ML103170371

Age and sex

Juvenile, Unknown sex - X

Media notes

Immature approx 1.5 years old 2nd cycle Yellowish skin at the base of the mandibles.

Observation details

***mega; immature bird with ghost of adult pattern (pale underwings and pale belly contrasting sharply with dark chest) seen diving in angled dives among gull flock, usually flaring its tail widely when diving. Many photos fully document the identification and plumage. Spotted off port side and we stopped to pursue and get closer and were able to maneuver in for stellar looks and photos. Just the fourth record for Maine and the first seen by birders, with previous records (off Portland, on Little Egg Rock, and off Bar Harbor) mostly coming from watermen. In the past decades Brown Boobies have staged a major movement up the Atlantic Coast, up the Pacific Coast, and to the Gulf Coast if Texas, and even inland, so while completely unexpected this record occurred in the context of a larger-scale pattern of increased occurrence in the Atlantic. Fantastic looks!

Technical information

Model

NIKON D3100

ISO

400

Focal length

380 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/6.0

Shutter speed

1/1000 sec

Dimensions

2101 pixels x 1312 pixels

Original file size

1.85 MB