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Updated on Thursday, October 18 at 07:43 AM ET
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  Ahoy Seabirders,


Both Monterey Seabirds trips this last weekend yielded sightings of 
STREAKED SHEARWATER.

Those trip reports featuring Jeff Poklen and Todd Easterla photos are 
online at:
http://www.montereyseabirds.com/SeabirdTripReport071013.htm
http://www.montereyseabirds.com/SeabirdTripReport071014.htm


We have two more 8 hour trips planned for this season on Saturday Oct. 
27 and Sunday Oct. 28 and there are still spaces available, $85 per 
person. Call  to reserve or register online at: 
http://www.montereyseabirds.com

Hope you can make it,
Roger Wolfe
Deckhand for Monterey Seabirds
Soquel Canyon, CA USA


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Cape Town Pelagics trip report for Saturday, 13 October 2007
By Vince Ward
 
Highlights:
50 Black-bellied Storm Petrels
2 Spectacled Petrels
First Cory's Shearwater of the season
 
A Cape Town Pelagics trip left Simon's Town in warm and clear weather on 
Saturday 13 October. As we passed the Naval base we had an excellent view of a 
Southern Right Whale and its calf. A third whale was seen on the way to Cape 
Point. The trip out of False Bay was in choppy seas, with Cape Gannets 
conspicuously absent until well beyond Cape Point. 

 
The first few miles past Cape Point delivered very few pelagic birds, besides a 
few White-chinned Petrels, Sooty Shearwaters, Great Shearwaters and a pair of 
CORY'S SHEARWATERS - the first for the summer season! 

 
Our skipper found a stern trawler about 15 miles off Cape Point. The large 
flock of birds behind the boat turned out to be almost all White-chinned 
Petrels. A few Shy Albatrosses, fair numbers of Sooty Shearwaters and Great 
Shearwaters broke the monotony of black rafts of "White chins". Surprisingly 
only twenty Pintado Petrels were found around the trawler. A group of one 
hundred plus Kelp Gulls and a pair of Arctic Terns added further diversity. Two 
Giant Petrels were seen in the flock, but only one, a Northern Giant Petrel, 
came close enough to the boat to be identified to species level. 

 
The excitement came in the form of around 50 BLACK-BELLIED STORM PETRELS with 
about 10 Wilson's Storm Petrels feeding in close proximity. 

 
The trawler pulled its net 30 minutes after our arrival, only to have one of 
the trailing ski boats get its outboard engines caught in the net. The net was 
dramatically ripped open, spilling tons of hake into the ocean. The ensuing 
feeding frenzy attracted masses of White-chinned Petrels and Great Shearwaters. 
Amongst the new arrivals included a few Atlantic and Indian Yellow-nosed 
albatrosses and Black-browed Albatrosses. A noisy flock of 20 Arctic Terns 
busily plucked scraps left by the frenzied feeding of Cape Fur Seals. 

 
Amongst the masses of White-chinned Petrels lay the third highlight of the 
trip, two SPECTACLED PETRELS. The first bird had really thick "spectacles" 
making it visible from a great distance. The second individual had finer 
markings but was seen very close to the boat. The trip back to Cape Point 
delivered two Parasitic Jaegers (Arctic Skuas) harassing a flock of 8 Arctic 
Terns. We visited the Bank Cormorant breeding colony at Smitswinkel Rocks 
before returning to Simon's Town. 

 
 
Seabirds (Approximate numbers observed)
 
Swift Tern - Coastal
Arctic Tern - 30
Kelp Gull - Coastal, 100+ at trawler
Parasitic Jaeger (Arctic Skua) - 2
White-breasted Cormorant - Coastal
Cape Cormorant - Coastal
Bank Cormorant - Coastal, breeding
Cape Gannet - Coastal
African Penguin - Coastal
Shy Albatross - 30
Black-browed Albatross - 3
Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross - 2
Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross - 3
Northern Giant Petrel - 1
Giant Petrel spp. - 1
Pintado Petrel - 20
Wilson's Storm Petrel - 10
Black-bellied Storm Petrel - 50
White-chinned Petrel - 3000
Spectacled Petrel - 2
Sooty Shearwater - 50
Great Shearwater - 200
Cory's Shearwater - 2
 
Marine Mammals
 
Southern Right Whales - 3
Cape Fur Seal - Common 
 
Thanks to the skipper and guides for their respective contributions to a great 
pelagic trip, and thanks to Vince Ward for preparing this trip report. 

 
There are a few spaces available for trips in November and December. For a full 
itinerary of Cape pelagics, trip reports and birding information, visit our 
website at www.capetownpelagics.com, or contact me directly on  or 
ross AT capetownpelagics.com if you want to book spaces on a pelagic trip. 


SPECIAL OFFER: Book a CTP trip and get a 1-year subscription to the glossy 
birding magazine Africa: Birds and Birding for just R144! 


CAPETOWNPELAGICS.COM is run on a non-profit basis. All our operating surplus is 
donated to BirdLife International's Save the Albatross Campaign. You can 
contribute to albatross conservation by booking a tour with us! 

_________________________________________________________________________
Ross Wanless                                   Percy FitzPatrick Institute
ross AT capetownpelagics.com             of African Ornithology,
Tel:                          University of Cape Town,
Mobile:                     South Africa.
Fitz: 
Fax: 
SKYPE: rosswanless
For African birding information, guiding & pelagic trips, visit:
BIRDING AFRICA www.birdingafrica.com
CAPE TOWN PELAGICS www.capetownpelagics.com
_________________________________________________________________________
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Hi all

A stunning day to kick off our Hauraki Gulf summer pelagics - great day for
watching seabirds! We departed Sandspit Landing 0830hrs with an enthusiastic
group of birders; conditions dead calm at the wharf and in the estuary,
clear skies/0% cloud and low tide. In Kawau Bay spied some activity close to
the Tawharanui shoreline - gannets, pied shags, a couple of black shags,
white-fronted terns and red-billed gulls onto bait fish in the shallows.
Outside Takatu Point we picked up the forecast nor-westerly (all of 10kns);
the occasional fluttering shearwater zipping through as we headed out into
open water; white-fronted terns and red-billed gulls looking busy; and a
group of Buller's shearwaters resting up. We followed something of a
meandering course northwards to the outer reaches of the Hauraki Gulf;
plenty of gannet action although birds very widespread with no real centre
to the activity. Small numbers of Buller's, fluttering and flesh-footed
shearwaters amongst them. By NW Reef (NW of Little Barrier Island) we were
seeing white-faced storm petrels in reasonable numbers, also Cook's petrels,
common diving petrels and little shearwaters. Little response to a chumming
session so moved out towards the Mokohinaus and Groper Rock. Numbers of
stormies steadily grew, also more Buller's shearwaters. At our second
chumming stop (again little response from the birds) we spied upwind drifts
of red algae. When we checked these out a black-winged petrel waltzed
through. Just south of Groper Rock our third chumming session gave us little
to report again although the stormies started to show a bit of interest.
Nice views of Cook's petrels plus a distant view of a cape petrel (Snares).
Plenty of diving petrels both sides of Groper Rock. We snuck in close to
this burrow-riddled island and a chance to chat about the birds breeding on
these seabird islands (most of islands are nature reserves with no landing
permitted). About a mile (nm) north of Groper another chumming session when
things started to look promising but despite having Buller's, fluttering and
flesh-footed shearwaters passing by the only real takers were six
white-faced stormies. Our chum seemed to be more a bird repellent, rather
than attractant! Still, the conditions were great and by this time everyone
was tucking into lunches. 

We continued further out and after seeing a few big groups of Buller's
shearwaters (< 30) resting on the water, 3nm NNE of Groper came across a
sight that explained (well sort of) why so few birds were coming to our
chumming. Clearly there was plenty of natural food around. 100s of
fluttering shearwaters, some in groups actively chasing prey in frantic
rushes; others resting in long drifts with white-faced stormies dancing
amongst them, some flesh-footed shearwaters (resting), one fairy prion (sort
of 'hoovering' around) and one black petrel (also resting). We worked our
way through a couple of these groups for closer views including the fairy
prion (great views) and black petrel (not to be seen again after it moved
off with the group it was with). Plenty of diving petrels moving in all
directions throughout this time. About a mile further out we stopped to chum
again; we could see downwind large numbers of stormies (100s) active over a
large area. But once again only a few birds came in real close, mostly
fleshies. Still we did add sooty and short-tailed shearwaters to the day's
list. Then after a while, despite the lack of interest from the white-faced
stormies, the first NZ storm petrel for the 2007/2008 summer came dashing
in. This bird stayed with us for about 20mins for excellent views at times.
With our slick quite widespread and with plenty of birds in the near
vicinity (including white-faced stormies sitting on the water) we decided to
lift the sea anchor and quietly stooge around. At this point two more NZSPs
flew in together. By the time we headed downwind, across the north side of
the Mokohinau Islands and towards Maori Rocks, we'd seen 3 definite NZSPs,
possibly a 4th going on appearance. North of Burgess we could see plenty of
Buller's shearwaters moving through in a fairly steady stream, appearing to
be heading for the Poor Knights Islands where they breed. Also saw more
little shearwaters (occasional) and sooty shearwaters, mostly individuals,
sometimes in small groups. At Maori Rocks there were Buller's shearwaters
galore on the water, some feeding with schools of trevally; along with
fluttering shearwaters and white-fronted terns. The gannets on the main
stacks were nest building, courting, mating, resting and flying in and out.
With the good conditions we were able to nudge in pretty close for excellent
views. Large groups of red-billed gulls and white-fronted terns were
roosting on some of the low rocks. At nearby Fanal Island we checked out a
NZ fur seal that Brett has seen a few days earlier when fishing; to find
there were two, one an immature (prob. male), the other a good-sized male.
Fur seals are still relatively rare in northern NZ, more common on the west
coast than the east (Hauraki Gulf) side of the island. Above the cliffs the
flax plants (Phormium cookianum) were in flower with plenty of tuis
(honeyeaters) feeding on them, when not scrapping amongst themselves. 

At 1600hrs we started making our way back, stopping first at Simpsons Rock
(nothing happening) then a little further south (about halfway to Little
Barrier) after picking up diving petrels, white-faced stormies, Cook's
petrels and gannet activity. This time while chumming we got a steady stream
of stormies to the slick, great views of Cook's petrels and about 20 or so
attendant flesh-footed shearwaters. Over the period of 80mins we had 200+
white-faced storm petrels and at least 10 (possibly as many as 16) NZSPs
(with 4 the most seen at once), a very nice return. No black petrels (one of
the local Hauraki Gulf endemics) but a couple of grey-faced petrels swung in
close. Sooties kept on going through in ones and twos. At 1830hrs it was
time to really be heading home, and we had a small group of common dolphins
keeping us company for a while. Plenty of Cook's petrel action close to
Little Barrier Island (their main breeding ground) which was bathed in a
golden late-afternoon light, a stunning backdrop and reminder of how
precious these Hauraki Gulf islands are for seabirds. In many respects the
Hauraki Gulf epitomizes seabird conservation in action:  Seabirds feed in
the Gulf; most islands in the Hauraki Gulf are now free of predators due to
the efforts of NZ's Department of Conservation; all have seabirds breeding
on them; and some of those seabirds breed nowhere else. And all within
coooeee of NZ's largest city Auckland with just over 1 million people.  

 

West of LBI yet more gannet activity, then as we closed in on Takatu Point
(deep orange sunset by this time) more and more diving petrels (flying
helter-skelter towards the inner Gulf, Tiri/Wooded Island presumably), a
large pod of common dolphins (20+) and good numbers of Buller's, fluttering
and flesh-footed shearwaters as challenging silhouettes before the light
went. Also blue penguins when we were close to the headland and in Kawau
Bay. 


We were back at Sandspit at 2030hrs - a long, satisfying day; especially
satisfying to report the return to the Hauraki Gulf of NZ storm petrels for
the fifth summer season in a row. 

Seabirds seen:
Cook's petrel
Black-winged petrel
Grey-faced petrel
Black (Parkinson's) petrel 
Cape petrel
Buller's shearwater
Flesh-footed shearwater
Fluttering shearwater
Sooty shearwater
Short-tailed shearwater
Little shearwater
Fairy prion
Common diving petrel
White-faced storm petrel
NZ storm petrel
Blue penguin
Australasian gannet
Pied shag
Black shag (great cormorant)
White-fronted tern
Red-billed gull
Black-backed gull


Other birds:
Tui
NZ Bellbird
Australasian harrier
Welcome swallow
Starling

Marine mammals
Common dolphin
NZ fur seals

Just a word on the presentation of these reports: Our approach is to regard
the Hauraki Gulf, its islands, marine environment and seabirds as a complete
system and we work to that premise. As an account of the day these internet
postings will reflect something of this perspective. While our focus is
seabirds (and getting people to see them) our ongoing study is to plot
occurrence (seabirds are counted throughout each trip) against variable
environmental conditions (wind, tide, sea state, sea temperature, plankton
occurrence and so forth) building up over time a picture of the dynamics at
play. NB the route of each pelagic will vary from trip to trip, although we
do repeat a number of set locations each time we head out (conditions
permitting). We also separate birds seen while cruising from birds attracted
through chumming.

Happy seabirding - and au revoir! (oh by, what a match)

Chris Gaskin
Pterodroma Pelagics NZ

 

Chris Gaskin 
Pterodroma Pelagics NZ
Kiwi Wildlife Tours NZ Ltd
Natural Lines Consultancy
PO Box 686, Warkworth, NEW ZEALAND
Phone 
Fax 
www.nzseabirds.com
www.kiwi-wildlife.co.nz 
 
http://www.kiwi-wildlife.co.nz/natural_lines.php

 


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-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

SUNDAY, 7 OCTOBER 2007:
ANDREW'S POINT, ROCKPORT, MASSACHUSETTS Seawatch ( hrs.)
Weather: Overcast, occasional mist early, NNE-NE 10-30 mph, 55F.
Seas: 3-5 feet; visibility variably good to excellent.
Richard S. Heil & Jeremiah Trimble (most of the period).

   The passage of a cold front from the north and the development of 
a low far offshore and the ensuing northerly winds resulted in an 
excellent scoter flight and a modest movement of loons, tubenoses, 
and Laughing Gulls.  Except where noted virtually all birds moving NW to SE.

'Pale-bellied' Brant (5): Earliest record.
Canada Goose (91): Several high south bound flocks.
American Black Duck (4): High and southbound w/ geese.
Mallard (3)
Green-winged Teal (13): Migrating w/ scoters.
Greater Scaup (7): Migrating w/ scoters.
Common Eider (745): 90% males.
Surf Scoter (2890)
White-winged Scoter (1720): Second highest count ever; cf., 2800 on 
12 Oct. 2005.
Black Scoter (5660): Second highest count ever; cf., 9055 on 4 Nov. 2003.
Long-tailed Duck (6): Second earliest record; cf., 6 on 4 Oct. 1999.
Red-breasted Merganser (58)
Red-throated Loon (3 ads.)
Common Loon (169)
Northern Fulmar (6): 5 light, 1 dark.
Greater Shearwater (46)
Northern Gannet (560): Most sub-ads., fewer than 10% each, adults and juvs.
Double-crested Cormorant (182): Several high southbound flocks.
Great Cormorant (3)
Great Blue Heron (19): Several high southbound flocks.
Merlin (1)
Peregrine Falcon (7): Three in view at once, coming in off the water 
and picking off arriving passerines far offshore.
Sanderling (1)
Laughing Gull (136): 132 ads., 4 juvs.
Bonaparte's Gull (25)
Ring-billed Gull (16)
Herring Gull (120)
Great Black-backed Gull (40)
Black-legged Kittiwake (2): 1 ad., 1 juv.
jaeger sp. (1): distant.
Razorbill (1)
Atlantic Puffin (1)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (1): Flew in off the sea, perching briefly on 
oceanfront rooftop, before flying into group of trees.
American Pipit (1): flyover.

Humback Whale (1)
tuna (2+)

Richard S. Heil
S. Peabody, MA
rsheil AT comcast.net

This report was generated with the aid of eBird v2(http://ebird.org) 


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-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

With regard to the enquiry by James P. Smith 
regarding a dark petrel off California, mI have seen more Bulwerias of
both species than I can remember. They are slender, agile birds and I
do not remember them associating with shearwaters or having bills
pointing down. Fallax id lanky, larger with longer wings and tail.
Surely the main medium -sized all-dark Porth Pacific petrel is the
XChristmas Shearwater? All the gadfle petrels should show some pale-
even the Great-winged Petrel has a laler face there.

Bill Bourne, Scotland



On Sep 27, 1:29 pm, Richard Newell  wrote:
> re:http://www.keenbirding.com/Varia/uiddarkpetrel050907.html
>
> On 27/9/07 05:54, "James P. Smith"  wrote:
>
>
>
> > Therefore we'd be very interested to hear from
> > seabirders familiar with Jouanin's Petrel, and in
> > particular how it's size appears in the field relative
> > to the species around it, especially the smaller
> > shearwaters.
>
> Jouanin's has an obvious very large bill that points downwards in a
> distinctive way. I don't see this on the California bird.
> I have a few videograbs here:http://www.magikbirds.com/image.asp?title_id=507
>
> Dick Newell
> Cambridge, UK


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-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

Hi Bob,

I have a July 1999 Japan trip report which is still online where I observed
Swinhoe's Storm Petrels from a ferry traveling from Tokyo to Kushiro on
Hokkaido.  It mentions Swinhoe's half way down the report.

http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9907c&L=birdchat&P=173

 Jim Danzenbaker
Kowa Sales Manager for the Americas
perched in Battle Ground, Washington, USA


On 9/29/07, tubenose AT tiscali.co.uk  wrote:
>
>
> Seabirders,
>
> I would be very interested to hear from any seabirders who have
> observed Swinhoe's Storm-petrel at sea (not extralimital). The details
> I am particularly interested in are (1) location (2) date (3) number
> seen (4) mode of sea transport, e.g., ferry from a to b, or from a
> merchant ship etc. A few of us are planning to make a special trip to
> observe Swinhoe's at sea and video and photograph them. Also, I would
> also be interested in any at sea stills or footage that you might be
> prepared to share with me. Ultimately, this information is for an
> article to be published in one of the main bird journals and all
> assistance will be acknowledged. Please contact me directly on
> tubenose AT tiscali.co.uk. Cheers, Bob Flood
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Tiscali Broadband only �7.99 a month for your first 3 months!
> http://www.tiscali.co.uk/products/broadband/
>
> >
>


-- 
Jim Danzenbaker
Battle Ground, WA

jdanzenbaker AT gmail.com

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-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

Seabirders,

I would be very interested to hear from any seabirders who have 
observed Swinhoe's Storm-petrel at sea (not extralimital). The details 
I am particularly interested in are (1) location (2) date (3) number 
seen (4) mode of sea transport, e.g., ferry from a to b, or from a 
merchant ship etc. A few of us are planning to make a special trip to 
observe Swinhoe's at sea and video and photograph them. Also, I would 
also be interested in any at sea stills or footage that you might be 
prepared to share with me. Ultimately, this information is for an 
article to be published in one of the main bird journals and all 
assistance will be acknowledged. Please contact me directly on 
tubenose AT tiscali.co.uk. Cheers, Bob Flood



__________________________________________________
Tiscali Broadband only �7.99 a month for your first 3 months! 
http://www.tiscali.co.uk/products/broadband/ 


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-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

Seabirders,

On 17 September 2007 I photographed a skua from the bow of a cruise
ship 55 miles off Oregon, USA. The only skua expected in the North
Pacific is South Polar Skua. That is what I have decided this bird is,
but just want to have it double-checked. It suggests Brown Skua in
some ways. I don't want to dismiss a rarity because of my own
inexperience.

I think if it was a Brown Skua it would be more streaky than this
smooth-plumaged bird.

I have created a TEMPORARY web page of photos and brief comments:
http://thebirdguide.com/temp_images/skua/skua.htm

Please send any comments to me.

Thank you,

Greg Gillson greg AT thebirdguide.com


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-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

Eighteen Oregon birders joined a Princess Cruise from Vancouver, BC to
Los Angeles from September 15-19. On the 16th, in port at Victoria,
several of our group rented a car and went up and saw SKY LARKS and
other birds, while the rest of us wandered the shops and sea walks in
downtown Victoria. On the 17th we were about 55 miles off Oregon all
day, from dawn off Tillamook County to about 4:30 p.m. when we crossed
into California waters. This was a unique experience to spend all day
in deep offshore waters off Oregon. Highlights included about 7 SOUTH
POLAR SKUAS, a couple of LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS, and glimpses of at
least 4 XANTUS'S MURRELETS. A couple of the more abundant birds during
the day were SABINE'S GULLS (thousands) and LONG-TAILED JAEGERS.
ARCTIC TERNS and RED PHALAROPES were also common, as expected far
offshore.

Birding on the 18th was 60 miles off Monterey to off Santa Barbara.
Oddly, it was a slow birding day until entering the Santa Barbara
Channel late in the evening, when several storm-petrels (BLACK, ASHY,
WILSON'S) showed up along with several whales including BLUE and
SPERM). Unfortunately, I had tired out by then and missed this
increased evening activity.

Birding on the big ship is similar to birding all day at a sea watch
point. We were able to use our scopes all day from the covered deck,
even in fairly rough seas. One drawback was that many of the birds
were quite distant, as they flushed far in front of the ship or gave
it wide berth. But the fancy food, staterooms, and evening shows had
some unique benefits not encountered on a traditional pelagic trip!

I am fairly certain that I observed a COOK'S PETREL off Monterey about
60 miles. Unfortunately, all I got was a small, white, stiff-winged,
arcing flight at about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile.

Greg Gillson
Hillsboro, Oregon


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-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

A trip from Newport, Oregon to Perpetua Bank on 22 September 2007
provided the typical birds for fall, including 50 BLACK-FOOTED
ALBATROSSES, 8 FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS, 15 RED PHALAROPE, and
several close PARASITIC JAEGERS.

The highlight of the day was 3 SPERM WHALES!

Please view our photos and full trip report at:
http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/archive/.htm

We need more participants for the 20 October 2007 trip. To sign up for
this trip and find out all the details, please visit our web site:
http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/

Greg Gillson
The Bird Guide, Inc.


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re: http://www.keenbirding.com/Varia/uiddarkpetrel050907.html

On 27/9/07 05:54, "James P. Smith"  wrote:


> 
> Therefore we'd be very interested to hear from
> seabirders familiar with Jouanin's Petrel, and in
> particular how it's size appears in the field relative
> to the species around it, especially the smaller
> shearwaters.
> 

Jouanin's has an obvious very large bill that points downwards in a
distinctive way. I don't see this on the California bird.
I have a few videograbs here:
http://www.magikbirds.com/image.asp?title_id=507

Dick Newell
Cambridge, UK



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Hi Seabirders,

Sincere apologies if you've come across this thread
already. 

We are seeking opinion on a fairly large, dark, as yet
unidentified petrel seen on from a boat crossing the
Santa Barbara Channel in California. The impression
from the birders aboard was that they had seen an all
dark pterodroma petrel. However, the digibin images
taken that day have revealed something much closer to
a bulweria petrel in characteristics. Most (though not
all) birders familiar with Bulwer's Petrel seem quite
convinced that the bird is not Bulwer's after all. It
is described as looking too large, too heavy and too
broad-winged for that species. This matches the field
impression gained by the birders aboard that day.

Therefore we'd be very interested to hear from
seabirders familiar with Jouanin's Petrel, and in
particular how it's size appears in the field relative
to the species around it, especially the smaller
shearwaters.

Images of the petrel can be viewed at this link:
http://www.keenbirding.com/Varia/uiddarkpetrel050907.html

We're very grateful for any comments received on this
one.

Best birding,


James P. Smith
Amherst, MA.




The consensus of opinion towards a dark petrel seen
> in
> Southern California on September 5th seems to be in
> favour of the petrel belonging to the genus
> bulweria,
> at least amongst those viewing the images. However,
> the size and proportions of the bird are proving
> quite
> difficult to determine. Either Bulwer's or Jouanin's
> Petrel would be a fantastic record in North American
> waters.
> 
> It would be great to receive comments from birders
> who've seen Bulwer's close to, or in direct
> comparison
> with shearwaters especially Manx. It would also be
> excellent to receive comments on jizz and flight
> manner, and of course, possible pitfalls in
> identification.
> 
> This petrel was 'digibinned' alongside Black-vented
> Shearwaters and gave the field appearance of being
> at
> least as large as that species. Black-vented
> Shearwater is very close to Manx in size:
>
http://www.keenbirding.com/Varia/uiddarkpetrel050907.html
> 
> 
> I'd also be grateful to hear from anyone who has
> been
> lucky enough to encounter Jouanin's Petrel,
> especially
> if they were seen close to Persian Shearwater.
> 
> 
> Best birding,
> 
> 
> James P. Smith
> Amherst, MA
> http://www.keenbirding.com/
> 


       

____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Yahoo! oneSearch: Finally, mobile search 
that gives answers, not web links. 
http://mobile.yahoo.com/mobileweb/onesearch?refer=1ONXIC

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Hi Angus and Brent,

Banded Black-footed Albatrosses are still regularly seen off the West
Coast.  We saw one banded bird on a pelagic trip off Ocean Shores,
Washington (Washington Ornithological Society pelagic trip) ten days ago.  I
don't think we got a number though since the bird stayed away from band
reading distance from the boat.

Jim Danzenbaker
Kowa Optimed Sports Optics
perched in Battle Ground, Washington, USA


On 9/25/07, Angus Wilson  wrote:
>
>
> Hi Brent,
>
> Chandler Robbins and Barbara Dowell at the US Geological Survey
> (Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Maryland) initiated a long
> standing Black-footed and Laysan Albatross banding project on Midway
> Island and there is a good chance the bird is from there. I believe
> intensive banding began in the mid-1950's and continues to this day.
> Fred Hayden of the Hawaiin Audubon Society began banding albatross on
> the island way back in 1937, so the data set should be quite
> impressive!
>
> You could try submitting the details electronically to the Bird
> Banding Lab:
>
> http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/
>
> I recall that seeing several Black-foots coming into chum during a
> Shearwater Journeys pelagic off Northern California that also sported
> color and metal bands. Peter Pyle, who is a senior investigator in the
> Midway Project, was aboard and explained that these were indeed Midway
> birds. I don't know if there are additional banding projects on any of
> the Japanese colonies.
>
> Cheers, Angus
>
>
> >
>


-- 
Jim Danzenbaker
Battle Ground, WA

jdanzenbaker AT gmail.com

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Hi all,
 
Thanks for the response on where to report the banded black-footed albs.
Much appreciated.  Seems the bird I got the full combination for was
banded as an adult on Tern Island, French Frigate Shoals during the
winter of .  It was likely banded as a breeder, although could
have been a non-breeding "walker" roaming around the colony.
 
Regards and thanks,
Brent
 
Brent Stephenson PhD (Ornithology)
Eco-Vista: Photography & Research + Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ
PO Box 8291, Havelock North 4157, New Zealand
Phone    Fax    Cell 
email   brent AT eco-vista.com or
 brent AT wrybill-tours.com
web   http://www.eco-vista.com and
 http://www.wrybill-tours.com
 

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Seabirders,

Last week I said "I see no reason why some of the birds we have seen in
late August or early September such as Bermuda Petrel or Red-billed
Tropicbird might not possibly occur at this time as well."  Yes, I've
been known to say such things to make trips sound enticing, and
this time I was right (half right anyway.)

We did see a Bermuda Petrel (Cahow) on the Sept. 22 trip, and we saw it
well, with enough time for Kate Sutherland to get a couple of decent
photos.  This makes 20 or so trips where we've seen this extremely rare
bird off Cape Hatteras since 1993.  Over a dozen of these birds have
been photographed, and while we had a rash of late May sightings in the
last few years, this species has been found here in all months from May
through September, and no doubt occurs at other times as well.
Interestingly, our last three photographed Cahows have been in July
(2005), August (2006) and now September!

Although it nests less than 600 miles from Hatteras, the Bermuda Petrel
is a very rare bird.  It was actually thought to be extinct for about
300 years, and its nesting sites were not found until the 1950's.  From
a low of 17 nesting pairs found during the rediscovery expedition,
numbers have very slowly increased to about four times that number
today.  Dr. David Wingate, a native Bermudian, has dedicated his life to
saving the species, since he first encountered it on the 1952 expedition
with the late Dr. Robert Cushman Murphy, one of the most accomplished
seabird ornithologists of all time.  Without Wingate's efforts, the
species might not have survived, as it has been nesting in marginal
habitat since it was nearly exterminated so many years ago.  Wingate
began a program of habitat improvement by creating man-made nesting
cavities, which are now in widespread use.  He also devised a way to
help the Cahow from losing its nest sites to the slightly larger and
more aggressive White-tailed Tropicbird, which also nests there.  Since
Wingate's retirement a few years ago, a program has begun in earnest to
repopulate one of the larger outlying islands in Bermuda with Cahows
(his long term plan.)  If this experiment works, it will make for a new
colony on a more suitable nesting island (which has been restored with
native vegetation) with lots of room for new nests.

You can read more about the Cahow in a recent article in the latest
issue of Audubon magazine (Sept./Oct. 2007.)  Wingate, Ned Brinkley,
Todd Hass, and I wrote about the Cahow in Birding several years ago
(30:1; Feb. 1998.)  At the time, there were very few records, so our
field experience was nowhere near today's level, but there was virtually
nothing written about how to distinguish them at sea from the darker
examples of Black-capped Petrel prior to that article.

Anyhow, more Cahows in Bermuda should translate to more Cahows off
Hatteras, and so far this seems to be the case, though it remains to be
seen where Cahows prefer to forage.  It would not surprise me if they
spend considerable time farther north, as the Gulf Stream south of the
Canadian Maritime Provinces is a straight shot north and it is a
comparable distance to what Black-capped Petrels travel to feed off
Hatteras from their nesting range in Hispaniola.  Bermuda Petrel has
been found as far east as the Azores, and the wanderings of related
species such as Fea's Petrel would suggest they might roam widely in the
North Atlantic.  The Black-capped Petrel has always been closely
associated with the Gulf Stream, but the Cahow is a different species
(despite ill-founded suggestions otherwise, which have found their way
into print repeatedly) so it might well have different habits and a
different range.  Nevertheless, the Gulf Stream off Hatteras is the
closest easily accessible place to look for them in the western North
Atlantic, so I would expect a better chance of seeing them here, where
we have more time during our trips to survey deep water, than I would
expect from trips elsewhere off the East Coast.

I would like to pass on one more interesting fact about Bermuda Petrels.
After courtship and mating in mid November, they disappear at sea during
the so-called honeymoon period, and come back to lay in December.  I
wonder if this post-breeding exodus might not be a good time to look for
Cahows here off Hatteras.  We have scheduled a couple of trips this year
on December 1 and 2, so we hope to test this hypothesis this fall.  Of
course they might ply these waters in October and November as well, and
it's not too far for a foraging trip for such a swift bird even during
the nesting season.

Our next trip from Hatteras is on Saturday, October 13, with a weather
date the following day.  In November we are scheduled to run to trips on
our boat from Wanchese (south of Manteo) for the Wings Over Water
festival on Friday, November 9 and Saturday, November 10.  The December
trips are planned for Hatteras.  Black-capped Petrels have been observed
regularly here during all of these months in past years.

In sharp contrast to the previous weekend (when we saw about 150),
Black-capped Petrels were in low numbers here on Sept. 22.  But the
Bermuda Petrel and a close Fea's Petrel (before we unpacked the camera
of course) definitely picked up any Black-capped slack.  Thankfully, we
did have good looks at a couple of the Black-caps.  There was a better
showing of Cory's and Audubon's Shearwaters on this trip than we had a
week before, and the birds seemed widely scattered, mostly from 20 to 30
miles offshore.  For what it's worth, we also observed a shearwater just
outside the inlet during the afternoon, which looked like a Calonectris
type but oddly small, however we never saw it well enough to study the
head and bill.

For more information about our trips, please visit our website at
http://www.seabirding.com/, and if you have questions give me a call at
 during the evenings.  Lately I am usually around between
7 and 9 PM, and I'm not as busy as during the Summer.  I would love to
run some more trips and I would like to remind everyone that we are
available for charter- $1295/first 8 people.  Look at how much the West
Coast trips of similar duration to ours cost per head and you'll see how
reasonable that is.  I would like to thank Kate Sutherland for
encouraging me to run a trip this weekend and for helping to lead it.
Her photo of the Cahow is posted on the Seabirding homepage.  The
tallies from the Sept. 22 trip follow below.

Fea's Petrel - 1
Bermuda Petrel - 1
Black-capped Petrel - 4
Cory's Shearwater - 59
Calonectris sp. - 1
Audubon's Shearwater - 38-39
Wilson's Storm-Petrel - 29
Sooty Tern - 5
Bridled Tern - 3
Pomarine Jaeger - 7
Parasitic Jaeger - 1
jaeger sp. - 1

Merlin - 1-2
Bottlenose Dolphin - 3 offshore (a few in the channel in the a.m. as
well...)
Spotted Dolphin - 7-8

Thanks,

Brian Patteson
Hatteras, NC
brian AT patteson.com
http://www.seabirding.com/


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Hi Brent,

Chandler Robbins and Barbara Dowell at the US Geological Survey
(Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Maryland) initiated a long
standing Black-footed and Laysan Albatross banding project on Midway
Island and there is a good chance the bird is from there. I believe
intensive banding began in the mid-1950's and continues to this day.
Fred Hayden of the Hawaiin Audubon Society began banding albatross on
the island way back in 1937, so the data set should be quite
impressive!

You could try submitting the details electronically to the Bird
Banding Lab:

http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/

I recall that seeing several Black-foots coming into chum during a
Shearwater Journeys pelagic off Northern California that also sported
color and metal bands. Peter Pyle, who is a senior investigator in the
Midway Project, was aboard and explained that these were indeed Midway
birds. I don't know if there are additional banding projects on any of
the Japanese colonies.

Cheers, Angus


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Two boats left Simon's Town on Saturday morning for a Cape Town Pelagics trip; 
this report is from one, but there were only minor differences in the sightings 
for the day as the boats remained in the same general area. 



Pelagic trip report for 22 September 2007
By Dalton Gibbs
 
Highlight:
Wandering albatross  
Hump-backed whales
 
A light cold front had just passed over the Cape and another weak front was due 
to come through the next day, making for an ideal gap to sneak out to sea onto 
the pelagic grounds to see what the recent weather had brought in. Soon out of 
the harbour we saw southern right whale blowing some distance away. A quick 
trip across the calm waters of False Bay brought us to Cape Point, were we saw 
the usual Cape gannet, Cape cormorant, Cape gull and swift terns. We stopped to 
view Cape Point in the soft morning light for some sea level photographs of 
this iconic landmark and soon afterwards were rewarded with a pair of 
hump-backed whales breaking the surface close to our boat. As we entered deeper 
water off Cape Point we came across our first white-chinned petrel and sooty 
shearwater for the day, followed soon there after by a lone parasitic jaeger 
(Arctic skua). 

 
A trawler that we approached had a moderate amount of birds (a few hundred) 
behind it, but this increased dramatically as the nets began to come to the 
surface, showing just how well these pelagic birds see the movement of other 
birds and home in on feeding opportunities. 

 
By this stage we had picked up subantarctic skua and numerous adult 
black-browed albatross as well as Indian yellow-nosed albatross. Northern giant 
petrels mixed in the feeding flocks of shy, black-browed and Indian 
yellow-nosed albatross, with numerous seals competing for fish scraps. Two 
other trawlers appeared on the horizon, but we stayed with the main boat as it 
started to process its catch and reset its nets. We followed on behind, 
scanning the birds as they alighted to feed in a line behind the boat. We 
picked up Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross, followed soon there after by a 
single Sabine's gull which we followed with our boat to get good views. 

 
The awesome spectacle of several thousand birds behind the boat actually made 
for hard work, as we continually scanned the mixed flocks for anything unusual. 
We were rewarded with close in views of great shearwaters, Atlantic 
yellow-nosed albatrosses and southern giant-petrels. 

 
After three hours of solid, amazing birding with the trawlers and their 
associated birds, and great views of all the pelagic birds, we turned for home. 
Half way back, a chance view of a possible "white-backed albatross" some 
distance off brought the boat to a halt. The bird in question was lost, but 
just before we were about the give up and head back, a magnificent WANDERING 
ALBATROSS came out across the waves, did a close-in circle around the back of 
our boat and kept going. We had cracking views of the bird silhouetted with 
Cape Point in the distance as it made off at high speed. Although we soon lost 
the bird, this was made up for by the great views and the total of five 
albatross species seen for the day. 

 
Back in False Bay we saw another southern right whale blowing on our way to the 
bank cormorant colony near Partridge Point, where bank cormorants, Cape 
cormorants and white-breasted cormorants posed to show field characteristics 
and size comparisons. The adjacent rock had its usual carpet of Cape fur seals, 
with groups lolling about in the water with their fins up. Our arrival back 
into Simon's Town harbour had a last moment of excitement, as we rounded the 
break water and had a pair of southern right whales immediately in our path. 
Quick action by our skipper took us out of the way and along side with great 
views as we moved past. 

 
Species seen and approximate numbers:
 
Swift tern - coastal 
Hartlaub's gull - coastal
Cape/Kelp gull - coastal
Sabine's gull - 1
Subantarctica skua - 20
Parasitic jaeger - 1
Cape cormorant - coastal 
Bank cormorant - coastal
White-breasted cormorant - coastal
African penguin - coastal 
Cape gannet - coastal & pelagic - 120
Southern giant petrel - 2
Northern giant petrel - 8
White-chinned petrel - 300
Pintado petrel - 2000
Soft-plumaged petrel - seen from one boat only
Sooty shearwater - 200
Great shearwater - 4
Shy albatross - 500
Black-browed albatross - 300
Indian yellow-nosed albatross - 8
Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross - 3
Wandering albatross - 1 - seen from one boat only
Wilson's storm-petrel - 300
 
Marine Mammals seen:
Cape fur seal - coastal 
Southern right whale - 3
Hump-backed whale - 2
 
Thanks to the skippers and guides for making two boat-loads of birders very 
satisfied, and well done on finding a wanderer for the second week running! 
Thanks to Dalton for another gripping trip report. 

 
If you are thinking of a last-minute booking for a pelagic trip in October, you 
should hurry, as every weekend is pretty packed already. For a full itinerary 
of Cape pelagics, trip reports and birding information, visit our website at 
www.capetownpelagics.com, or contact me directly on  or 
ross AT capetownpelagics.com 

 


CAPETOWNPELAGICS.COM is run on a non-profit basis. All our operating surplus is 
donated to BirdLife International's Save the Albatross Campaign. You can 
contribute to albatross conservation by booking a tour with us! 

_________________________________________________________________________
Ross Wanless                                   Percy FitzPatrick Institute
ross AT capetownpelagics.com             of African Ornithology,
Tel:                          University of Cape Town,
Mobile:                     South Africa.
Fitz: 
Fax: 
SKYPE: rosswanless
For African birding information, guiding & pelagic trips, visit:
BIRDING AFRICA www.birdingafrica.com
CAPE TOWN PELAGICS www.capetownpelagics.com
_________________________________________________________________________



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Hi all,
 
I've recently returned from a couple of cruises in the
Alaska/Aleutians/Kurils area.  Some great birds along the way including
excellent views of most of the auklets including whiskered auklet.  Nice
to see 'our' mottled petrels and sooty and short-tailed shearwaters in
their non-breeding grounds!
 
An hour or so chumming on Stalemate Bank to the north-west of Attu
Island produced good numbers of Laysan and a few black-footed albatross,
but unfortunately no short-tailed (none seen during the rest of the
cruise either).  At least two of the black-footed albatross were banded,
one showing just a metal band on the right leg, and another with a
yellow band with H363 on it on the left and a metal band on the right.
One of my photos also shows what maybe a second colour banded bird.  I'd
be keen to know who I should report these sightings to and I have photos
of all these birds if needed.
 
Cheers,
Brent
 
Brent Stephenson PhD (Ornithology)
Eco-Vista: Photography & Research + Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ
PO Box 8291, Havelock North 4157, New Zealand
Phone    Fax    Cell 
email   brent AT eco-vista.com or
 brent AT wrybill-tours.com
web   http://www.eco-vista.com and
 http://www.wrybill-tours.com
 

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'New for Scilly 2008'

EXCLUSIVE BIRDER ONLY PELAGICS

Saturday August 9,  am to 6.00 pm	�30
Sunday August 10,  am to 6.00 pm	�20

First come, first served
Place confirmed by payment in full

Leader:	Bob Flood
Spotters:	Plus two additional experienced spotters

We will:
*	Drift & chum for Wilson's Storm-petrels
*	Steam & chum for shearwaters, skuas, gulls & terns
*	Investigate reefs and upwellings at Poll Bank & Seven Stones
*	Investigate bird activity around trawlers if present in Scillonian 
waters
*	Supply and administer chum, oil, popcorn etc

You will:
*	Book your own travel (see www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk)
*	Book your own accommodation(see www.simplyscilly.co.uk) or ask us 
for assistance
*	Organise your own food and drink

Please complete your contact details below and book by sending a 
cheque made out to 'RRM Consultants' in full payment for the pelagic 
trip(s) you want to join.

Tick the box of the trip(s) you want to join:
Saturday August 9,  am to 6.00 pm	�30	[   ]
Sunday August 10,  am to 6.00 pm	�20	[   ]

Name:
Email address:
Telephone number:

Your payment will be acknowledged and your place confirmed by return. 
Information about what to wear, restaurants and shops in Scilly, and 
other useful tips will be sent out in June 2008. Further information 
from Bob Flood at tubenose AT tiscali.co.uk.



__________________________________________________
Tiscali Broadband only �7.99 a month for your first 3 months! 
http://www.tiscali.co.uk/products/broadband/ 


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Cape Town Pelagics trip report for 15 September 2007
By Dalton Gibbs

HIGHLIGHT:
Wandering albatross
Soft-plumaged petrel
Carpets of pintado petrels!

A Cape Town Pelagics trip left Simon's Town on 15 September in calm 
conditions, but a light cold front lay off the Cape to the south west as we 
left on a smooth sea. On our trip across False Bay we saw the usuals, with 
Cape gannet, Cape cormorant, Cape gull and swift terns, with a southern 
right whale just beyond Cape Point. As we left Cape Point and entered deeper 
water, we encountered a cloud layer that was to persist throughout the day. 
First up were white-chinned petrel and sooty shearwater that appeared in 
ones and twos behind the boat. Further out and came across our first shy 
albatross some miles beyond  Bellow's Rock.  By this stage we had two 
trawlers on the horizon and we made toward them, soon picking up Wilson's 
storm-petrel, pintado petrel and then black-browed albatross nearer the 
trawlers.

Southern giant petrels were one of the new birds species seen in the melee 
of birds at the first trawler, with sub-antarctic skua flying above the 
feeding birds. Pintado petrels were present in their thousands as they have 
been during this month, outnumbering other species. Flocks of these birds 
sat on the water, giving the sea an unusual white and black splinter pattern 
appearance. A wave of these birds would part and rise as the boat moved 
through them, circling us and landing behind us to give the impression of 
drifting through an avian ice pack!

We followed the wake of the first trawler that had processed its catch, 
being joined by the second birding party; our route was rewarded with a few 
Indian yellow-nosed albatross and northern giant petrel.  Wilson's storm 
petrels were present in small numbers, constantly on the move between the 
larger feeding birds. A few Cape fur seal were present this far out, and 
moved smartly out of the way when we had two hump-backed whales surface near 
by. We continued to scan the albatross, seeing several Indian yellow-nosed 
albatross until a Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross passed in front of the 
boat.

By this stage a third trawler had appeared and we made our way to another 
trawler that had hauled in its nets and was processing. On the way there we 
had one of two great shearwaters for the trip pass us, followed by a 
SOFT-PLUMAGED PETREL. Just after snacking on our lunch, a cry went out from 
within the cabin of a "white-backed albatross!!" Half eaten sandwiches got 
dropped and salt encrusted binos were lifted to get a glimpse of a great 
albatross. Within moments a beautiful adult WANDERING ALBATROSS appeared 
from behind us and quickly passed us on the way to the trawler ahead. The 
skipper opened the throttles and we managed to keep up with the bird, which 
landed to feed on the water. We got crippling views and followed the bird 
once move when it moved off to harass a now small looking shy albatross for 
some fish.

A very happy group of birders turned for home, oblivious to the light rain 
that had fallen from the small cold front that had moved over us. Our trip 
back toward Cape Point delivered another great shearwater and SOFT-PLUMAGED 
PETREL, as well as an unidentified cetacean nearer the Point. In False Bay 
we stopped to view the bank cormorant colony near Partridge Point, with bank 
cormorants on their nests and Cape cormorants obliging with neat size 
comparisons near by. The adjacent rock had its usual carpet of Cape fur 
seals, with groups lolling about in the water, a sight signalling the end of 
a great trip!

Species seen and approximate numbers:

Swift tern - coastal
Hartlaub's gull - coastal
Cape/Kelp gull - coastal & pelagic
Cape cormorant - coastal
Bank cormorant - coastal
White-breasted cormorant - coastal
African penguin - coastal
Cape gannet - coastal & pelagic - 150
Southern giant petrel - 10
Northern giant petrel - 2
Sub-Antarctica skua - 15
White-chinned petrel - 400
Pintado petrel - 5000
Soft-plumaged petrel - 2
Sooty shearwater - 150
Great shearwater - 2
Shy albatross - 600
Black-browed albatross - 200
Indian yellow-nosed albatross - 8
Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross - 1
Wilson's storm-petrel - 200

Marine mammals:

Cape fur seal - coastal
Southern right whale - 1
Hump-backed whale - 2

Thanks to the skipper and guides for a great trip with, and well done on 
finding a wanderer! Thanks to Dalton for preparing this report.

If you are thinking of a last-minute booking for a pelagic trip in October, 
you should hurry, as every weekend is pretty packed already.  For a full 
itinerary of Cape pelagics, trip reports and birding information, visit our 
website at www.capetownpelagics.com, or contact me directly on  
or ross AT capetownpelagics.com



CAPETOWNPELAGICS.COM is run on a non-profit basis.  All our operating 
surplus is donated to BirdLife International's Save the Albatross Campaign. 
You can contribute to albatross conservation by booking a tour with us!
_________________________________________________________________________
Ross Wanless                                   Percy FitzPatrick Institute
ross AT capetownpelagics.com             of African Ornithology,
Tel:                          University of Cape Town,
Mobile:                     South Africa.
Fitz: 
Fax: 
SKYPE: rosswanless
For African birding information, guiding & pelagic trips, visit:
BIRDING AFRICA www.birdingafrica.com
CAPE TOWN PELAGICS www.capetownpelagics.com
_________________________________________________________________________ 


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Cape Town Pelagics trip report for 17 September 2007
By Barrie Rose

HIGHLIGHTS:
Spectacled Petrel
Arctic Skua
Hump-backed Whale
1000s of petrels!!

A Cape Town Pelagics trip departed Simon's Town on Monday 17 September 2007. 
The weather was calm and the sun was shining, the automatic wind report from 
Cape Point reported 'zero' knots! Half a dozen Southern Right Whales loafed 
at the entrance to Simon's Bay and as we rounded the Bullnose one breached 3 
times across towards Long Beach. So calm was the sea that the 12 mile run to 
Cape Point took only 20 minutes!!

Outside Cape Point conditions remained calm but for a slight 'jobble' for 
the 2 miles to Bellows. The flat conditions allowed a high speed run across 
the open sea towards three trawlers that were working abour 14 miles from 
the point. An ARCTIC SKUA (early arrival from the northern hemisphere) 
crossed our bow just before Bellows and the first White-chinned Petrels, 
Sooty Shearwaters and Shy Albatrosses made their appearances over the next 
couple of miles. There was none of the feeding activity usually found within 
5 miles of the Point. We opted not to stop for the more common species and 
arrived at the first trawler at a record-breaking time of 08h30.

The 'Freesia' informed us that he would be 'pulling' his net in 30 minutes. 
As his winches started the large rafts of birds rose up off the water in 
anticipation of the free meal. We spent the next 3 hours commuting between 
the 'Freesia', 'Forest Lily' and 'Boronia' exposing our visitors to the 
spectacle of thousands of frantically feeding seabirds. All three vessels 
were deploying their bird scaring Tori Lines. The bird numbers were really 
impressive and all the regular pelagic species were seen in good, excellent 
or absolutely amazing numbers. The sighting of the day was that of a 
SPECTACLED PETREL, although a partially leucistic White-chinned Petrel 
caused a flurry of interest.

The trip back to Cape Point produced a single Hump-backed Whale at about 8 
miles and 3 single Right Whales between Southwest Reef and the Point. A 
brief stop at Partridge Point saw lots of activity in the Bank Cormorant 
colony with 4 or 5 birds showing good white rumps.


Birds seen
Swift Tern - coastal
Subantarctic Skua 10
Arctic Tern 2
Arctic Skua 1
Hartlaub's Gull - coastal
Cape/Kelp Gull - coastal and pelagic
Cape Cormorant - coastal
Bank Cormorant - coastal
White-breasted Cormorant - coastal
African Penguin - coastal
Cape Gannet - coastal & pelagic
Shy Albatross 100
Black-browed Albatross 200
Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross 5
Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross 2
Yellow-nosed Albatross juv 2
Southern Giant Petrel 6
Northern Giant Petrel 2
White-chinned Petrel 1000
Spectacled Petrel 1
Pintado Petrel 
Wilson's Stormpetrel 200
Sooty Shearwater 80
Great Shearwater 4
Wilson's Storm Petrel 300


Marine Mammals
Cape Fur Seal
Hump-backed Whale 1
Southern Right Whale 8

Thanks to the skipper and guides for an outstanding trip with some awesome 
aspects, and to Barrie for preparing this report.

If you are thinking of a last-minute booking for a pelagic trip in October, 
you should hurry, as every weekend is pretty packed already.  For a full 
itinerary of Cape pelagics, trip reports and birding information, visit our 
website at www.capetownpelagics.com, or contact me directly on  
or ross AT capetownpelagics.com


CAPETOWNPELAGICS.COM is run on a non-profit basis.  All our operating 
surplus is donated to BirdLife International's Save the Albatross Campaign. 
You can contribute to albatross conservation by booking a tour with us!
_________________________________________________________________________
Ross Wanless                                   Percy FitzPatrick Institute
ross AT capetownpelagics.com             of African Ornithology,
Tel:                          University of Cape Town,
Mobile:                     South Africa.
Fitz: 
Fax: 
SKYPE: rosswanless
For African birding information, guiding & pelagic trips, visit:
BIRDING AFRICA www.birdingafrica.com
CAPE TOWN PELAGICS www.capetownpelagics.com
_________________________________________________________________________ 


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For any who may be interested, I am now using p.battley AT massey.ac.nz
preferentially over philbattley AT quicksilver.net.nz. The latter address will
still work, only it has less chance of being taken notice of than my work
address!

Cheers, Phil

___________________________________
Phil Battley
Ecology Group
Massey University
Private Bag 11-222
Palmerston North
New Zealand

Work phone  ext 2605
Home phone  (to July)
Mobile 
philbattley AT quicksilver.net.nz
www.nzshorebirds.com

Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
Checked by AVG Free Edition. 
Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: /880 - Release Date: 29/06/2007
2:15 p.m.
 



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Seabirders,

I know that many seem to be focused on shorebirds and passerines here
lately ('tis the season), but I would like to mention that the current
forecast for this week seems like a good set-up for Saturday's planned
pelagic trip from Hatteras.  Today we have moderate northeasterly winds
giving way to light easterly winds for the next three or four days.  As
I've mentioned before this is prime time for jaegers (including juvenile
Long-tailed) and also Sabine's Gull.  Despite having only ever run about
eight birding trips (for lack of birders not birds!) to the Gulf Stream
off Cape Hatteras between the dates of Sept. 16 and 29, the list of
species we have seen during this window is impressive and includes the
following: Trindade Petrel (again widely consider to be specifically
distinct from its Pacific look-alikes), Fea's Petrel, Black-capped
Petrel (all trips to date- ATD), Cory's Shearwater (ATD), Greater
Shearwater (most trips), Manx Shearwater, Audubon's Shearwater
(ATD),Wilson's Storm-Petrel (most), Leach's Storm-Petrel, White-tailed
Tropicbird, Masked Booby, Brown Booby, Red-necked Phalarope (most),
Sabine's Gull, Sooty Tern, Bridled Tern (ATD), South Polar Skua,
Pomarine Jaeger (most), Parasitic Jaeger, and Long-tailed Jaeger.  Of
course, eight trips isn't much of a sample, and I see no reason why some
of the birds we have seen in late August or early September such as
Bermuda Petrel or Red-billed Tropicbird might not possibly occur at this
time as well.  And we could always hope for something off the wall, such
as another shearwater species from the eastern Atlantic....

Of course there is a chance to see some other air breathing vertebrates
out there such as Loggerhead or Leatherback Turtles, Bottlenose and
Spotted Dolphins, Pilot Whales, beaked whales of various species, and
perhaps a Sperm Whale.  We might also skip some baits and get a chance
to see (and eat) some pelagic fish such as Dolphin (AKA mahi-mahi),
Wahoo, Yellowfin Tuna, Sailfish, or a Blue or White Marlin.  Actually we
don't plan to eat any billfish,but they do sometimes get on the line.

The photo opportunities on these trips are another reason to go.  We
often get very close to these birds and other critters, so you can come
home with some neat pictures to remember the trip with and share with
your friends and family.  Now that film has given way to digital media,
you can blaze way without fear of going broke or running out of film!  I
don't expect a big crowd this weekend, so this could be a perfect
opportunity to take photos- sort like one of our dedicated photo trips,
but at a lower price.

Our photography trips (this year and some of our regular birding trips
too) have resulted in some great photos being taken, many of which are
some of the best to date of a number of species.  Although I don't take
as many photos as I used to (because someone has to run the boat), Steve
Howell, Chris Sloan, and others have been getting some great shots with
equipment that is now in widespead use among birders. We have already
posted many of Steve's photos from this year on our website-
http://www.seabirding.com/.  You can also see some of Chris' images
online at http://csloan.smugmug.com/.  Two of the participants on our
June Photo Trips have also posted many of their shots on the web.  You
can see pictures taken by Harold Stiver at http://www.ontfin.com/ and
pictures by Lana Hays at http://www.lanahays.com/.  I did post one of my
few recent photos on our homepage- Black Terns sharing a perch with a
Bridled Tern.  I do my best to get the boat in position for nice
pictures whenever reasonably possible.  As I've said before there is no
comparison between the trips we run now on our boat now and the ones we
use to run on other boats.

OK, enough said.  I hope that some of you will take advantage of the
lower motel rates, less traffic, uncrowded boat, and (hopefully) good
weather this weekend to see what birds are flying (or sitting) around in
the Gulf Stream just 25 to 30 miles offshore here.  And it is a long
list of birds we could possibly see.  Please reply to this e-mail or
give me a call at  or  if you would like to
join us.  For more information, please visit our website as mentioned
above.

Thanks,

Brian Patteson
Hatteras, NC
brian AT patteson.com
http://www.seabirding.com/




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Seabirders,

We managed to slip in a pelagic trip from Hatteras on Saturday, Sept. 15
just as the cold front was arriving, and it was a great day to be out.
There was still a bit of swell from the south, so we left a little later
than usual, but we had a decent ride out to the Gulf Stream where a
moderate amount of current made for better conditions.

Along the Gulf Stream edge we were greeted by Sooty and Bridled Terns,
including the dark colored juvenile Sooties, which were still calling,
begging for food from their parents.  Although we did catch a few
dolphin (mahi mahi) and a sailfish here, there was little else to
recommend staying at edge, so we continued steadily on a our way hoping
to make up for the late start.  In about 1000 feet of water, we began to
see Black-capped Petrels, one of which was avidly pursued by a Parasitic
Jaeger.  About the same time, the wind began to freshen from the north
and we soon saw Black-caps popping up all over the horizon ahead of us,
as far as we could see with our binos.

These seemed like ideal conditions for the menhaden oil to work its
magic, so we applied a copious amount of this sweet smelling stuff (at
least to me and apparently to a tubenose) to the ocean's surface.  We
soon had a steady procession of Black-capped Petrels passing close by,
and someWilson's Storm-Petrels also found the scent in short order.
There were a few rain squalls around us, and this seemed to concentrate
the birds, which apparently avoid getting wet if at all possible.  In
between these squalls, the sunlight on the birds was stunning, and this
made for a particularly memorable encounter.  Though I've seen
Black-capped Petrels on hundreds of offshore trips, this day reminded me
what an awesome experience it was to be out there in the heart of their
range and to observe their aerial majesty.  It also made me think that
anyone who has the means to get out and see the Black-capped Petrel and
has not yet done it should definitely do it.  They are truly amazing
birds when seen in their element.

We followed the Black-caps out toward the horizon, and after a while
they seemed to settle down.  At one point we startled a flock of nearly
30 birds from the water.  Just because there is a breeze doesn't mean
these birds will stay in the air indefinitely.  Anyhow, the sea was
getting a bit choppier, but it was still a decent ride even though the
wind was now blowing against the current.  We saw a couple of more
jaegers: a Long-tailed and a Pomarine, which were interacting with the
Black-caps, meaning they were also pursued by the latter, which actually
happens quite a bit.

I was hoping maybe we would find a tropicbird out in the deep, but we
had no such luck.  We did, however, have a rare encounter with another
denizen of the Gulf Stream.  We hooked a small Blue Marlin.  When I say
small, I mean as far as Blue Marlin go; this one was about one hundred
pounds.  We actually reeled the fish to the boat in just a few minutes,
and after my mate grabbed the leader the fish took off jumping.  Not
wanting to fight it any longer than necessary, we put some pressure on
it and soon had the leader again, this time releasing it.  What I didn't
know at the time, and what I found to be amazing was that this fish was
possibly not much more than a year old!

As we worked back inshore from maybe 2500 feet of water, we found the
Black-capped Petrels to be fairly active again, and we had a quick look
at a Sabine's Gull, as it flew by at an incredibly high rate of speed.
We picked up our speed around the edge of the continental shelf and we
had a somewhat bumpy ride home as the north wind started coming on in
earnest.  But great thing about Hatteras is that it is only about 25
miles in from the break, and you are heading toward a lee shore on a
north wind, so it does get better as you go!

We finished the day with a good variety of bird species, some fresh fish
for dinner, and having seen two spectacular billfish that many people
never get to see in life- a sailfish and a blue marlin.  We also had a
nice encounter with some bow-riding Bottlenose Dolphin- the big offshore
type, though one was a just a tiny calf.  All in all a great day- cool
temperatures, lots of action for most of the day, and some nice waves-
just rough enough to be fun and to put the birds into high gear.

We are hoping to run a trip here on September 22 or 23, but we don't yet
have enough people to do it.  This is a great time to go.  The terns
(Bridled and Sooty) should still be around, and it's a good time to see
jaegers, especially if the wind persists from the north and east this
week.  Black-capped Petrels might not be as numerous, but they should be
around.  Sabine's Gull is rare here, but we have seen up to three in a
day off Cape Hatteras in mid to late September.  We have also seen
tropicbirds at this time, as well as Masked Booby, and Fea's and
Trindade Petrels.  Bermuda Petrel could occur as well.  Motel rates are
lower, and it's also a good time to camp out.  The cost of the trip is
$135/person.  If we get ten people signed up, we will run it.

To make a reservation, send an e-mail to brian AT patteson.com or call
.  More information about our trips is online at
http://www.seabirding.com/.  We also have trips planned for October,
November, and December, and we have some weekends available for private
charters for birding, fishing, photography, or a combination of these
activities.  All of our Hatteras trips are run on our own 61' USCG
inspected vessel, "Stormy Petrel II."  She is an ideal boat for these
trips and has a full walk-around layout with lots of space forward and
high rails all around.  By running these trips ourselves, we are able
limit the number of passengers and provide an experience of higher
quality than was sometimes previously possible on chartered trips.  If
you have not been out with us in the last two years, please come out and
see what I mean.

The bird list f/ Sept. 15:

Black-capped Petrel:- 146
Pterodroma sp.- 2
Cory's Shearwater- 8
Audubon's Shearwater- 5
Wilson's Storm-Petrel- 29
Red-necked Phalarope- 1
phalarope sp.- 1
Sabine's Gull- 1
Sooty Tern- 7
Bridled Tern- 5
Pomarine Jaeger- 1
Parasitic Jaeger- 1
Long-tailed Jaeger- 1
jaeger sp- 1

The shearwaters were scarce on this trip, but that could change over the
next few days.  I also saw larger numbers of terns on Sept. 12 when I
spent most of the day fishing along the current edge.

I would like to thank Jerry, Doug, and Becky from the NC Museum of
Natural Sciences for gathering the core group for the Sept. 15 trip, and
my crew, Dave Shoch and Brian King, for helping w/ the birds and fishes.
Kate Sutherland couldn't make it out on this one, but she has been a key
to our success on trips of the year, and it has been an excellent year.
We've had some great trips and it's nice to finally have enough time to
hammer out a little report about one.  We put the hours in during the
Spring and Summer.

Brian Patteson
Hatteras, NC
brian AT patteson.com
http://www.seabirding.com



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I just returned from 4 days tagging along on a Viking Fleet fishing 
trip  to the Gulf Stream waters east and south of Long Island (Veatch 
and Block Canyons).  The pelagic birds were few and far between.  I 
was lucky enough to spot a White-faced storm petrel at 40 15.95N/71 
30.344W.   There is a 3 day trip leaving this Friday and probably 
heading back to Fish Tails (the northern edge of Block Canyon).  Go 
to Vikingfleet.com for info; they are happy to take birders at 
special, significantly reduced rates.

Other sightigs:
Manx Shearwater
Wilson's Storm Petrels
Pomarine Jaeger

Fin whale (~25)
Humpback whale (~5)
Minke whale (~10)
Sperm whale (5)
Bottlenose, common and Risso's dolphins
Manta Rays (~12)

Arthur H. Kopelman, Ph. D.
kopelman AT optonline.net
(all e-mails scanned for viruses before sending)

"When the last individual of a race of living things breathes no more,
another heaven and another earth must pass before such a one be again."
                                         William Beebe

I just returned from 4 days tagging along on a Viking Fleet fishing 
trip  to the Gulf Stream waters east and south of Long Island (Veatch 
and Block Canyons).  The pelagic birds were few and far between.  I 
was lucky enough to spot a White-faced storm petrel at 40 15.95N/71 
30.344W.   There is a 3 day trip leaving this Friday and probably 
heading back to Fish Tails (the northern edge of Block Canyon).  Go 
to Vikingfleet.com for info; they are happy to take birders at 
special, significantly reduced rates.

Other sightigs:
Manx Shearwater
Wilson's Storm Petrels
Pomarine Jaeger

Fin whale (~25)
Humpback whale (~5)
Minke whale (~10)
Sperm whale (5)
Bottlenose, common and Risso's dolphins
Manta Rays (~12)

Arthur H. Kopelman, Ph. D.
kopelman AT optonline.net
(all e-mails scanned for viruses before sending)

"When the last individual of a race of living things breathes no more,
another heaven and another earth must pass before such a one be again."
                                         William Beebe



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The September multi-day pelagic trip in southern California waters on
the 95-foot live-aboard "Searcher" was last week, and, as always, it
was an incredible trip.  You never know what you will see on The
Searcher because it ranges out to the seldom explored areas at the
continental shelf, beyond the reach of day trips.  In fall of 2003 a
Bulwar's Petrel was seen. Last fall we found Dark-rumped (Hawaiian)
Petrel.  This fall it was Cook's Petrel.

The Searcher departed San Diego on Labor Day, September 3, 2007 and
arrived back at the dock on the morning of Friday, September 7.  The
leaders this year were Mr. Seabirding, Todd McGrath, accompanied by
accomplished seabird experts and guides: Walter Wehtje, Paul Guris and
Jon Feenstra.

A partial list of sightings:

2 Cook's Petrels
3 Red-billed Tropicbirds
4 Black-footed Albatross
3 Xantus Murrelet
8 Arctic Tern
7 Buller's Shearwater
3 South Polar Skua
36 Pomarine Jaeger
7 Parasitic Jaeger
5 Long-tailed Jaeger
2 Least Storm Petrels
578 Leach's Storm-petrels
397 Black Storm-petrels
5 Sabine's Gull

The complete sighting list for last week's trip - and all Searcher
trips since the first ones in 2003 - are posted at
http://www.bajawhale.com/birdingtrips.asp

The Searcher's owners, Celia Condit and Art Taylor, now host a Blog
that reports notable pelagic sightings off Baja and Southern
California.  You can view it at http://www.bajawhale.com/birdblog_new.asp.

There will be two 5-day pelagic trips on the Searcher in 2008:  June
2-6 and September 1-5.  For more information visit
http://www.bajawhale.com/birdingtrips.asp  Every trip since 2003 has
been sold out well in advance because there is space for only 29
participants.

I've found that there is no better way to really learn pelagic birds
than being out there for five days surrounded by top pelagic leaders
and passionate fellow birders.  What I love about The Searcher is the
complete disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the world. No cell
phones. No computers. No traffic. No meetings. Nothing but cool
pelagic birds, non-stop birding and people who love birds and birding.

Terry Hunefeld
San Diego
Life is short.  Bird often.


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Pelagic trip report, 8 September 2007
by Dalton Gibbs

Highlight:
Southern Fulmar

A Cape Town Pelagics trip left on the "Obsession" out of Simon's Town on 8 
September. There was a light drizzle as a mild south-westerly swept a weak 
cold front past the Cape; this rain soon passed and gave way to overcast 
conditions that prevailed throughout the day. Soon out of the harbour we 
came across our first Southern right whale in False Bay, with Cape gannet, 
Cape cormorant, Cape gull and swift terns in attendance. Just beyond Cape 
Point white-chinned petrel made an appearance and birds soon slotted in 
behind our boat. Next up was shy albatross as we made our way out to the 
trawling grounds, several young birds providing good views as they eyed our 
boat. A brief sighting of two hump-backed whales was made just beyond 
Bellows Rock as the first pintado petrel appeared. These beautifully 
patterned black and white birds were to prove very common throughout the 
trip.

We headed toward a shark longlining vessel, and just before reaching her, 
came across our first sub-antarctic skua. As expected these birds often stay 
near fishing vessels where they fly higher than the other birds, swooping in 
to steal food when the moment is right.  Behind the longliner was a 
collection of birds, which included our first sooty shearwater, black-browed 
albatross and northern giant petrel. Wilson's storm-petrel was present in 
small number flitting between the larger birds.

The skipper spotted a stern trawler further out and we headed off in this 
direction, picking up a great shearwater on the way. Our arrival at the 
trawler was in time to catch the nets being pulled in; an activity that 
attracts the birds and several thousand pintado petrels congregated behind 
the boat. We were drifting across this mixed group of pintado, white-chinned 
petrels, sooty shearwater, shy and black-browed albatross when "SOUTHERN 
FULMAR!" was called. The bird did a perfect fly-by passed the front of our 
boat and returned for a second round for those who didn't get a great first 
view.

Amongst the albatross we had adult black-browed birds with their yellow 
beaks. Two immature yellow-nosed albatross birds were seen but were not 
sufficiently old enough to determine their species. This soon changed as we 
had views of several adult Indian yellow-nosed albatross, some of which fed 
on the water at close range. Southern giant petrel mixed in with thousands 
of pintados and good views were had of them close by; in this feeding group 
we spotted another southern fulmar. This was possibly the same bird that we 
had seen earlier and allowed for a close approach of only a few metres as it 
remained feeding on the water. .

We turned for Simonstown and passed a wonderful display of the hump-backed 
whales whacking the hell out of the water with their giant sized flukes. 
Both animals completed almost complete breaches out of the water as they 
displayed. Once back in False Bay we stopped to view the bank cormorant 
colony near Partridge Point, with views of bank cormorants on their nests. 
The adjacent rock with carpeted with dozens of Cape fur seals and another 
southern right whale complemented the already great views of marine mammals 
we had.

Species seen and approximate numbers:
Swift tern - coastal
Hartlaub's gull - coastal
Cape gull - coastal
Cape cormorant - coastal
Bank cormorant - coastal
White-breasted cormorant - coastal
African penguin - coastal
Cape gannet - coastal & pelagic - 150
Southern giant petrel - 5
Northern giant petrel - 2
Sub-Antarctica skua - 15
White-chinned petrel - 2000
Pintado petrel - 4000
Southern fulmar - 2
Sooty shearwater - 150
Great shearwater - 6
Shy albatross - 500
Black-browed albatross - 150
Indian yellow-nosed albatross - 5
Yellow-nosed albatross (immature) - 2
Wilson's storm-petrel - 100

Marine mammals seen
Cape fur seal - coastal
Southern right whale - 4
Hump-backed whale - 2


Thanks to the skipper and guides for a great trip, and to Dalton for 
preparing this report.

If you are thinking of a last-minute booking for a pelagic trip in September 
or October, you should hurry, as every weekend is pretty packed already. 
For a full itinerary of Cape pelagics, trip reports and birding information, 
visit our website at www.capetownpelagics.com, or contact me directly on  or ross AT capetownpelagics.com


CAPETOWNPELAGICS.COM is run on a non-profit basis.  All our operating 
surplus is donated to BirdLife International's Save the Albatross Campaign. 
You can contribute to albatross conservation by booking a tour with us!
_________________________________________________________________________
Ross Wanless                                   Percy FitzPatrick Institute
ross AT capetownpelagics.com             of African Ornithology,
Tel:                          University of Cape Town,
Mobile:                     South Africa.
Fitz: 
Fax: 
SKYPE: rosswanless
For African birding information, guiding & pelagic trips, visit:
BIRDING AFRICA www.birdingafrica.com
CAPE TOWN PELAGICS www.capetownpelagics.com
_________________________________________________________________________ 


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Hi everybody

Chinese Crested Tern

I thought the group would like to see some photos I received today
from a good friend, Chung-Han Wu, in Taiwan. Taken at the Matsu
Islands, between Taiwan and mainland China, the only known breeding
site for Chinese Crested Tern, a critically endangered species. I
understand that six pairs were present this year.

The species was considered extinct by some authors in the 90's and
then rediscovered in 2000 when four pairs were found breeding on the
islands. Without doubt, one of the rarest birds in the world, the
total population may be less than 100 birds.

Here's the link:

http://hometown.aol.co.uk/tonypym/SeabirdNews.html

(The webpage is temporary)

Best regards
Tony


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Friends,

The approximate tally from the Saturday, 25 August 2007, pelagic trip from 
Newport Oregon is as follows.

The highlight was two pairs of XANTUS'S MURRELETS, as close as 50 feet, 
calling to each other. Usually this species is barely glimpsed flying away, 
thus explaining the only 7 previously accepted records by the Oregon Bird 
Records Committee, even with over 30 likely sightings. Some of these are 
under review. Because of poor view, many sightings are not submitted to the 
Records Committee. Not this time! We got great photos from close range!

A trip report with over 25 photos appears at: 
http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/archive/.htm

White-fronted Goose (distant flock)
Northern Pintail 150 (two distant flocks)
Surf Scoter 15 (bay)
Common Loon 1 (bay)
Red-throated Loon 1 (nearshore, seen by few)
Black-footed Albatross 40
Northern Fulmar 60
Pink-footed Shearwater 90
Buller's Shearwater 3
Sooty Shearwater 600
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel 300
Brown Pelican 15
Brandt's Cormorant 50
Double-crested Cormorant 15 (bay)
Peregrine Falcon 1 (bay)
Black Turnstone 5 (jetty)
Wandering Tattler 3 (jetty, seen by few)
Whimbrel 15 (flock just offshore)
Red-necked Phalarope 200
Red Phalarope 1 (heard well, seen poorly)
South Polar Skua 2 (seen poorly by most)
Pomarine Jaeger 4
Parasitic Jaeger 2 (including black adult)
Long-tailed Jaeger 1 (well seen with extended views over chum stop)
Heermann's Gull 20 (nearshore)
California Gull 5
Western Gull 50
Glaucous-winged Gull 2 (bay)
Sabine's Gull 10
Arctic Tern 1 (close and well seen on floating log)
Caspian Tern 2 (bay)
Common Murre 100
Pigeon Guillemot 30
Cassin's Auklet 2+
Marbled Murrelet 4
XANTUS'S MURRELET 4 (2 pairs well seen, heard, and photographed)
Rhinoceros Auklet 25

Blue Shark 3
Soup Fin Shark 1 (possible, seen by few)
Long-nosed Skate 1 (photo bonus, not recognized on the boat)
Ocean Sunfish 8
Albacore Tuna 1
Harbor Seal 8 (bay)
Harbor Porpoise 8 (nearshore)
Sea Monster (sp.) 3 (medium-sized unidentified marine mammals (sea lions?)

Greg Gillson
The Bird Guide, Inc.
greg AT thebirdguide.com
http://thebirdguide.com


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Hi again, going to some comments I've received on the use of the word 
"hypothetical"; apparently some observers might felt offended by its use, maybe 
wrongly understanding that their visual records are considered doubtful. 

Far from it.
I'm following a no-nonsense criterion of a previous work (i.e.: Mazar Barnett & 
Pearman 2001., Annotated Checklist of the birds of Argentina. Lynx). 


So please keep in mind that I've seen those species too (*), and I have no 
doubts on my or yours ID of those birds. As evidences aren't available, the 
species remain unproven, regardless of the number of visual records or the 
observers (including myself). 


Is this is tooooooo sensitive for english speakers, the word can be changed to 
unproven, but as said before, I'm just using an established criterion. 


Thanks to the people answering my previous messages, please keep in mind the 
covered area goes from from 30�S to 75�S and from 20�W to 75�W (this is from 
southern Chile / Cape horn to the South Sandwich islands, and from antarctica 
to southern Brazil). 


Very best regards,


Chris
 "Never for me the lowered banner, never the last endeavour" Ernest Shackleton 

                  
                        Christian Savigny  Remolcador Guarani ) Mar del Plata. 
                        Buenos Aires. Argentina  
                        chris_savigny AT yahoo.com.ar  tel:    
                       
                 
            
     
 (*) No concrete records are available for the Juan Fernandez Petrel in the 
area. 

     



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Hi, I'm seeking records of some Pterodroma species in the SW atlantic / S ocean 
area to improve the maps of my book (Birds of the SW Atlantic Ocean & 
Antarctica) 

The range goes from 30�S to 75�S and from 20�W to 75�W.

      1_ Mottled Petrel
     Pterodroma inexpectata  
     
      2_ Herald Petrel
     Pterodroma arminjoniana
     
      3_ Juan Fernandez Petrel
     Pterodroma externa
     
      4_ Great-winged Petrel
     Pterodroma macroptera
     
      5_ White-headed Petrel
     Pterodroma lessonii
     
      6_ Soft-plumaged Petrel
     Pterodroma mollis
     


It is really important for me to know if any strong evidence exist for the 
species 1 to 4 (photo, video, skin...), within the limits of the area. 


1 - 2 were seen several times, but as far as I'm aware, there are no evidences. 
The presence of 3 is doubtful. 4 is "regular" but I couldn't find evidences. 
5-6 are proven. 


The potential evidences aren't needed for publication, just to confirm the 
status of those species as hypothetical (i.e.: no evidences), or proven, 
regardless of the amount of visual records. 


Any contribution will be properly acknowledged, please feel free to writing me 
for more info on this project. 


Thanks a million for your kind attention

Chris

 "Never for me the lowered banner, never the last endeavour" Ernest Shackleton 

                  
                        Christian Savigny  Remolcador Guarani ) Mar del Plata. 
                        Buenos Aires. Argentina  
                        chris_savigny AT yahoo.com.ar  tel:    
                       
                 
            
     
                
     



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Forwarded from the Seabird listserve.

Please go to www.iapc4.org to find the pre-registration form  for the
Fourth International Conference on the Biology and Conservation of
Albatrosses and Petrels, to be held in Cape Town, South Africa, 11-15
August 2008.

As for the first three conferences in the series, there will be
opportunities for both oral and poster presentations, dealing with all
aspects of the biology and conservation of procellariiform birds, as
well as for special-interest workshops and round-table discussions.

A day pelagic trip to view albatrosses and petrels at sea off the Cape
Peninsula is being planned for the weekend immediately after the
conference.

The venue will be the Breakwater Lodge in the Waterfront area of the
city. It is recommended that delegates stay in the lodge
(www.proteahotels.com/breakwaterlodge), which offers budget
accommodation in the same building complex as the conference venue, or
in nearby hotels in the Waterfront.

Special meetings and events

If you wish to arrange a special meeting (e.g. a workshop, round-table
or working group meeting, please contact Andrea Angel directly at
andreaangel.g AT gmail.com

Conference Fees

We intend to keep registration costs low and thereby give the most
people the opportunity to participate. We hope to be able to offer
reduced fees for students. The registration fee will be based on the
number of pre-registration forms received by year end. Therefore, all
prospective attendees are encouraged to return the pre-registration
form as soon as possible. Full registration, payment and post-
conference pelagic trip booking details will be made available by
January 2008, when calls for abstracts will also be made.

John Cooper. Local Organizing Committee, IAPC4


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Hi Neil

Thanks for more 'food for thought' on Beck's Petrel.

I was puzzled, where had I read about the pale throat? I found that
BirdLife on their 'species fact sheet' (http://www.birdlife.org/
datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3879&m=0) say
'Beck's Petrel is apparently noticeably smaller than Tahiti Petrel and
shows a pale chin and throat as well as underwing bar'. Also I had a
look at Richard Baxter's original Emails about the bird he saw, and
describing the photo he said 'the chin/throat is pale and the specimen
also has a pale chin/throat'. I have seen a photo of the female (one
of the two specimens) and that doesn't show a pale throat....but it does
look small, in size! I think if I had seen the bird photographed, with
the throat and underwing, I would have passed it off as a Phoenix
Petrel (....but then again, the distribution is even further away to
the east and the size would be all wrong!)

Best regards
Tony


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-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

On Sep 2, 2007, at 5:05 AM, Rob Ronconi wrote:
>
> For those interested we have deployed satellite tags on two Sooty
> Shearwaters in Atlantic Canada this summer.  So far they have  
> stayed close
> to Grand Manan island but migration should start soon...
>
> http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/?project_id=237
>
> If you lost track of the Greater Shearwater project last year, you  
> can see
> the archived maps which tracked the birds from Canada to Argentina and
> beyond:
>
> http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/index.shtml?project_id=176
>
> Cheers,
>
> Rob
>
>
> Rob Ronconi, PhD Candidate
> Dept. of Biology
> University of Victoria
> PO Box 3020, Stn. CSC
> Victoria, BC  V8W 3N5
> (office/home)
> (fax - UVic)
> fax also at home - call  first




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Greetings All,

As you may know, earlier this month the Yangtze River Dolphin or Bajii
(Lipotes vexillifer) was declared most likely extinct after a six-week
visual and acoustic survey during November and December 2006 failed to
find any trace of this Chinese endemic.

Today, the BBC is running a story reporting a credible sighting (with
video footage) from Anhui Province taken this August. Good news
indeed! Presumably efforts will be made to verify the claim as soon as
possible and perhaps undertake an intensive search for more animals in
the same area.

Obviously the species is still in extreme peril but one is certainly
better than none and perhaps there are more out there.

Cheers, Angus Wilson
New York City, USA


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Tony,
 The eight members of Birds Australia Rarities Committee, of whom
several are
experienced 'seabirders', would have had the benefit of seeing the
full submission.
 A first record for any Country would have to be very convincing. I
suppose the
bottom line is that a record committee does not say an observer did
not see the
species in question but that his submission failed to convince them
that he did so.
A bit like the old Scottish verdict 'not proven'.

The description of the type specimen of becki published in 1928 by
Robert Cushman
Murphy in American Museum Novitates 322 does not mention a pale
throat. Later in
1952, Murphy, in Am.Mus.Nov.1520  treated the bird as a race of
rostrata. The
perception that becki is 25% smaller than rostrata is not indicated by
the published
measurements. Whilst this is true of the culmen and tarsus, the wing
and tail, which
presumably give more of an indication of overall body size, are around
15% smaller.

The photographed bird shows more white in the underwing than most
Coral Sea
rostrata and has a very similar underwing to many rostrata I have seen
off northern
PNG and the Solomons during research voyages to that area since 1985.

But is it Beck's ??

Neil Cheshire
Encounter Bay
South Australia.


On Aug 15, 8:09 pm, Tony Pym  wrote:
> Beck's Petrel
>
> I see the Birds Australia Rarities Committee has rejected the record
> of the Beck's Petrel, seen in the Coral Sea. There was this much-
> publicised photo:
>
> http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2006/06/becks_petrel.html
>
> The record was lauded in the press, as can be seen by the BirdLife
> headline.
>
> The statement by BARC is ambiguous though. For example ''This sighting
> was at least 700 Nm (1300 km) from that region, placing the claim as
> extremely unlikely'' (?) and ''those on the committee experienced with
> Tahiti Petrel, the bent-back outer-wing showing in one of the
> photographs and the extent of pale on the underwing looked typical for
> the species'' (?). An odd comment when the species has consistently
> been described as a 'small Tahiti Petrel' (and it may just be a
> subspecies, of course).
>
> The only reason, in the judgement, would seem to be ''photographic
> images appeared within the range of variation for Tahiti Petrel
> including the possible perception of an apparently smaller than normal
> bill''.
>
> The bird was described as the size of a Cookilaria and compared
> against hundreds of Tahiti Petrels, it showed a pale throat
> (consistent with the type specimen) and the size of bill would seem
> correct.
>
> In 'Onley and Scofield' the text says 'the ...record from the Coral Sea...
> has many features at odds with published descriptions' and implies the
> bird looked more like a small version of Phoenix Petrel.
>
> So, I'm puzzled - what does Beck's look like, if not like the
> submitted record?  What are these many features the bird didn't show?
> What were these small Tahiti-like Petrels seen on the recent Western
> Pacific Odyssey cruise?
>
> Tony


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Blair Nikula  wrote:
>  Despite the remarkable irony, following by just a week the much
> discussed small shearwater seen on the previous trip, this bird's
> identity seems unambiguous.

Hi Blair

Yes, your bird is clearly baroli. The recent discussions have been
centring on identifying lherminieri and boydi in the field. I think
the taxonomic treatment of these is confusing everyone at present
(with boydi being the maverick).

For example:

(1) Austin et al show lherminieri, baroli and boydi all within
Audubon's Shearwater

(2) Onley and Scofield show lherminieri and boydi as Audubon's and
baroli as Macaronesian Shearwater

(3) The BOU have lherminieri as Audubon's and baroli and boydi as
Macaronesian

(4) The AOU currently have lherminieri as Audubons and assimilis,
'Little Shearwater' (the latter are the records of baroli which have
not yet been revised)

(5) More work continues at the moment with boydi (for example,
examination of calls) which could prove this to be a separate species
from both lherminieri and baroli

Confused?

Best regards
Tony


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Although I'm sure much better images will soon be available, I have 
posted some of the inferior, but I believe very recognizable photos I 
took of the Massachusetts Macronesian Shearwater at: 
http://www.capecodbirds.org/Hydrographer/MacronesianShearwater0807.htm
Despite the remarkable irony, following by just a week the much 
discussed small shearwater seen on the previous trip, this bird's 
identity seems unambiguous.

Blair Nikula

At 08:55 PM 8/26/2007, Tony Pym wrote:

>Thanks Rick, just seen the first photos of this bird. Definite
>Macaronesian P. baroli....great record!
>
>Regards
>Tony
>
>
>On Aug 27, 12:44?am, Tony Pym  wrote:
> > Hi Richard
> >
> > Well, these Hydrographer Canyon pelagics are turning up some birds!
> >
> > Last week's bird (pelagic 19 Aug) was definitely an Audubon's
> > Shearwater, though with damaged primaries and tail. I put a couple of
> > the photos here, onto a webpage, with a comparison alongside of an
> > Audubon's photographed by Harold Stiver:
> >
> > http://hometown.aol.co.uk/Tonypym/I.D_Frontiers.html
> >
> > The identification of that bird was based on the short supercilium and
> > the underwing with its dark patches in the white. The webpage shows
> > legs/feet also, which were part of another discussion (on
> > Identification-Frontiers) and are for comparison - it is accepted that
> > leg colour can vary within the same forms of the Little/Audubons
> > complex but the Massachusett's bird showed pink legs with black edges,
> > typical of Audubon's from the Caribbean, adding to the i.d.
> >
> > This week's bird, very different description, interests me greatly
> > Richard. Could you please advise once photos are uploaded for viewing?
> >
> > All the best
> > Tony
> >
> > On Aug 26, 6:25 pm, "rsh... AT juno.com"  wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > > SATURDAY, 25 AUGUST 2007:
> > > BROOKLINE BIRD CLUB 'Extreme Pelagic' from HYANNIS, 
> MASSACHUSETTS to VEATCH'S & HYDROGRAPHER CANYON ( hrs.)
> > > Weather: Mostly clear, morning and afternoon light to moderate 
> fog, S-SW winds 5-10 mph, 62-75 F. Seas: 3-5 feet. Visibility: 
> Generally good, although only fair in light fog and haze at times.
> >
> > > Every trip to these waters is an adventure into the last true 
> frontier of New England ornithology.
> >
> > > More than seventy-five participants plus the captain and crew 
> of the Helen H departed Hyannis at 0400 hrs., crossing Nantucket 
> Sound and this time exiting through Muskeget Channel en route to 
> Veatch's Canyon where water temperatures reached 77 F. We cruised 
> down the center of the canyon and continued south well off the 
> shelf edge into water more about 4000 feet deep before steaming 
> east to Hydrographer Canyon where we worked back north, crossing 
> the cold water Nantucket Shoals (53 F) to Nantucket Sound, arriving 
> back in port around 2100 hrs.
> >
> > > The big event was the observation of a Macaronesian Shearwater 
> (Puffinus baroli), formerly considered a subspecies of Little 
> Shearwater (P. assimilis), which was photographed by perhaps a 
> dozen photographers on board! Photos will be presented soon. There 
> are two specimen records for baroli: one found dead Sable Island, 
> NS, 1 Sep 1896 (AMNH ###; Tufts, R.W. 1986. Birds of Nova Scotia, 
> 3rd ed. with revisions by I.A. McLaren and the Nova Scotia Bird 
> Society. Nimbus Publishing Ltd. & The Nova Scotia Museum, Halifax, 
> NS); one found dead Sullivan's Island, SC, Aug 1883 (MCZ #220051; 
> Post, W. and S. A. Gauthreaux, Jr. 1989. Status and Distribution of 
> South Carolina Birds. The Charleston Museum, Charleston, SC). There 
> is one recent credible sight record of three birds: Bruce Mactavish 
> saw one 23 Sep 2003 ~80 km sws. Sable Island, NS and two 80 km s. 
> Sable I. 24 Sep (North Am. Birds 58(1):31)
> >
> > > Anyone with photos please send them to 
> scottspangenb... AT mindspring.net and Jeremiah Trimble at 
> jtrim... AT oeb.harvard.edu ; Scott will post the photos to his 
> websitewww.spangenberg.comandJeremiah will archive them for records 
> committe review.
> >
> > > Cory's Shearwater (3): One definitive borealis photographed.
> > > Greater Shearwater (41)
> > > Sooty Shearwater (1-2): Nantucket Shoals.
> > > Manx Shearwater (6)
> > > Audubon's Shearwater (3): Vicinity Veatch's Canyon.
> > > MACARONESIAN SHEARWATER, P. baroli (1): Pursued and 
> photographed over perhaps a ten minute period in 70+ degree water 
> approximately 18 miles north of Veatch's Canyon at  N, 69 
> 75.29 W. Formerly considered a subspecies of Little Shearwater (P. 
> assimilis). Briefly, it was a very small shearwater with a rapid 
> fluttery flight, exceptionally blackish upperparts, save for the 
> notably pale wing panels and a thin white lines along the edge of 
> the greater and median coverts. The face was very extensively 
> white, with the dark eye isolated in the white field. The 
> underwings appeared cleanly white, with narrow, well-defined dark 
> borders, and the undertail coverts were extensively white as well. 
> A careful review of full monitor photographs when they appear may 
> fine tune some of these 'in the field' impressions. This is the 
> first photographically documented N. Am sight record (aside from 
> two specimen records) and obviously a first Massachusetts record, if 
accepted. 

> > > small shearwater sp. (1)
> > > Wilson's Storm-Petrel (415)
> > > BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL (1): Sitting with a Greater Shearwater 
> off the shelf at 40 07.6 N, 69 05.6 W, flushed and closely observed 
> and photographed in flight. About the sixth MA record, and only the 
> second or third photographed.
> > > Northern Gannet (2 sub-ads.)
> > > Hudsonian Godwit (40): A very remarkable sighting of a 
> migrating flock southbound late in the afternoon low over the water 
> over Nantucket Shoals at  N, 69 36,25 W. Nest landfall Argentina?
> > > Ruddy Turnstone (1): Circling the boat along the shelf edge.
> > > Red-necked Phalarope (3+)
> > > Red Phalarope (8)
> > > phalarope sp. (8+)
> > > Herring Gull (1 juv.)
> > > Great Black-backed Gull (1)
> > > Common Tern (4 ads.)
> > > Pomarine Jaeger (1 ad./near ad.): South of Muskeget Channel.
> > > Tree Swallow (3): Vicinity Veatch's Canyon.
> >
> > > Fin Whale (8+)
> > > Humpbacked Whale (3+)
> > > Gray Grampus (170+): Warm water canyons and slope.
> > > SPERM WHALE (1): In 4000 ft deep water over Veatch's Canyon.
> > > Common (Saddleback) Dolphin (40+): s. Nantucket Shoals.
> > > Bottlenosed Dolphin (35+): warm water canyons and slope.
> > > dolphin sp. (50+)
> >
> > > Hammerhead Shark sp. (1)
> > > shark sp. (2)
> > > Ocean Sunfish, Mola mola (2)
> > > Manta Ray (1):
> >
> > > Green Darner, Anax junius (1): Along shelf edge.
> >
> > > Many thanks again to Ida Giriunas for organizing these trips 
> and to the Brookline Bird Club for including them in their program, 
> to all of the participants who make them possible by signing up, 
> and to Marshall Iliff and Steve Mirick for their informative and 
> insightful commentary and expertise during the cruise. Thanks to to 
> Captain Joe Huckameyer (and crew) of the Helen H. The captain was 
> exceptional and indeed instramental in the chase of the 
> Macaronesian Shearwater which permitted us to document it so well. 
> The next trip is scheduled for November 17. If interested contact 
> Ida at I... AT verizon.net.
> >
> > > Note: The above list is a summary list for the day, but totals 
> were kept in more detailed half-hour increments. If you'd like 
> those more detailed notes, Marshall Iliff has offered to upload 
> those detailed notes to anyone's eBird account. Mapping features 
> within eBird will allow you to see the exact route of the Helen H 
> as well as the location of the Macaronesian Shearwater, Band-rumped 
> Storm-Petrel, and other species. If you have an eBird account write 
> Marshall ( mil... AT aol.com) and express interest in the detailed 
> notes; if you don't have one, signing up is easy atwww.ebird.org."
> >
> > > Richard S. Heil
> > > S. Peabody, MA
> > > rsh... AT juno.com- Hide quoted text -
> >
> > - Show quoted text -
>
>
>
2 Gilbert Lane
Harwich Port, MA 02646
USA
mailto:odenews AT odenews.org
web site: http://www.odenews.org/ 
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Thanks Rick, just seen the first photos of this bird. Definite
Macaronesian P. baroli....great record!

Regards
Tony


On Aug 27, 12:44?am, Tony Pym  wrote:
> Hi Richard
>
> Well, these Hydrographer Canyon pelagics are turning up some birds!
>
> Last week's bird (pelagic 19 Aug) was definitely an Audubon's
> Shearwater, though with damaged primaries and tail. I put a couple of
> the photos here, onto a webpage, with a comparison alongside of an
> Audubon's photographed by Harold Stiver:
>
> http://hometown.aol.co.uk/Tonypym/I.D_Frontiers.html
>
> The identification of that bird was based on the short supercilium and
> the underwing with its dark patches in the white. The webpage shows
> legs/feet also, which were part of another discussion (on
> Identification-Frontiers) and are for comparison - it is accepted that
> leg colour can vary within the same forms of the Little/Audubons
> complex but the Massachusett's bird showed pink legs with black edges,
> typical of Audubon's from the Caribbean, adding to the i.d.
>
> This week's bird, very different description, interests me greatly
> Richard. Could you please advise once photos are uploaded for viewing?
>
> All the best
> Tony
>
> On Aug 26, 6:25 pm, "rsh... AT juno.com"  wrote:
>
>
>
> > SATURDAY, 25 AUGUST 2007:
> > BROOKLINE BIRD CLUB 'Extreme Pelagic' from HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS to 
VEATCH'S & HYDROGRAPHER CANYON ( hrs.) 

> > Weather: Mostly clear, morning and afternoon light to moderate fog, S-SW 
winds 5-10 mph, 62-75 F. Seas: 3-5 feet. Visibility: Generally good, although 
only fair in light fog and haze at times. 

>
> > Every trip to these waters is an adventure into the last true frontier of 
New England ornithology. 

>
> > More than seventy-five participants plus the captain and crew of the Helen 
H departed Hyannis at 0400 hrs., crossing Nantucket Sound and this time exiting 
through Muskeget Channel en route to Veatch's Canyon where water temperatures 
reached 77 F. We cruised down the center of the canyon and continued south well 
off the shelf edge into water more about 4000 feet deep before steaming east to 
Hydrographer Canyon where we worked back north, crossing the cold water 
Nantucket Shoals (53 F) to Nantucket Sound, arriving back in port around 2100 
hrs. 

>
> > The big event was the observation of a Macaronesian Shearwater (Puffinus 
baroli), formerly considered a subspecies of Little Shearwater (P. assimilis), 
which was photographed by perhaps a dozen photographers on board! Photos will 
be presented soon. There are two specimen records for baroli: one found dead 
Sable Island, NS, 1 Sep 1896 (AMNH ###; Tufts, R.W. 1986. Birds of Nova Scotia, 
3rd ed. with revisions by I.A. McLaren and the Nova Scotia Bird Society. Nimbus 
Publishing Ltd. & The Nova Scotia Museum, Halifax, NS); one found dead 
Sullivan's Island, SC, Aug 1883 (MCZ #220051; Post, W. and S. A. Gauthreaux, 
Jr. 1989. Status and Distribution of South Carolina Birds. The Charleston 
Museum, Charleston, SC). There is one recent credible sight record of three 
birds: Bruce Mactavish saw one 23 Sep 2003 ~80 km sws. Sable Island, NS and two 
80 km s. Sable I. 24 Sep (North Am. Birds 58(1):31) 

>
> > Anyone with photos please send them to scottspangenb... AT mindspring.net and 
Jeremiah Trimble at jtrim... AT oeb.harvard.edu ; Scott will post the photos to 
his websitewww.spangenberg.comandJeremiah will archive them for records 
committe review. 

>
> > Cory's Shearwater (3): One definitive borealis photographed.
> > Greater Shearwater (41)
> > Sooty Shearwater (1-2): Nantucket Shoals.
> > Manx Shearwater (6)
> > Audubon's Shearwater (3): Vicinity Veatch's Canyon.
> > MACARONESIAN SHEARWATER, P. baroli (1): Pursued and photographed over 
perhaps a ten minute period in 70+ degree water approximately 18 miles north of 
Veatch's Canyon at  N,  W. Formerly considered a subspecies of 
Little Shearwater (P. assimilis). Briefly, it was a very small shearwater with 
a rapid fluttery flight, exceptionally blackish upperparts, save for the 
notably pale wing panels and a thin white lines along the edge of the greater 
and median coverts. The face was very extensively white, with the dark eye 
isolated in the white field. The underwings appeared cleanly white, with 
narrow, well-defined dark borders, and the undertail coverts were extensively 
white as well. A careful review of full monitor photographs when they appear 
may fine tune some of these 'in the field' impressions. This is the first 
photographically documented N. Am sight record (aside from two specimen 
records) and obviously a first Massachusetts record, if accepted. 

> > small shearwater sp. (1)
> > Wilson's Storm-Petrel (415)
> > BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL (1): Sitting with a Greater Shearwater off the 
shelf at 40 07.6 N, 69 05.6 W, flushed and closely observed and photographed in 
flight. About the sixth MA record, and only the second or third photographed. 

> > Northern Gannet (2 sub-ads.)
> > Hudsonian Godwit (40): A very remarkable sighting of a migrating flock 
southbound late in the afternoon low over the water over Nantucket Shoals at  N, 69 36,25 W. Nest landfall Argentina? 

> > Ruddy Turnstone (1): Circling the boat along the shelf edge.
> > Red-necked Phalarope (3+)
> > Red Phalarope (8)
> > phalarope sp. (8+)
> > Herring Gull (1 juv.)
> > Great Black-backed Gull (1)
> > Common Tern (4 ads.)
> > Pomarine Jaeger (1 ad./near ad.): South of Muskeget Channel.
> > Tree Swallow (3): Vicinity Veatch's Canyon.
>
> > Fin Whale (8+)
> > Humpbacked Whale (3+)
> > Gray Grampus (170+): Warm water canyons and slope.
> > SPERM WHALE (1): In 4000 ft deep water over Veatch's Canyon.
> > Common (Saddleback) Dolphin (40+): s. Nantucket Shoals.
> > Bottlenosed Dolphin (35+): warm water canyons and slope.
> > dolphin sp. (50+)
>
> > Hammerhead Shark sp. (1)
> > shark sp. (2)
> > Ocean Sunfish, Mola mola (2)
> > Manta Ray (1):
>
> > Green Darner, Anax junius (1): Along shelf edge.
>
> > Many thanks again to Ida Giriunas for organizing these trips and to the 
Brookline Bird Club for including them in their program, to all of the 
participants who make them possible by signing up, and to Marshall Iliff and 
Steve Mirick for their informative and insightful commentary and expertise 
during the cruise. Thanks to to Captain Joe Huckameyer (and crew) of the Helen 
H. The captain was exceptional and indeed instramental in the chase of the 
Macaronesian Shearwater which permitted us to document it so well. The next 
trip is scheduled for November 17. If interested contact Ida at 
I... AT verizon.net. 

>
> > Note: The above list is a summary list for the day, but totals were kept in 
more detailed half-hour increments. If you'd like those more detailed notes, 
Marshall Iliff has offered to upload those detailed notes to anyone's eBird 
account. Mapping features within eBird will allow you to see the exact route of 
the Helen H as well as the location of the Macaronesian Shearwater, Band-rumped 
Storm-Petrel, and other species. If you have an eBird account write Marshall ( 
mil... AT aol.com) and express interest in the detailed notes; if you don't have 
one, signing up is easy atwww.ebird.org." 

>
> > Richard S. Heil
> > S. Peabody, MA
> > rsh... AT juno.com- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -


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You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
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To post to this group, send email to Seabird-News AT googlegroups.com
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Hi Richard

Well, these Hydrographer Canyon pelagics are turning up some birds!

Last week's bird (pelagic 19 Aug) was definitely an Audubon's
Shearwater, though with damaged primaries and tail. I put a couple of
the photos here, onto a webpage, with a comparison alongside of an
Audubon's photographed by Harold Stiver:

http://hometown.aol.co.uk/Tonypym/I.D_Frontiers.html

The identification of that bird was based on the short supercilium and
the underwing with its dark patches in the white. The webpage shows
legs/feet also, which were part of another discussion (on
Identification-Frontiers) and are for comparison - it is accepted that
leg colour can vary within the same forms of the Little/Audubons
complex but the Massachusett's bird showed pink legs with black edges,
typical of Audubon's from the Caribbean, adding to the i.d.

This week's bird, very different description, interests me greatly
Richard. Could you please advise once photos are uploaded for viewing?

All the best
Tony


On Aug 26, 6:25�pm, "rsh... AT juno.com"  wrote:
> SATURDAY, 25 AUGUST 2007:
> BROOKLINE BIRD CLUB 'Extreme Pelagic' from HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS to VEATCH'S 
& HYDROGRAPHER CANYON ( hrs.) 

> Weather: Mostly clear, morning and afternoon light to moderate fog, S-SW 
winds 5-10 mph, 62-75 F. �Seas: 3-5 feet. Visibility: Generally good, 
although only fair in light fog and haze at times. 

>
> � Every trip to these waters is an adventure into the last true frontier of 
New England ornithology. 

>
> �More than seventy-five participants plus the captain and crew of the Helen 
H departed Hyannis at 0400 hrs., crossing Nantucket Sound and this time exiting 
through Muskeget Channel en route to Veatch's Canyon where water temperatures 
reached 77 F. �We cruised down the center of the canyon and continued south 
well off the shelf edge into water more about 4000 feet deep before steaming 
east to Hydrographer Canyon where we worked back north, crossing the cold water 
Nantucket Shoals (53 F) to Nantucket Sound, arriving back in port around 2100 
hrs. 

>
> � The big event was the observation of a Macaronesian Shearwater (Puffinus 
baroli), formerly considered a subspecies of Little Shearwater (P. assimilis), 
which was photographed by perhaps a dozen photographers on board! �Photos 
will be presented soon. �There are two specimen records for baroli: one found 
dead Sable Island, NS, 1 Sep 1896 (AMNH ###; Tufts, R.W. 1986. Birds of Nova 
Scotia, 3rd ed. with revisions by I.A. McLaren and the Nova Scotia Bird 
Society. Nimbus Publishing Ltd. & The Nova Scotia Museum, Halifax, NS); one 
found dead Sullivan's Island, SC, Aug 1883 (MCZ #220051; Post, W. and S. A. 
Gauthreaux, Jr. �1989. �Status and Distribution of South Carolina Birds. 
�The Charleston Museum, Charleston, SC). �There is one recent credible 
sight record of three birds: Bruce Mactavish saw one 23 Sep 2003 ~80 km sws. 
Sable Island, NS and two 80 km s. Sable I. 24 Sep (North Am. Birds 58(1):31) 

>
> � Anyone with photos please send them to scottspangenb... AT mindspring.net 
and Jeremiah Trimble at jtrim... AT oeb.harvard.edu ; Scott will post the photos 
to his websitewww.spangenberg.comand Jeremiah will archive them for records 
committe review. � 

>
> Cory's Shearwater (3): One definitive borealis photographed.
> Greater Shearwater (41)
> Sooty Shearwater (1-2): Nantucket Shoals.
> Manx Shearwater (6)
> Audubon's Shearwater (3): Vicinity Veatch's Canyon.
> MACARONESIAN SHEARWATER, P. baroli (1): Pursued and photographed over perhaps 
a ten minute period in 70+ degree water approximately 18 miles north of 
Veatch's Canyon at  N,  W. �Formerly considered a subspecies 
of Little Shearwater (P. assimilis). �Briefly, it was a very small shearwater 
with a rapid fluttery flight, exceptionally blackish upperparts, save for the 
notably pale wing panels and a thin white lines along the edge of the greater 
and median coverts. �The face was very extensively white, with the dark eye 
isolated in the white field. �The underwings appeared cleanly white, with 
narrow, well-defined dark borders, and the undertail coverts were extensively 
white as well. A careful review of full monitor photographs when they appear 
may fine tune some of these 'in the field' impressions. �This is the first 
photographically documented N. Am sight record (aside from two specimen 
records) and obviously a first Massachusetts record, if accepted. � 

> small shearwater sp. (1)
> Wilson's Storm-Petrel (415)
> BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL (1): Sitting with a Greater Shearwater off the shelf 
at 40 07.6 N, 69 05.6 W, flushed and closely observed and photographed in 
flight. �About the sixth MA record, and only the second or third 
photographed. 

> Northern Gannet (2 sub-ads.)
> Hudsonian Godwit (40): A very remarkable sighting of a migrating flock 
southbound late in the afternoon low over the water over Nantucket Shoals at  N, 69 36,25 W. �Nest landfall Argentina? 

> Ruddy Turnstone (1): Circling the boat along the shelf edge.
> Red-necked Phalarope (3+)
> Red Phalarope (8)
> phalarope sp. (8+)
> Herring Gull (1 juv.)
> Great Black-backed Gull (1)
> Common Tern (4 ads.)
> Pomarine Jaeger (1 ad./near ad.): South of Muskeget Channel.
> Tree Swallow (3): Vicinity Veatch's Canyon.
>
> Fin Whale (8+)
> Humpbacked Whale (3+)
> Gray Grampus (170+): Warm water canyons and slope.
> SPERM WHALE (1): In 4000 ft deep water over Veatch's Canyon.
> Common (Saddleback) Dolphin (40+): s. Nantucket Shoals.
> Bottlenosed Dolphin (35+): warm water canyons and slope.
> dolphin sp. (50+)
>
> Hammerhead Shark sp. (1)
> shark sp. (2)
> Ocean Sunfish, Mola mola (2)
> Manta Ray (1):
>
> Green Darner, Anax junius (1): Along shelf edge.
>
> Many thanks again to Ida Giriunas for organizing these trips and to the 
Brookline Bird Club for including them in their program, to all of the 
participants who make them possible by signing up, and to Marshall Iliff and 
Steve Mirick for their informative and insightful commentary and expertise 
during the cruise. Thanks to to Captain Joe Huckameyer (and crew) of the Helen 
H. �The captain was exceptional and indeed instramental in the chase of the 
Macaronesian Shearwater which permitted us to document it so well. The next 
trip is scheduled for November 17. �If interested contact Ida at 
I... AT verizon.net. 

>
> Note: �The above list is a summary list for the day, but totals were kept 
in more detailed half-hour increments. If you'd like those more detailed notes, 
Marshall Iliff has offered to upload those detailed notes to anyone's eBird 
account. Mapping features within eBird will allow you to see the exact route of 
the Helen H as well as the location of the Macaronesian Shearwater, Band-rumped 
Storm-Petrel, and other species. If you have an eBird account write Marshall ( 
mil... AT aol.com) and express interest in the detailed notes; if you don't have 
one, signing up is easy atwww.ebird.org." 

>
> Richard S. Heil
> S. Peabody, MA
> rsh... AT juno.com


--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
"Seabird News" group. 

To post to this group, send email to Seabird-News AT googlegroups.com
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Seabird-News-unsubscribe AT googlegroups.com 

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SATURDAY, 25 AUGUST 2007:
BROOKLINE BIRD CLUB 'Extreme Pelagic' from HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS to VEATCH'S & 
HYDROGRAPHER CANYON ( hrs.) 

Weather: Mostly clear, morning and afternoon light to moderate fog, S-SW winds 
5-10 mph, 62-75 F. Seas: 3-5 feet. Visibility: Generally good, although only 
fair in light fog and haze at times. 


 Every trip to these waters is an adventure into the last true frontier of New 
England ornithology. 


 More than seventy-five participants plus the captain and crew of the Helen H 
departed Hyannis at 0400 hrs., crossing Nantucket Sound and this time exiting 
through Muskeget Channel en route to Veatch's Canyon where water temperatures 
reached 77 F. We cruised down the center of the canyon and continued south well 
off the shelf edge into water more about 4000 feet deep before steaming east to 
Hydrographer Canyon where we worked back north, crossing the cold water 
Nantucket Shoals (53 F) to Nantucket Sound, arriving back in port around 2100 
hrs. 


 The big event was the observation of a Macaronesian Shearwater (Puffinus 
baroli), formerly considered a subspecies of Little Shearwater (P. assimilis), 
which was photographed by perhaps a dozen photographers on board! Photos will 
be presented soon. There are two specimen records for baroli: one found dead 
Sable Island, NS, 1 Sep 1896 (AMNH ###; Tufts, R.W. 1986. Birds of Nova Scotia, 
3rd ed. with revisions by I.A. McLaren and the Nova Scotia Bird Society. Nimbus 
Publishing Ltd. & The Nova Scotia Museum, Halifax, NS); one found dead 
Sullivan's Island, SC, Aug 1883 (MCZ #220051; Post, W. and S. A. Gauthreaux, 
Jr. 1989. Status and Distribution of South Carolina Birds. The Charleston 
Museum, Charleston, SC). There is one recent credible sight record of three 
birds: Bruce Mactavish saw one 23 Sep 2003 ~80 km sws. Sable Island, NS and two 
80 km s. Sable I. 24 Sep (North Am. Birds 58(1):31) 



 Anyone with photos please send them to scottspangenberg AT mindspring.net and 
Jeremiah Trimble at jtrimble AT oeb.harvard.edu ; Scott will post the photos to 
his website www.spangenberg.com and Jeremiah will archive them for records 
committe review. 


Cory's Shearwater (3): One definitive borealis photographed.
Greater Shearwater (41)
Sooty Shearwater (1-2): Nantucket Shoals.
Manx Shearwater (6)
Audubon's Shearwater (3): Vicinity Veatch's Canyon.
MACARONESIAN SHEARWATER, P. baroli (1): Pursued and photographed over perhaps a 
ten minute period in 70+ degree water approximately 18 miles north of Veatch's 
Canyon at  N,  W. Formerly considered a subspecies of Little 
Shearwater (P. assimilis). Briefly, it was a very small shearwater with a rapid 
fluttery flight, exceptionally blackish upperparts, save for the notably pale 
wing panels and a thin white lines along the edge of the greater and median 
coverts. The face was very extensively white, with the dark eye isolated in the 
white field. The underwings appeared cleanly white, with narrow, well-defined 
dark borders, and the undertail coverts were extensively white as well. A 
careful review of full monitor photographs when they appear may fine tune some 
of these 'in the field' impressions. This is the first photographically 
documented N. Am sight record (aside from two specimen records) and obviously a 
first Massachusetts record, if accepted. 

small shearwater sp. (1)
Wilson's Storm-Petrel (415)
BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL (1): Sitting with a Greater Shearwater off the shelf 
at 40 07.6 N, 69 05.6 W, flushed and closely observed and photographed in 
flight. About the sixth MA record, and only the second or third photographed. 

Northern Gannet (2 sub-ads.) 
Hudsonian Godwit (40): A very remarkable sighting of a migrating flock 
southbound late in the afternoon low over the water over Nantucket Shoals at  N, 69 36,25 W. Nest landfall Argentina? 

Ruddy Turnstone (1): Circling the boat along the shelf edge.
Red-necked Phalarope (3+)
Red Phalarope (8)
phalarope sp. (8+)
Herring Gull (1 juv.)
Great Black-backed Gull (1)
Common Tern (4 ads.)
Pomarine Jaeger (1 ad./near ad.): South of Muskeget Channel.
Tree Swallow (3): Vicinity Veatch's Canyon.

Fin Whale (8+)
Humpbacked Whale (3+)
Gray Grampus (170+): Warm water canyons and slope.
SPERM WHALE (1): In 4000 ft deep water over Veatch's Canyon.
Common (Saddleback) Dolphin (40+): s. Nantucket Shoals.
Bottlenosed Dolphin (35+): warm water canyons and slope.
dolphin sp. (50+)

Hammerhead Shark sp. (1)
shark sp. (2)
Ocean Sunfish, Mola mola (2)
Manta Ray (1): 

Green Darner, Anax junius (1): Along shelf edge.

Many thanks again to Ida Giriunas for organizing these trips and to the 
Brookline Bird Club for including them in their program, to all of the 
participants who make them possible by signing up, and to Marshall Iliff and 
Steve Mirick for their informative and insightful commentary and expertise 
during the cruise. Thanks to to Captain Joe Huckameyer (and crew) of the Helen 
H. The captain was exceptional and indeed instramental in the chase of the 
Macaronesian Shearwater which permitted us to document it so well. The next 
trip is scheduled for November 17. If interested contact Ida at 
Ida8 AT verizon.net. 


Note: The above list is a summary list for the day, but totals were kept in 
more detailed half-hour increments. If you'd like those more detailed notes, 
Marshall Iliff has offered to upload those detailed notes to anyone's eBird 
account. Mapping features within eBird will allow you to see the exact route of 
the Helen H as well as the location of the Macaronesian Shearwater, Band-rumped 
Storm-Petrel, and other species. If you have an eBird account write Marshall ( 
miliff AT aol.com) and express interest in the detailed notes; if you don't have 
one, signing up is easy at www.ebird.org." 



Richard S. Heil
S. Peabody, MA
rsheil AT juno.com 



 

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
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Here is another photo of Audubon's Shearwater in a similar pose:

http://www.pbase.com/gtepke/image/

Glen Tepke
Oakland, California, USA
g.tepke (at) comcast (dot) net
www.pbase.com/gtepke

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Tony Pym 
> 
> Hi everyone
> 
> Sorry if my last post was a ''little scrambled'' (sorry, for the pun!)
> but it was typed in haste from someone else's computer.
> 
> To better illustrate my points, here's a temporary webpage with a
> photo I've found of an Audubon's Shearwater (taken by Harold Stiver
> off North Carolina, May 2004). The photo angle is good for a direct
> comparison. Harold's bird is on the right and the one juxtaposed is
> that being discussed.
> 
> http://hometown.aol.co.uk/Tonypym/I.D_Frontiers.html
> 
> Note the identical head patterns (the short supercilium with the 'bar'
> I referred to, above the lores) and the underwing patterns (the dark
> patches on the inner wing and near the carpal)....and the shortened tail
> of James' bird, with the exposed shafts!
> 
> Best regards
> Tony

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Hi everyone

Sorry if my last post was a ''little scrambled'' (sorry, for the pun!)
but it was typed in haste from someone else's computer.

To better illustrate my points, here's a temporary webpage with a
photo I've found of an Audubon's Shearwater (taken by Harold Stiver
off North Carolina, May 2004). The photo angle is good for a direct
comparison. Harold's bird is on the right and the one juxtaposed is
that being discussed.

http://hometown.aol.co.uk/Tonypym/I.D_Frontiers.html

Note the identical head patterns (the short supercilium with the 'bar'
I referred to, above the lores) and the underwing patterns (the dark
patches on the inner wing and near the carpal)....and the shortened tail
of James' bird, with the exposed shafts!

Best regards
Tony


On Aug 23, 3:09 pm, Tony Pym  wrote:
> Hi Dominic
>
> I'm convinced the photos show an Audubon's Shearwater P. lherminieri.
> The short supercilium (created by a narrow dark bar in front of the
> eye) I have seen only on Audubon's. P. baroli usually shows white all
> around the eye and boydi a cap with no obvious supercilium.
>
> The underwing is also Audubon's. The dark patches in the white, close
> to the leading edge fit the nominate race P. l. lherminieri.  P.
> baroli has a much whiter underwing, though boydi shows as dark a
> trailing edge as the photos.
>
> The large flank patch may be specific to Audubon's? I've not seen
> this, at least on baroli (though I have on Manx Shearwater).
>
> The legs are clearly pink with black edges, again typical for the
> nominate race of Audubon's Shearwater from the Caribbean Islands,
> whereas both baroli and boydi have blue legs.
>
> The bird looks worn, in the primaries and the tail, and in the fifth
> photo down the tail has the shafts exposed - the reason the feet
> (unusually) project.
>
> I think I have some photos of Audubon's illustrating the above points
> if you'd like to see them for comparing with this bird.
>
> There are exceptions to these field characters e.g baroli showing
> dusky cheeks, as a dark line even, or birds photographed, certainly
> baroli, with dark primaries and a broad dark trailing edge to the
> underwing.
>
> Best regards
> Tony
>
> On Aug 23, 12:35 pm, "Dominic Mitchell"
>
>
>
>  wrote:
> > This interesting thread has cropped up on ID-Frontiers, following James
> > Smith's posting of some surprisingly good 'digibinned' images of a presumed
> > but slightly odd Audubon's Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri) on a pelagic 
to 

> > Hydrographer Canyon.
>
> > Perhaps because of the contrasting greyish wing panel, the first response
> > has suggested Macaronesian Shearwater (P baroli) as a strong possibility
> > but, aside from the anomaly of feet projecting beyond the tail, I wonder
> > from memory whether the Massachusetts individual shows enough white on the
> > face? The dark eye barely looks 'isolated' in white, as in Canarian birds.
> > Also, the dark border on the trailing edge of the underwing looks rather
> > wide. Can the Cape Verde taxon boydi ever look like this?
>
> > All comments appreciated.
>
> > Rgds
>
> > --
> > Dominic Mitchell
> > Publisher and Editor, Birdwatch
> > Solo Publishing Ltd
> > The Chocolate Factory, 5 Clarendon Road
> > London N22 6XJ, UK
> > Tel:  / 
Web:www.birdwatch.co.ukhttp://birdwatchmagazine.blogspot.com/ 

> > --
>
> > * Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail *
>
> > The information contained in this email and any attachments is confidential
> > and may be legally privileged. If you have received it in error, you are on
> > notice of its status. It is intended solely for the addressee. Any
> > unauthorised use is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended
> > recipient please notify the sender immediately and delete the email and any
> > attachments. While Solo Publishing protects its systems from virus attacks
> > and other harmful events, the company gives no warranty that this message
> > (including any attachments) is free of any virus or other harmful matter,
> > and accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage resulting from the
> > recipient receiving, opening or using it.
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: okeeff... AT EIRCOM.NET [mailto:okeeff... AT EIRCOM.NET]
> > Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2007 11:18 AM
> > To: BIRDW... AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
> > Subject: Re: [BIRDWG01] Small Shearwater question from Massachusetts -
>
> > 08/19.
>
> > Hi James,
>
> > Incredible photos - well done!  Those features you mention and the images
> > point to North Atlantic Little Shearwater (Puffinus baroli), also known as
> > the Macaronesian Shearwater.  The images would certainly pass for that
> > species had it been photographed on this side of the Atlantic.
> > Unfortunately good shots of this species are hard to come by.
>
> > Check 
out...http://www.netfugl.dk/pictures.php?id=showpicture&picture_id=15977&la... 

> > ukhttp://azores.seawatching.net/index.php?page=seawatchinghttp://madeir...
>
> > Best of luck!
>
> > Regards
>
> > Mike O'Keeffe
> > Ireland
> > "James P. Smith"  wrote:
>
> > <  I wonder if any experienced pelagic birders might shed some light on the
> > appearance of this presumed Audubon s Shearwater seen on the recent
> > Brookline Bird Club dedicated pelagic out of Hyannis:
> > <  http://keenbirding.com/NE07/smallshear190807.html
> > <
> > <
> > <  It came nice and close to the stern of the Helen H. during a brief
> > chumming session in Hydrographer Canyon waters at 12:26 hours on Sunday
> > 08/19. Two birds were present, one a reasonably clear Audubon's Shearwater,
> > and this one, which although presumed to be Audubon's, showed a couple of
> > interesting features. These features seem to be at odds with the reference
> > material that I've checked thus far on Audubon's. The most obvious, a clear
> > projection of the feet beyond the tail, seen in both dorsal and ventral
> > views. Slightly more subtle, but still rather notable, a blue-gray hue to
> > the greater coverts and inner primaries, creating a slight contrast with 
the 

> > blacker secondries.
> > <
> > <
> > <  Any feedback, public or private, would be welcomed.
> > <
> > <
> > <  Best birding,
> > <
> > <
> > <  James P. Smith
> > <  Amherst, MA.
> > <
> > <
> > <
> > <        
> > <  ---------------------------------
> > <  Be a better Heartthrob. Get better relationship answers from someone who
> > knows.
> > <  Yahoo! Answers - Check it out.
> > <
> > <
> > < Join or Leave 
BIRDWG01:http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 

> > <
> > <  Archives:http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html
> > <
> > <  --0--=:2934
> > < Content-Type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1 < Content-Transfer-Encoding: 

> > 8bit < <  Hi birders,

I wonder if any experienced pelagic birders
> > might shed some light on the appearance of this presumed Audubon s
> > Shearwater seen on the recent Brookline Bird Club dedicated pelagic out of
> > Hyannis:
 > 
href="http://keenbirding.com/NE07/smallshear190807.html">http://keenbirding. 

> > com/NE07/smallshear190807.html


It came nice and close to the
> > stern of the Helen H. during a brief chumming session in Hydrographer 
Canyon 

> > waters at 12:26 hours on Sunday 08/19. Two birds were present, one a
> > reasonably clear Audubon's Shearwater, and this one, which although 
presumed 

> > to be Audubon's, showed a couple of interesting features. These features
> > seem to be at odds with the reference material that I've checked thus far 
on 

> > Audubon's. The most obvious, a clear projection of the feet beyond the 
tail, 

> > seen in both dorsal and ventral views. Slightly more subtle, but still
> > rather notable, a blue-gray hue to the greater coverts and inner primaries,
> > creating a slight
> > <   contrast with the blacker secondries. 


Any feedback, public
> > or private, would be welcomed.


Best birding,


James P.
> > Smith
Amherst, MA.



> > <        
Be a better Heartthrob.  > 
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=48255/*http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/_ylc=X3 

> > 
oDMTI5MGx2aThyBF9TAzIxMTU1MDAzNTIEX3MDMzk2NTQ1MTAzBHNlYwNCQUJwaWxsYXJfTklfM--z 

> > YwBHNsawNQcm9kdWN0X3F1ZXN0aW9uX3BhZ2U-?link=list&sid=">Get better
> > relationship answers from someone who knows.
Yahoo! Answers - Check
> > it out.
> > <  

> > < Join or Leave 
BIRDWG01:http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 

> > <  

> > <  Archives:http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html
> > <  

> > <
> > <  --0--=:2934--
> > <
>
> > -----------------------------------------------------------------
> > Find the home of your dreams with eircom net property Sign up for email
> > alerts nowhttp://www.eircom.net/propertyalerts
>
> > Join or Leave 
BIRDWG01:http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 

>
> > Archives:http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html-Hide quoted 
text - 

>
> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
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--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
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Hi Dominic

I'm convinced the photos show an Audubon's Shearwater P. lherminieri.
The short supercilium (created by a narrow dark bar in front of the
eye) I have seen only on Audubon's. P. baroli usually shows white all
around the eye and boydi a cap with no obvious supercilium.

The underwing is also Audubon's. The dark patches in the white, close
to the leading edge fit the nominate race P. l. lherminieri.  P.
baroli has a much whiter underwing, though boydi shows as dark a
trailing edge as the photos.

The large flank patch may be specific to Audubon's? I've not seen
this, at least on baroli (though I have on Manx Shearwater).

The legs are clearly pink with black edges, again typical for the
nominate race of Audubon's Shearwater from the Caribbean Islands,
whereas both baroli and boydi have blue legs.

The bird looks worn, in the primaries and the tail, and in the fifth
photo down the tail has the shafts exposed - the reason the feet
(unusually) project.

I think I have some photos of Audubon's illustrating the above points
if you'd like to see them for comparing with this bird.

There are exceptions to these field characters e.g baroli showing
dusky cheeks, as a dark line even, or birds photographed, certainly
baroli, with dark primaries and a broad dark trailing edge to the
underwing.

Best regards
Tony


On Aug 23, 12:35 pm, "Dominic Mitchell"
 wrote:
> This interesting thread has cropped up on ID-Frontiers, following James
> Smith's posting of some surprisingly good 'digibinned' images of a presumed
> but slightly odd Audubon's Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri) on a pelagic to
> Hydrographer Canyon.
>
> Perhaps because of the contrasting greyish wing panel, the first response
> has suggested Macaronesian Shearwater (P baroli) as a strong possibility
> but, aside from the anomaly of feet projecting beyond the tail, I wonder
> from memory whether the Massachusetts individual shows enough white on the
> face? The dark eye barely looks 'isolated' in white, as in Canarian birds.
> Also, the dark border on the trailing edge of the underwing looks rather
> wide. Can the Cape Verde taxon boydi ever look like this?
>
> All comments appreciated.
>
> Rgds
>
> --
> Dominic Mitchell
> Publisher and Editor, Birdwatch
> Solo Publishing Ltd
> The Chocolate Factory, 5 Clarendon Road
> London N22 6XJ, UK
> Tel:  / 
Web:www.birdwatch.co.ukhttp://birdwatchmagazine.blogspot.com/ 

> --
>
> * Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail *
>
> The information contained in this email and any attachments is confidential
> and may be legally privileged. If you have received it in error, you are on
> notice of its status. It is intended solely for the addressee. Any
> unauthorised use is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended
> recipient please notify the sender immediately and delete the email and any
> attachments. While Solo Publishing protects its systems from virus attacks
> and other harmful events, the company gives no warranty that this message
> (including any attachments) is free of any virus or other harmful matter,
> and accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage resulting from the
> recipient receiving, opening or using it.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: okeeff... AT EIRCOM.NET [mailto:okeeff... AT EIRCOM.NET]
> Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2007 11:18 AM
> To: BIRDW... AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
> Subject: Re: [BIRDWG01] Small Shearwater question from Massachusetts -
>
> 08/19.
>
> Hi James,
>
> Incredible photos - well done!  Those features you mention and the images
> point to North Atlantic Little Shearwater (Puffinus baroli), also known as
> the Macaronesian Shearwater.  The images would certainly pass for that
> species had it been photographed on this side of the Atlantic.
> Unfortunately good shots of this species are hard to come by.
>
> Check 
out...http://www.netfugl.dk/pictures.php?id=showpicture&picture_id=15977&la... 

> 
ukhttp://azores.seawatching.net/index.php?page=seawatchinghttp://madeira.seawatching.net/seabirds.html 

>
> Best of luck!
>
> Regards
>
> Mike O'Keeffe
> Ireland
> "James P. Smith"  wrote:
>
> <  I wonder if any experienced pelagic birders might shed some light on the
> appearance of this presumed Audubon s Shearwater seen on the recent
> Brookline Bird Club dedicated pelagic out of Hyannis:
> <  http://keenbirding.com/NE07/smallshear190807.html
> <
> <
> <  It came nice and close to the stern of the Helen H. during a brief
> chumming session in Hydrographer Canyon waters at 12:26 hours on Sunday
> 08/19. Two birds were present, one a reasonably clear Audubon's Shearwater,
> and this one, which although presumed to be Audubon's, showed a couple of
> interesting features. These features seem to be at odds with the reference
> material that I've checked thus far on Audubon's. The most obvious, a clear
> projection of the feet beyond the tail, seen in both dorsal and ventral
> views. Slightly more subtle, but still rather notable, a blue-gray hue to
> the greater coverts and inner primaries, creating a slight contrast with the
> blacker secondries.
> <
> <
> <  Any feedback, public or private, would be welcomed.
> <
> <
> <  Best birding,
> <
> <
> <  James P. Smith
> <  Amherst, MA.
> <
> <
> <
> <        
> <  ---------------------------------
> <  Be a better Heartthrob. Get better relationship answers from someone who
> knows.
> <  Yahoo! Answers - Check it out.
> <
> <
> < Join or Leave 
BIRDWG01:http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 

> <
> <  Archives:http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html
> <
> <  --0--=:2934
> <  Content-Type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1 <  Content-Transfer-Encoding:
> 8bit < <  Hi birders,

I wonder if any experienced pelagic birders
> might shed some light on the appearance of this presumed Audubon s
> Shearwater seen on the recent Brookline Bird Club dedicated pelagic out of
> Hyannis:
 href="http://keenbirding.com/NE07/smallshear190807.html">http://keenbirding.
> com/NE07/smallshear190807.html


It came nice and close to the
> stern of the Helen H. during a brief chumming session in Hydrographer Canyon
> waters at 12:26 hours on Sunday 08/19. Two birds were present, one a
> reasonably clear Audubon's Shearwater, and this one, which although presumed
> to be Audubon's, showed a couple of interesting features. These features
> seem to be at odds with the reference material that I've checked thus far on
> Audubon's. The most obvious, a clear projection of the feet beyond the tail,
> seen in both dorsal and ventral views. Slightly more subtle, but still
> rather notable, a blue-gray hue to the greater coverts and inner primaries,
> creating a slight
> <   contrast with the blacker secondries. 


Any feedback, public
> or private, would be welcomed.


Best birding,


James P.
> Smith
Amherst, MA.



> <        
Be a better Heartthrob.  href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=48255/*http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/_ylc=X3
> oDMTI5MGx2aThyBF9TAzIxMTU1MDAzNTIEX3MDMzk2NTQ1MTAzBHNlYwNCQUJwaWxsYXJfTklfM-z
> YwBHNsawNQcm9kdWN0X3F1ZXN0aW9uX3BhZ2U-?link=list&sid=">Get better
> relationship answers from someone who knows.
Yahoo! Answers - Check
> it out.
> <  

> < Join or Leave 
BIRDWG01:http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 

> <  

> <  Archives:http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html
> <  

> <
> <  --0--=:2934--
> <
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> Find the home of your dreams with eircom net property Sign up for email
> alerts nowhttp://www.eircom.net/propertyalerts
>
> Join or Leave BIRDWG01:http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01
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> Archives:http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html- Hide quoted text 
- 

>
> - Show quoted text -


--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
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To post to this group, send email to Seabird-News AT googlegroups.com
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Hi Dominic

I'm convinced the photos show an Audubon's Shearwater P. lherminieri.
The short supercilium (created by a narrow dark bar in front of the
eye) I have seen only on Audubon's. P. baroli usually shows white all
around the eye and boydi a cap with no obvious supercilium.

The underwing is also Audubon's. The dark patches in the white, close
to the leading edge fit the nominate race P. l. lherminieri.  P.
baroli has a much whiter underwing, though boydi shows as dark a
trailing edge as the photos.

The large flank patch may be specific to Audubon's? I've not seen
this, at least on baroli (though I have on Manx Shearwater).

The legs are clearly pink with black edges, again typical for the
nominate race of Audubon's Shearwater from the Caribbean Islands,
whereas both baroli and boydi have blue legs.

The bird looks worn, in the primaries and the tail, and in the fifth
photo down the tail has the shafts exposed - the reason the feet
(unusually) project.

I think I have some photos of Audubon's illustrating the above points
if you'd like to see them for comparing with this bird.

There are exceptions to these field characters e.g baroli showing
dusky cheeks, as a dark line even, or birds photographed, certainly
baroli, with dark primaries and a broad dark trailing edge to the
underwing.

Best regards
Tony


On Aug 23, 12:35 pm, "Dominic Mitchell"
 wrote:
> This interesting thread has cropped up on ID-Frontiers, following James
> Smith's posting of some surprisingly good 'digibinned' images of a presumed
> but slightly odd Audubon's Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri) on a pelagic to
> Hydrographer Canyon.
>
> Perhaps because of the contrasting greyish wing panel, the first response
> has suggested Macaronesian Shearwater (P baroli) as a strong possibility
> but, aside from the anomaly of feet projecting beyond the tail, I wonder
> from memory whether the Massachusetts individual shows enough white on the
> face? The dark eye barely looks 'isolated' in white, as in Canarian birds.
> Also, the dark border on the trailing edge of the underwing looks rather
> wide. Can the Cape Verde taxon boydi ever look like this?
>
> All comments appreciated.
>
> Rgds
>
> --
> Dominic Mitchell
> Publisher and Editor, Birdwatch
> Solo Publishing Ltd
> The Chocolate Factory, 5 Clarendon Road
> London N22 6XJ, UK
> Tel:  / 
Web:www.birdwatch.co.ukhttp://birdwatchmagazine.blogspot.com/ 

> --
>
> * Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail *
>
> The information contained in this email and any attachments is confidential
> and may be legally privileged. If you have received it in error, you are on
> notice of its status. It is intended solely for the addressee. Any
> unauthorised use is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended
> recipient please notify the sender immediately and delete the email and any
> attachments. While Solo Publishing protects its systems from virus attacks
> and other harmful events, the company gives no warranty that this message
> (including any attachments) is free of any virus or other harmful matter,
> and accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage resulting from the
> recipient receiving, opening or using it.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: okeeff... AT EIRCOM.NET [mailto:okeeff... AT EIRCOM.NET]
> Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2007 11:18 AM
> To: BIRDW... AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
> Subject: Re: [BIRDWG01] Small Shearwater question from Massachusetts -
>
> 08/19.
>
> Hi James,
>
> Incredible photos - well done!  Those features you mention and the images
> point to North Atlantic Little Shearwater (Puffinus baroli), also known as
> the Macaronesian Shearwater.  The images would certainly pass for that
> species had it been photographed on this side of the Atlantic.
> Unfortunately good shots of this species are hard to come by.
>
> Check 
out...http://www.netfugl.dk/pictures.php?id=showpicture&picture_id=15977&la... 

> 
ukhttp://azores.seawatching.net/index.php?page=seawatchinghttp://madeira.seawatching.net/seabirds.html 

>
> Best of luck!
>
> Regards
>
> Mike O'Keeffe
> Ireland
> "James P. Smith"  wrote:
>
> <  I wonder if any experienced pelagic birders might shed some light on the
> appearance of this presumed Audubon s Shearwater seen on the recent
> Brookline Bird Club dedicated pelagic out of Hyannis:
> <  http://keenbirding.com/NE07/smallshear190807.html
> <
> <
> <  It came nice and close to the stern of the Helen H. during a brief
> chumming session in Hydrographer Canyon waters at 12:26 hours on Sunday
> 08/19. Two birds were present, one a reasonably clear Audubon's Shearwater,
> and this one, which although presumed to be Audubon's, showed a couple of
> interesting features. These features seem to be at odds with the reference
> material that I've checked thus far on Audubon's. The most obvious, a clear
> projection of the feet beyond the tail, seen in both dorsal and ventral
> views. Slightly more subtle, but still rather notable, a blue-gray hue to
> the greater coverts and inner primaries, creating a slight contrast with the
> blacker secondries.
> <
> <
> <  Any feedback, public or private, would be welcomed.
> <
> <
> <  Best birding,
> <
> <
> <  James P. Smith
> <  Amherst, MA.
> <
> <
> <
> <        
> <  ---------------------------------
> <  Be a better Heartthrob. Get better relationship answers from someone who
> knows.
> <  Yahoo! Answers - Check it out.
> <
> <
> < Join or Leave 
BIRDWG01:http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=birdwg01 

> <
> <  Archives:http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg01.html
> <
> <  --0--=:2934
> <  Content-Type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1 <  Content-Transfer-Encoding:
> 8bit < <  Hi birders,

I wonder if any experienced pelagic birders
> might shed some light on the appearance of this presumed Audubon s
> Shearwater seen on the recent Brookline Bird Club dedicated pelagic out of
> Hyannis:
 href="http://keenbirding.com/NE07/smallshear190807.html">http://keenbirding.
> com/NE07/smallshear190807.html


It came nice and close to the
> stern of the Helen H. during a brief chumming session in Hydrographer Canyon
> waters at 12:26 hours on Sunday 08/19. Two birds were present, one a
> reasonably clear Audubon's Shearwater, and this one, which although presumed
> to be Audubon's, showed a couple of interesting features. These features
> seem to be at odds with the reference material that I've checked thus far on
> Audubon's. The most obvious, a clear projection of the feet beyond the tail,
> seen in both dorsal and ventral views. Slightly more subtle, but still
> rather notable, a blue-gray hue to the greater coverts and inner primaries,
> creating a slight
> <   contrast with the blacker secondries. 


Any feedback, public
> or private, would be welcomed.


Best birding,


James P.
> Smith
Amherst, MA.



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This interesting thread has cropped up on ID-Frontiers, following James
Smith's posting of some surprisingly good 'digibinned' images of a presumed
but slightly odd Audubon's Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri) on a pelagic to
Hydrographer Canyon.

Perhaps because of the contrasting greyish wing panel, the first response
has suggested Macaronesian Shearwater (P baroli) as a strong possibility
but, aside from the anomaly of feet projecting beyond the tail, I wonder
from memory whether the Massachusetts individual shows enough white on the
face? The dark eye barely looks 'isolated' in white, as in Canarian birds.
Also, the dark border on the trailing edge of the underwing looks rather
wide. Can the Cape Verde taxon boydi ever look like this?

All comments appreciated.

Rgds

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-----Original Message-----
From: okeeffeml AT EIRCOM.NET [mailto:okeeffeml AT EIRCOM.NET]
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2007 11:18 AM
To: BIRDWG01 AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
Subject: Re: [BIRDWG01] Small Shearwater question from Massachusetts -
08/19.

Hi James,

Incredible photos - well done!  Those features you mention and the images
point to North Atlantic Little Shearwater (Puffinus baroli), also known as
the Macaronesian Shearwater.  The images would certainly pass for that
species had it been photographed on this side of the Atlantic.
Unfortunately good shots of this species are hard to come by.

Check out...
http://www.netfugl.dk/pictures.php?id=showpicture&picture_id=15977&language=
uk
http://azores.seawatching.net/index.php?page=seawatching
http://madeira.seawatching.net/seabirds.html

Best of luck!

Regards

Mike O'Keeffe
Ireland
"James P. Smith"  wrote:

<  I wonder if any experienced pelagic birders might shed some light on the
appearance of this presumed Audubon s Shearwater seen on the recent
Brookline Bird Club dedicated pelagic out of Hyannis:
<  http://keenbirding.com/NE07/smallshear190807.html
<
<
<  It came nice and close to the stern of the Helen H. during a brief
chumming session in Hydrographer Canyon waters at 12:26 hours on Sunday
08/19. Two birds were present, one a reasonably clear Audubon's Shearwater,
and this one, which although presumed to be Audubon's, showed a couple of
interesting features. These features seem to be at odds with the reference
material that I've checked thus far on Audubon's. The most obvious, a clear
projection of the feet beyond the tail, seen in both dorsal and ventral
views. Slightly more subtle, but still rather notable, a blue-gray hue to
the greater coverts and inner primaries, creating a slight contrast with the
blacker secondries.
<
<
<  Any feedback, public or private, would be welcomed.
<
<
<  Best birding,
<
<
<  James P. Smith
<  Amherst, MA.
<
<
< 
<        
<  ---------------------------------
<  Be a better Heartthrob. Get better relationship answers from someone who
knows.
<  Yahoo! Answers - Check it out.
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<  Join or Leave BIRDWG01:
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<
<  --0--=:2934
<  Content-Type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1 <  Content-Transfer-Encoding:
8bit < <  Hi birders,

I wonder if any experienced pelagic birders
might shed some light on the appearance of this presumed Audubon s
Shearwater seen on the recent Brookline Bird Club dedicated pelagic out of
Hyannis:



It came nice and close to the
stern of the Helen H. during a brief chumming session in Hydrographer Canyon
waters at 12:26 hours on Sunday 08/19. Two birds were present, one a
reasonably clear Audubon's Shearwater, and this one, which although presumed
to be Audubon's, showed a couple of interesting features. These features
seem to be at odds with the reference material that I've checked thus far on
Audubon's. The most obvious, a clear projection of the feet beyond the tail,
seen in both dorsal and ventral views. Slightly more subtle, but still
rather notable, a blue-gray hue to the greater coverts and inner primaries,
creating a slight
<   contrast with the blacker secondries. 


Any feedback, public
or private, would be welcomed.


Best birding,


James P.
Smith
Amherst, MA.



<        
Be a better Heartthrob. from someone who knows.
Yahoo! Answers - Check
it out.
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<  Join or Leave BIRDWG01:
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Seabirders,

We've had a good spring and summer for pelagic birding off Cape
Hatteras, and most of our trips have been well-attended.  We thank you
the continuing support, and we hope to run several more trips before the
year's end in August, September, October, and November.

Our next trips are coming up this weekend, and I will be running our
boat, the Stormy Petrel II, up to Wanchese on Friday for two trips out
of Oregon Inlet.  For those who don't know, Wanchese is at the other end
of Roanoke Island from Manteo.  Our trips on August 25 and 26 will focus
on waters mostly east of the inlet, looking specifically for White-faced
Storm-Petrel at what should be peak season.  These birds seem to be
found mostly to the north of the Gulf Stream in water that is not
particularly attractive to Black-capped Petrel, tropicbirds, and other
blue water specialties.  It is still a good place to see shearwaters and
both Bridled and Sooty Terns, however, and it is about time for some
phalaropes and young Long-tailed Jaegers to show up there as well.

The forecast is for light winds this weekend and we still have room for
a few more people on the boat this weekend.  The cost is $290/person for
both trips or $150 for a one day fare.  To make a reservation, please
e-mail me ASAP or call me at .  I will NOT be able to
check e-mail after Friday morning.

Our next two trips are special "Photo Trips" over Labor Day weekend:
Sept. 1 to 3.  These were going to run from Wanchese, but now we plan to
go from Hatteras.  Space is limited to only 12 participants, and the
fare is $400/person for two trips.  The trips are scheduled to run over
three days so that Sunday is a weather date for Saturday and Monday is a
weather date for Sunday.  You do not need to be a photographer to attend
these trips, but keep in mind that we are likely move at a slower pace
that we do on some of our birding trips, which can actually be
beneficial if the chum is working well. Our last "Photo Trip" located a
Black-bellied Storm-Petrel!  Some one-day reservations are currently
available for $200/person.  To see photos from our June "Photo Trips"
visit http://www.ontfin.com/ and http://www.lanahays.com/.

On the weekend of September 15 and 16, we have a chartered birding trip,
which would welcome a few more participants.  This trip is scheduled to
depart from Hatteras on Saturday with a weather date the following day,
and the fare is $135/person.  This is prime time for Long-tailed Jaeger
and Sabine's Gull, and we expect to see most of the summer birds with
the exception of Band-rumped Storm-Petrel.  There is also a good chance
for the spring/summer rarities this wekend and the next.  Anyone in the
Triangle area should consider this trip, as transportation can be
arranged with the NC Museum of Natural Sciences for a reasonable fee.

On Sepetmber 22 and 23, we have scheduled two trips, and the fare for
two days is $250.  It is also possible to sign up for one day at
$135/person.  This weekend has a good potential for variety and we
sometimes see large numbers of shearwaters in fall.

On the weekend of October 13 and 14, we have another chartered trip
which is also open to the public with limited space.  This is a
transitional time with some summer species lingering and maybe some cold
water birds such as Black-legged Kittiwake and Northern Fulmar putting
in an appearance.  This will be a Saturday departure from Hatteras with
a weather date on Sunday.  The fare is $135/person.

On Friday, November 9 and Saturday, November 10, we will be running
pelagic trips from Wanchese again as part of the Wings Over Water
festival.  It is possible to sign up directly for these trips with us,
at $135/person/day.  This should be a good time for an interesting
variety of birds and marine mammals.  We hope for numbers of Pomarine
Jaegers and Greater Shearwaters, along with kittiwakes, and lingering
Cory's and Audubbon's Shearwaters.  The Gulf Stream specialty, the
awe-inspiring Black-capped Petrel, should still be present as well.

I know I've said it before, but it's worth repeating, so I'll say it
again.  If you can conjure up a small group of birders, you might want
to charter our boat for a pelagic trip.  Our charter fee from Hatteras
starts at $1295/day for the first eight passengers, and this is a big
boat.  We have full walk-around decks and we know best where and how to
find the birds.  I know now there are more and more birders with nice
digital cameras, and I would also like to say there is NO COMPARISON
between photo opportunities on the trips we run now and other pelagic
trips you might have taken here in past years.  It's a new world,
really.  So if you have been out with us for a couple of years, please
do us both a favor and see what it's like, either on a charter or a
regular trip.

We have information available online about our pelagic birding trips at
http://www.seabirding.com/.  For those who like to fish, see our fishing
report at http://www.thestormypetrel.com/ We can set up trips to do both
if that might be your best bet for getting offshore with friends and
family!

I hope that some of you can join us for a trip this fall.

Capt. Brian Patteson
Stormy Petrel II
Hatteras, NC
brian AT patteson.com


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First, congrats to Richard and crew for what sounds like a very nice  
day at sea.

In reference to the note that Blue-winged Teal was "unexpected", I've  
actually found that they aren't all that unusual offshore.  In the  
Mid-Atlantic, I've seen them at sea a half dozen times or so, as far  
out as 65 miles.  Blue-winged Teal are fairly long distance migrants,  
and don't seem to mind migrating over open ocean.

As compared, I don't remember ever seeing Green-winged Teal all that  
far from sight of land.


-PAG

Paul A. Guris
See Life Paulagics
P.O. Box 161
Green Lane, PA  18054
www.paulagics.com

paul AT paulagics.com



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Cape Town Pelagics trip report, 16 August 2007
By Ross Wanless

HIGHLIGHTS:
TWO White phase Southern Giant-Petrels
1 Soft-plumaged Petrel

We departed Simon's Town harbour at 7:30 on a capetownpelagics.com trip. 
This is a superb time of year for southern right whales, and we slowed to 
watch one of these behemoths cruising along the coast. A slight chop in the 
bay meant a relatively slow run to the point, by 'Obsession' standards, that 
is.

Seas and wind beyond Cape Point were coming from the south, and kept our 
speed to 15-20 kn.  Just beyond the point, and not more than 30 seconds 
after discussing the extreme rarity of the particular bird, a WHITE PHASE 
SOUTHERN GIANT-PETREL cruised past.  This is an exceptionally rare bird in 
the Cape, and in the 10 years I have been guiding pelagics I have only ever 
seen one in these waters.  We gave chase, but it was not hanging around and 
we realised that further pursuit was unlikely to yield better views than we 
had already had.  En route to the deep a pair of terns crossed our wake, 
which were almost certainly Arctics.

We picked up a couple of longliners at about 10 am, just over 22 nm from the 
point, and spent the next two-and-a-half hours birding behind one of these, 
with crippling views of all four regular albatross species and the other 
typical pelagics for this time of year.  To my absolute astonishment, at 
about 11 am, a SECOND WHITE PHASE SOUTHERN GIANT-PETREL came past, clearly a 
different bird.  This one spent a good half hour around the boat and gave 
the photographers onboard plenty of reasons to be happy!  When the longliner 
hauled the end of the anchor line and headed into the south, we called it a 
day and headed home. The following seas had flattened and we made it to the 
point in an hour, with the highlights being a massive raft of Sooty 
Shearwaters and a very fleeting view of the trip's only SOFT-PLUMAGED 
PETREL.  Inside the bay the skipper opened up the throttles and we were 
treated to a fabulous 35 knot charge to the Bank Cormorant colony at 
Partridge Point.  After an absence from guiding of several months, it was 
great to be back at sea and running a great pelagic trip.

Pelagic species seen:
Shy albatross 
100
Black-browed albatross                                                  20
Indian ocean yellow-nosed albatross                               2
Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross                                       4
Southern giant-petrel (incl. 2 white phased birds)            5
Pintado petrel 
100
White-chinned petrel 
250
Soft-plumaged petrel                                                      1
Sooty shearwater 
500
Wilson's storm-petrel                                                     3
Subantarctic skua 
10
Arctic tern 
2

Coastal species:
African penguin
Cape gannet
White-breasted cormorant
Cape cormorant
Bank cormorant
Kelp gull
Hartlaub's gull
Swift tern

Cetaceans:
Southern right whale        1

Thanks to the skipper and the other guides for a superb day.

There are spaces available on a midweek trip going 29/30 August as well as a 
full schedule of weekend departures for September.  If you would like to 
book a trip, contact Ross Wanless on:
Mobile:
or email: ross AT capetownpelagics.com, or visit www.capetownpelagics.com for a 
complete calendar of Cape pelagic trips.

CAPETOWNPELAGICS.COM is run on a non-profit basis.  All our operating 
surplus is donated to BirdLife International's Save the Albatross Campaign. 
You can contribute to albatross conservation by booking a tour with us!
_________________________________________________________________________
Ross Wanless                                   Percy FitzPatrick Institute
ross AT capetownpelagics.com             of African Ornithology,
Tel:                          University of Cape Town,
Mobile:                     South Africa.
Fitz: 
Fax: 
SKYPE: rosswanless
For African birding information, guiding & pelagic trips, visit:
BIRDING AFRICA www.birdingafrica.com
CAPE TOWN PELAGICS www.capetownpelagics.com
_________________________________________________________________________ 


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