a leader and deckhand. He also works on all the fishing trips we run.
For several years we ran trips on chartered vessels, but in 2006, we began operating on our own boat. In 2008, we ran the most trips we have ever run- 52! of these, 49 of these were on our own boat in Hatteras. At 61 feet overall, the Stormy Petrel II is an even better boat for birding than the Stormy Petrel, which we operated in 2006, and she has much more deck space, particularly in the bow. I am very excited to have this boat, and look forward to many more trips aboard her. Already she has proven to be a great sea boat, and very comfortable in rough water.
At Seabirding, we are committed to our customers and this dedication has resulted in a loyal following over the years, with many repeat travelers. Because of our unique situation, we are able to operate some of our trips and charters with a relatively small number of people, and we limit our passenger count to about 16 at the most (less than two thirds of our inspected capacity) so there is always plenty of room on the boat. While emphasizing the birds, we make every effort to identify and document whales, fish, sea turtles, and other marine life, thus to provide our participants a well-rounded offshore experience. Our expertise in pelagic birding offshore of Hatteras Island is without equal.
Seabirding is the most active and successful operator of pelagic bird watching trips in the Eastern U.S., and our trips have a long-standing reputation for experience and excellence. A key to our success has been repeat business and our reputation is known worldwide.
Each trip is staffed by 2 to 5 leaders, each of whom have extensive offshore experience and the knowledge necessary to locate and identify some of the most cryptic and elusive species.
I hope that you will join us on one of these offshore birding adventures! -Brian Patteson
Our Boat
The Stormy Petrel II is 61 feet long overall, and she was built in Kennebunk, Maine by Dwight Raymond in 1996. She has a USCG certificate of inspection for 44 passengers up to 100 nautical miles offshore from Cape May, NJ to Cape Lookout, NC. For more elbow room, we limit our offshore trips to 25 or less passengers during the warmer months and even fewer during winter. We have all of the necessary safety equipment and undergo annual inspections by the Coast Guard. The hull of Stormy Petrel II is a solid fiberglass. Power comes from two Cummins QSC 8.3 liter engines that we installed in 2017. They are more powerful than the original engines, and they are also quieter and more efficient. They are also very clean burning. Unlike most charter boats, our boat has a full walk-around deck, and our bathrooms (two) are at deck level with household toilets. There is an incredible amount of deck space, especially up front, so in addition to fishing, she is ideal for cruises and wildlife viewing. Her stability while drifting in big seas is exceptional, such that we are able to operate safely and comfortably in conditions which would be miserable on most other boats.
Core Team
Captain Brian Patteson
Captain Kate Sutherland
Daniel Irons
Our Leaders
Our pelagic trip leaders and spotters are among the best seabirders in the world. They are all volunteers but they work hard because they love seabirds and they like to share their knowledge about them with others.
If you are interested in becoming a Seabirding leader contact Brian Patteson or Kate Sutherland, but be advised the bar is high. In 2014 we began a Junior Leader program to give younger birders a chance to work with our seasoned leaders and get some experience leading trips. Chloe Walker was the first young birder to participate and she helped us as a leader in 2017! Sage Church also participated in 2018 and still helps us as a leader on these trips. In 2025 Elias Markee-Ratner joined us as junior leader, but already had the skills to help us as a leader!
Contact us if you are interested in joining us as a Junior Leader!
Seabirding Leaders and Spotters on your trip(s) in 2027 might include:
Todd McGrath
David Shoch
Chris Sloan
Ed Corey
Sage Church
Liam Waters
Steve Backus
Jesse Anderson
Sarah Toner
Jeff Effinger
Andrew Thornton
Amanda Guercio
Elias Markee-Ratner
Brent Stephenson
Ocean Church